Monotone Tree

Is this interesting at all? Somehow it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it doesn't seem right somehow. Any suggestions for post processing or re-shooting it would be welcome.
Thanks for looking.

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I like it, I think it would have a little more effect if you bumped contrast a bit on it though.

Maybe the haze on the left is detracting?

It was a very rainy, foggy day. I was kind of trying to capture that. I purposefully left the contrast low on the left-hand, hazy side to try to keep that foggy look. Bumping up the contrast over there makes the whole image nice and sharp, but that's not quite what I was going for. But I agree, it didn't work too well...

I like the picture, but it I dont know why... it does need some contrast, but feel it would take away from the sense of the day. Maybe its one of those pictures that takes a certain matting and frame to bring it out... I still really like it!

It generally looks good, but I think it lacks a solid subject. I enjoy the colors and the feel though...that part is great!

i don't think it needs a contrast boost at all. it would kill the mood. i think it may just need to be cropped differently.

Jason77 wrote in post #2543386
i don't think it needs a contrast boost at all. it would kill the mood. i think it may just need to be cropped differently.

Hmmmm.... yeah, maybe. Do you think there is too mugh negative space? Too much foreground? I'll have to think about that. I'm not immediately seeing an alternate crop. Maybe just take a little off the top and bottom?

Thanks for the constructive input everyone.

jcw122 wrote in post #2542850
It generally looks good, but I think it lacks a solid subject. I enjoy the colors and the feel though...that part is great!

Should the tree be darker to make it stand out as the subject? Too many other little trees around? How about if the wall below the tree was darker, would that help keep your eye on the tree?

I would like to try this shot after dark, when those lamps are on. I'm not sure how well that would work, but it seems like it might be interesting. It's supposed to snow tonight, so maybe that would look good.

Very good points made here... try making the tree a focal point. Can we see the orginal picture?

A little different take... (different crop, levels adjustment, some burning... etc)

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Yeah, i can see how the darker look has its merits. I thought about that style as I was converting the RAW file. But I noticed that I totally lose the fog. For this shot I wanted the more distant trees to sort of fade out into the fog more, which means low contast and fading to a neutral gray. But the silhouette look is nice, too.

The version I posted is a combination of two different conversions of the RAW file. One has linear contrast and other settings to keep the fog prominent while the other had strong contrast and other settings to bring out the reflections in the sand and make the tree stand out. Then I did some selective curves, levels, a channel mixer adjustment layer, a dode/burn overlay, etc.

I'll post the foggy raw conversion when I get home this evening.

Marsha050 wrote in post #2544141
Very good points made here... try making the tree a focal point. Can we see the orginal picture?

Okay, good idea. How do you suggest that I make the tree the focal point?

[edit: the image isn't cropped, if that's what you were getting at. If you have a good idea for cropping it to make the focus more on the tree, feel free to post your version!]

MCB wrote in post #2544814
Yeah, i can see how the darker look has its merits. I thought about that style as I was converting the RAW file. But I noticed that I totally lose the fog. For this shot I wanted the more distant trees to sort of fade out into the fog more, which means low contast and fading to a neutral gray. But the silhouette look is nice, too.

The version I posted is a combination of two different conversions of the RAW file. One has linear contrast and other settings to keep the fog prominent while the other had strong contrast and other settings to bring out the reflections in the sand and make the tree stand out. Then I did some selective curves, levels, a channel mixer adjustment layer, a dode/burn overlay, etc.

I'll post the foggy raw conversion when I get home this evening.

The only problem I see with the fog is that it's not even across the plane of the photo, therefore it's a little distracting, and almost looks like an error in exposure. I totally understand what you were going for, but it really just didn't work well with this photo IMHO. Keep trying- you'll get it

Tungsram wrote in post #2544863
The only problem I see with the fog is that it's not even across the plane of the photo, therefore it's a little distracting, and almost looks like an error in exposure. I totally understand what you were going for, but it really just didn't work well with this photo IMHO. Keep trying- you'll get it

If the fog was uniform across the image, then the tree would lose contrast, right? Would that be annoying? Most people complain if the contrast isn't cranked way up...