Mono Tree

[WildWalker]

Hi all,

This is a photo of a tree I did recently, it started life as a colour shot, but didn't float my boat, I then made it a mono and moved the whole shot over (the tree used to be on the right) with a crop. (mainly because the path didn't look good jammed over to the right)

I used the Channel Mixer to convert to mono and I used loads of green, while removing red and blue, to get a sort of infra red feel.

Any thoughts please, plus, if this was your image, what might you try to improve it?

All the best,
WW

http://folder.cameraangle.co.uk/IMG_7425b_800.jpg

[Yv]

I have come back to this a few times before commenting. I think I like it more, the more I look at it....but, would love to see it pre-crop, as I suspect that might be even better :shrug:

[WildWalker]

I have come back to this a few times before commenting. I think I like it more, the more I look at it....but, would love to see it pre-crop, as I suspect that might be even better :shrug:

Just for you :)

Here it is pre-crop. I think its a bit right-side heavy.

All the best,
WW

http://folder.cameraangle.co.uk/IMG_7425_m.jpg

[h.r.ford]

Ohh I disagree. I think the tree in the middle just stops your eye while the uncropped let's it roam around.

[Yv]

NOW you have an image!! Going to have good look at this later on my better screen, but compositionally, the uncropped version is gorgeous and makes the most of that dramatic cloud formation too. :clap:

[theMusicMan]

Absolutely - uncropped is far better in my opinion.

[minimeeze]

Definitely agree that the original uncropped version works much better. The only thing I would suggest to help improve it would be to lighten the clouds up a little. It really is a lovely shot.

[WildWalker]

Thanks all,

I still prefer the 'central' one, but I guess its personal preference. I think, from what you have said that both versions work in their own way.

I agree that the clouds are better in the uncropped and that the sky on the right in the cropped is a little dark.

Once again, thanks for the comments.

All the best,
WW.

[mobilevirgin]

I still prefer the 'central' one, but I guess its personal preference.

It is, of course, your ball and so you can do with it what you will. And you're right, it comes down to personal preference.

But there are some rules - one of which is the rule of thirds (google for it - I'm not going there now). The original conforms to the rule (more or less), and so for most people will look more pleasing. The original crop doesn't and so for me looks a bit, well, less interesting - its just a pic of a tree. The crop has more to draw the eye in.

Break the rules if you want. Its your ball.

They're both nice pics, so its up to you :)

[Ratty]

I think I prefer the un-cropped.
but that looks slightly cropped on the right side to me.

I agree that in both images I thought the sky to the right was a bit dark.
You lose the foliage into it.

Still like it though.

[ben g]

I really like the processing you've done, I dont find the sky too dark. As far as the crop goes i'm not sure. You seem to have more of the picture available to extend the original crop (second image) to the right if you didn't want it too 'right-side heavy'.
I like both of them though to be honest:thumbs:

[WildWalker]

Thank you for your comments :)

I think I myself will have to have another look at this. Compositionally the original image does conform better to the rule of thirds, and as a rule I avoid 'centralising' my primary interest (unless it occupies the entire frame).

Thanks for helping me out everyone, might be a flip of the coin as to which one I use :)

All the best,
WW.

[Messiah Khan]

I see what you were going for with htis shot, and it certainly has great potential. I however don't think you've quite hit the nail on the head. In terms of cropping and framing, I feel the precropped one is better, although I would maybe trim a tiny bit off the left hand side (but not as much as you have in your cropped version.)

I like the sky to some degree. The tones in it are good, especially the black areas. I also quite like the foreground grass as its quite soft and ethereal. however the tree doesn't work for me im afraid. It looks like it is; Fake IR. For me, if your going to do IR, do it properly, if not don't try and fake it as it tends to make the image look quite 'bity'. One option that might be worth trying is to do a normal B&W processing, then blend the tree from that into the IR type processed image.

but overall, its not a bad shot, and you have identified a location and angle with great potential. If I was you, I would get an IR filter and return that that location and try it again.

:)

[WildWalker]

I see what you were going for with htis shot, and it certainly has great potential. I however don't think you've quite hit the nail on the head. In terms of cropping and framing, I feel the precropped one is better, although I would maybe trim a tiny bit off the left hand side (but not as much as you have in your cropped version.)

I like the sky to some degree. The tones in it are good, especially the black areas. I also quite like the foreground grass as its quite soft and ethereal. however the tree doesn't work for me im afraid. It looks like it is; Fake IR. For me, if your going to do IR, do it properly, if not don't try and fake it as it tends to make the image look quite 'bity'. One option that might be worth trying is to do a normal B&W processing, then blend the tree from that into the IR type processed image.

but overall, its not a bad shot, and you have identified a location and angle with great potential. If I was you, I would get an IR filter and return that that location and try it again.

:)



Thanks Khan, it wasnt my intention to make it an IR picture, it just turned out that way when I was playing with the Channel Mixer.

Feel free to have a crop and show me how you would have cropped it, thanks for your comments.

The tree is fairly close to me and I may have another go, especially some more thought on composition

All the best,
WW