Entering wonderland

zhaowei · 31st May 2008

Hi everyone!

Thanks for dropping by again. I learnt much from my first posting here, so I'm back with a new picture for critique this week. There is so much I need to learn about photography and it really helps to have fellow enthusiasts actually giving frank, useful comments about my work.

The following shot was taken on a recent hike in Nikko National Park, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. When I saw this scene that day, I found something visually striking about it, which made me snap the following shot. There was a fairy-tale-like aura about it, with the bare branches of the trees appearing to beckon one to take the path into their midst. The weather was near perfect that day, and that allowed to take many shots with a pleasing blue sky.

I would like critique on the following:
1) Colours. I upped contrast a little in PP to make the colours a bit more saturated. How do you think it looks?
2) Composition. Do you think the picture portrays what I wanted it to show?
3) Exposure. Just right?
4) Any other comments or thoughts that come into your mind!

EXIF data is found in the image.

I look forward to your frank comments. Thanks in advance!

nigel84 · 31st May 2008

Honestly i like the framing of this pic. But i do not know what you wanted to show here? Is it the trees or is it the pavement. Cos you said the trees were beckoning you to take the path. But... The pathway seems so small..... Perhaps a lower angle would bring out what you had intended more.

HTCahHTC · 1st June 2008

a fairy tale like? maybe you can try softening the picture in pp. believe it will tell the story more.

charmingorion · 1st June 2008

hey, i like this pic. It's very nice.

If u want to create that fairy like feel....i think u might want to do diffuse lighting in photoshop, that will really do the trick. But then, ur pic will turn out like a processed pic....not natural.

GReat composition to me...color saturation is great too! however, something seems missing in the foreground. ... IMHO.

lastboltnut · 1st June 2008

The fact that the far away end of the path is dark, it doesn't look like a wonderland to me...more of darkland. Just my feel.

Edit: Sorry, my CRT was too dark, it looks ok on my laptop.

fi5hbone · 1st June 2008

The trees seem to be the subject in this picture rather than the path. As nigel said, try to go lower, getting the horizon in the upper third of the picture, I think.

zhaowei · 2nd June 2008

Hi nigel84, HTCahHTC, charmingorion, lastboltnut and fi5hbone, thanks for all your comments! I'm glad that some of you liked the picture.

I realised that I should have explained my picture in greater detail in my original post. I actually intended the trees to be the main theme of this picture because their bare form created the feel that I wanted. This was was why I took it such that they occupy most of the frame. I intended for the viewer's eyes to move from top to bottom - first you notice the intriguing formation of the bare tree branches, and move down to notice that the place is full of them, creating the feel of something magical (and maybe dark and sinister at the same time), and later notice there is a little path leading in. The challenge to the viewer is as such, dare you take the path?

Unfortunately, I did not try the angle that nigel84 and fi5hbone suggested because it did not occur to me to try that out as well, so I can't really make any comparisons. I'll remember to try it out next time!

As for softening or using diffused lighting in pp, I think it might help bring out the theme even more. Thanks for the suggestions, HTCahHTC and charmingorion.

Kit · 4th June 2008

This is one of those photos that; composition wise, there's nothing to dislike aboout. Then again, there's nothing in the photo that warrants a second glance if you get what I mean. Its a safe photo. I do think that this has some potential for a B&W conversion. Contrast is critical though. It could make or break the photo and you could well end up with different feel.

yongsak · 5th June 2008

Hm.....nice sky....nice composition. I like the photo and the idea.

I do agree that the title does not match the photo.
Maybe its due to the "bare" trees that draws your photo away from the Wonderland title.
Alittle too spooky to me....especially if there is mist and you convert the photo to B/W.

If you want to have the wonderland idea, maybe its worth the effort to have a little girl dressing like a princess walking into the picture?

Just a suggestion.

Cheers.

Churchwolf · 5th June 2008

I really like this picture, but I do have to agree with some of the comments above: it would have a more dramatic effect if you had taken the picture a little closer to the ground. It would really pull out the path as the subject. Alternatively, as yongsak points out, having an actual subject, with their back to the viewer, would add a great deal of intrigue to the picture. Nice catch!

zhaowei · 7th June 2008

Thanks to the second round of commentators, Kit, yongsak and Churchwolf!

Originally Posted by Kit

This is one of those photos that; composition wise, there's nothing to dislike aboout. Then again, there's nothing in the photo that warrants a second glance if you get what I mean. Its a safe photo. I do think that this has some potential for a B&W conversion. Contrast is critical though. It could make or break the photo and you could well end up with different feel.

Hi Kit, I've done a simple conversion to B&W here using adjustment layers, but I'm not sure how to adjust the contrast in such a way as to create a more dramatic impact. Here's what I came up with:

Originally Posted by yongsak

If you want to have the wonderland idea, maybe its worth the effort to have a little girl dressing like a princess walking into the picture?
Just a suggestion.

Haha I'll try to bring one in my bag next time.

Originally Posted by Churchwolf

I really like this picture, but I do have to agree with some of the comments above: it would have a more dramatic effect if you had taken the picture a little closer to the ground. It would really pull out the path as the subject. Alternatively, as yongsak points out, having an actual subject, with their back to the viewer, would add a great deal of intrigue to the picture. Nice catch!

Thanks Churchwolf for the suggestion, quite a few of you have pointed it out so I'll make sure I consider that angle next time!

Clues · 7th June 2008

Will it be better if taken in IR ? The sky bla bla bla....

espion · 8th June 2008

technically no prob, except perhaps u can bump up yellow to make the grass look fresher, but overall, as mentioned, maybe not exciting enuff.

some suggestions:

- take a lower perspective, eg squat and shoot, as some have suggested having the horizon higher.

- the distance being dark is ok - title notwithstanding, u may have intended, or otherwise, an irony; but if u want that distance better exposed, then u have do some digital manipulation, eg HDR

- b&w is a good idea, but again it is a rather flat picture, ie not sufficient contrasts range in the lower half; needs more drama which is seemingly potential but not realised yet.

personally i go for HDR. HDRed pic also make more dramatic B&W.

Kit · 8th June 2008

Originally Posted by zhaowei

Hi Kit, I've done a simple conversion to B&W here using adjustment layers, but I'm not sure how to adjust the contrast in such a way as to create a more dramatic impact. Here's what I came up with

Try adjusting hightlights and shadows to get more cloud details.

espion · 8th June 2008

Here's my attempt to extract its potential drama. Its not the last word here. There is more than one way to skin this cat.

-ReignOfComputer- · 9th June 2008

This pic has so much potential...Even HDR might work very well.However,if u wanted the viewer to focus on the path,dont get so much of the trees in the photo.might be a good idea to hold the cam close to the path.softening the picture using photoshop will also give a more dreamy effect.IMO,the clouds also prevent the photo from being fairytale-like.Good attempt though.

zhaowei · 10th June 2008

Originally Posted by Clues

Will it be better if taken in IR ? The sky bla bla bla....

Thanks for the tip, Clues. Unfortunately I'm not very sure what IR photography is really about, nor do I know how to do it. But I guess from the name it's taking photos using only IR light, and it requires special equipment or sensor modification on a DSLR...

Originally Posted by Kit

Try adjusting hightlights and shadows to get more cloud details.

Originally Posted by espion

Here's my attempt to extract its potential drama. Its not the last word here. There is more than one way to skin this cat.

Wow espion I like the effect you created here. I believe this is the sort of effect what Kit was trying to tell me about. Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by -ReignOfComputer-

This pic has so much potential...Even HDR might work very well.However,if u wanted the viewer to focus on the path,dont get so much of the trees in the photo.

Thanks -ReignOfComputer- for your comments. HDR does sound very interesting and I've seen some nice work on the forums here using that method. I will definitely try it out sometime, when I have my tripod with me.

31st May 2008	#1
zhaowei Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 113	Entering wonderland Hi everyone! Thanks for dropping by again. I learnt much from my first posting here, so I'm back with a new picture for critique this week. There is so much I need to learn about photography and it really helps to have fellow enthusiasts actually giving frank, useful comments about my work. The following shot was taken on a recent hike in Nikko National Park, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. When I saw this scene that day, I found something visually striking about it, which made me snap the following shot. There was a fairy-tale-like aura about it, with the bare branches of the trees appearing to beckon one to take the path into their midst. The weather was near perfect that day, and that allowed to take many shots with a pleasing blue sky. I would like critique on the following: 1) Colours. I upped contrast a little in PP to make the colours a bit more saturated. How do you think it looks? 2) Composition. Do you think the picture portrays what I wanted it to show? 3) Exposure. Just right? 4) Any other comments or thoughts that come into your mind! EXIF data is found in the image. I look forward to your frank comments. Thanks in advance! __________________ F6 + AFS60

31st May 2008	#2
nigel84 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 821	Re: Entering wonderland Honestly i like the framing of this pic. But i do not know what you wanted to show here? Is it the trees or is it the pavement. Cos you said the trees were beckoning you to take the path. But... The pathway seems so small..... Perhaps a lower angle would bring out what you had intended more. __________________ My Humble Flickr --> The pavement of my thoughts

1st June 2008	#3
HTCahHTC Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 820	Re: Entering wonderland a fairy tale like? maybe you can try softening the picture in pp. believe it will tell the story more.

1st June 2008	#4
charmingorion Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 281	Re: Entering wonderland hey, i like this pic. It's very nice. If u want to create that fairy like feel....i think u might want to do diffuse lighting in photoshop, that will really do the trick. But then, ur pic will turn out like a processed pic....not natural. GReat composition to me...color saturation is great too! however, something seems missing in the foreground. ... IMHO. __________________ Canon, cAnon, caNon, canOn, canoN....Simply Loving IT!!

1st June 2008	#5
lastboltnut Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Where the wind blows... Posts: 4,419	Re: Entering wonderland The fact that the far away end of the path is dark, it doesn't look like a wonderland to me...more of darkland. Just my feel. Edit: Sorry, my CRT was too dark, it looks ok on my laptop. __________________ My Flickr Account Last edited by lastboltnut; 1st June 2008 at 09:58 PM.

1st June 2008	#6
fi5hbone Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 82	Re: Entering wonderland The trees seem to be the subject in this picture rather than the path. As nigel said, try to go lower, getting the horizon in the upper third of the picture, I think.

2nd June 2008	#7
zhaowei Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 113	Re: Entering wonderland Hi nigel84, HTCahHTC, charmingorion, lastboltnut and fi5hbone, thanks for all your comments! I'm glad that some of you liked the picture. I realised that I should have explained my picture in greater detail in my original post. I actually intended the trees to be the main theme of this picture because their bare form created the feel that I wanted. This was was why I took it such that they occupy most of the frame. I intended for the viewer's eyes to move from top to bottom - first you notice the intriguing formation of the bare tree branches, and move down to notice that the place is full of them, creating the feel of something magical (and maybe dark and sinister at the same time), and later notice there is a little path leading in. The challenge to the viewer is as such, dare you take the path? Unfortunately, I did not try the angle that nigel84 and fi5hbone suggested because it did not occur to me to try that out as well, so I can't really make any comparisons. I'll remember to try it out next time! As for softening or using diffused lighting in pp, I think it might help bring out the theme even more. Thanks for the suggestions, HTCahHTC and charmingorion. __________________ F6 + AFS60

4th June 2008	#8
Kit Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bukit Timah / Melbourne CBD Posts: 6,036	Re: Entering wonderland This is one of those photos that; composition wise, there's nothing to dislike aboout. Then again, there's nothing in the photo that warrants a second glance if you get what I mean. Its a safe photo. I do think that this has some potential for a B&W conversion. Contrast is critical though. It could make or break the photo and you could well end up with different feel. __________________ arkitectural photography http://arkitecturalphoto.1x.com/

5th June 2008	#9
yongsak Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore, North. Posts: 120	Re: Entering wonderland Hm.....nice sky....nice composition. I like the photo and the idea. I do agree that the title does not match the photo. Maybe its due to the "bare" trees that draws your photo away from the Wonderland title. Alittle too spooky to me....especially if there is mist and you convert the photo to B/W. If you want to have the wonderland idea, maybe its worth the effort to have a little girl dressing like a princess walking into the picture? Just a suggestion. Cheers. __________________ Yong Sak. www.yongsak.com

5th June 2008	#10
Churchwolf Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lakeside, Singapore Posts: 285	Re: Entering wonderland I really like this picture, but I do have to agree with some of the comments above: it would have a more dramatic effect if you had taken the picture a little closer to the ground. It would really pull out the path as the subject. Alternatively, as yongsak points out, having an actual subject, with their back to the viewer, would add a great deal of intrigue to the picture. Nice catch! __________________ Cameras: Rollei 35, Rolleiflex-T, FinePix F700, Nikon D60, D300 Pics: Churchwolf's Album.

7th June 2008	#12
Clues Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 197	Re: Entering wonderland Will it be better if taken in IR ? The sky bla bla bla.... __________________ Mee Poh Man. "I am kampong man"

8th June 2008	#13
espion Deregistered Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,533	Re: Entering wonderland technically no prob, except perhaps u can bump up yellow to make the grass look fresher, but overall, as mentioned, maybe not exciting enuff. some suggestions: - take a lower perspective, eg squat and shoot, as some have suggested having the horizon higher. - the distance being dark is ok - title notwithstanding, u may have intended, or otherwise, an irony; but if u want that distance better exposed, then u have do some digital manipulation, eg HDR - b&w is a good idea, but again it is a rather flat picture, ie not sufficient contrasts range in the lower half; needs more drama which is seemingly potential but not realised yet. personally i go for HDR. HDRed pic also make more dramatic B&W.

8th June 2008	#15
espion Deregistered Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,533	Re: Entering wonderland Here's my attempt to extract its potential drama. Its not the last word here. There is more than one way to skin this cat. Last edited by espion; 8th June 2008 at 10:08 AM.

9th June 2008	#16
-ReignOfComputer- Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: hi Posts: 403	Re: Entering wonderland This pic has so much potential...Even HDR might work very well.However,if u wanted the viewer to focus on the path,dont get so much of the trees in the photo.might be a good idea to hold the cam close to the path.softening the picture using photoshop will also give a more dreamy effect.IMO,the clouds also prevent the photo from being fairytale-like.Good attempt though.