The Old Apple Tree Redux

okay. I took everyone's comments and went back to the tree today. The other shot was a quickie I took while walking with a friend. :wall-an:This time I took my time, circled it a few times and took a few perspectives and exposures on it. No tripod so didn't do an hdr.

I think that this is an improvement. I took a landscape perspective and did my best to get the apple tree off centre. It was hard because of the shape of the tree and I didn't want to get too far back. Anyway, enough chatter here are my shots:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/...9f44699c_b.jpg

you may remember I did a summer version of this one. what do you think? Should I centre the window more?
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/...ff4e7cc4_b.jpg

and this is my fav of the set:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/...51f34c7d_b.jpg

I hope 3 aren't too many for the critique page :shrug:

First one, nah, you can see the house off to the right and me the nit-picker cannot help but being distracted by it, then again I am ADHD hahaha. 2nd one is a fabulous photos just like it, works in every way, thats a print photo and I like the slight offset of the window. 3rd, hmmmm might be my monitor but it looks a bit flat, and don't HDR it, everyone should know I hate HDR so thats not it, maybe some tone adjustments? Your composition on #3 is great so to me 2 and 3 are wonderfully done and 3 just needs some boost and not a lot, just wee bit. As always just my two cents that is worth far less than that.

One more thing, although I think the 3rd is well done, after a long look maybe you should have knelt down a bit and not make the tree line match across the bottom of the house, colour far to similar. Seems to rob the photo of depth, could be why I originally found it a bit flat. Use a noise reducer on 3 also then I would sharpen it and then go from there. As you know I am not a big fan of PSing but your not me and bet your glad of that eh, lol .... and still needs a small tone adjustment of boost of colour.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AcadieLibre

First one, nah, you can see the house off to the right and me the nit-picker cannot help but being distracted by it, then again I am ADHD hahaha.

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Nope, not just you AL. First thing I noticed. A step to the right would have fixed that. There is also a bit of noise in the sky

2nd one doesn't do a heap for me, but I can see why you took the shot. I do like that I can't decide if its a window or a reflection.

The 3rd one is the winner for me. It would be slightly better if you turned/stepped to the left to get all the tree and maybe also get ride of the part tree on the right. It might also need a white balance correction, but that could just be my dodgy monitor.

It is certainly a lovely subject.

In the first one the little shack is getting in the way of that beautiful tree. Second one is nice and I like the third one is nice as well although I would go back on a nice sunset and bring a picnic and wait for the golden light

Oh they are harsh aren't they Bambi! :)

I remember these photos you took last time and I clearly see a big improvement.

That 2nd shot ... the snow is a bit blown out there I think ... unless it really was that white, bright, and detail-less. I reckon keep going with this set you are building. Get the same in spring and autumn and make a wall set out of them!

The 1st shot ... I like it. Remembering the first attempt was a portrait and we said to go landscape to include more of the 'shed', I reckon you made a big step forward. As far as the house is concerned ... I don't really mind it. If it could have been hidden then perhaps that would have been better but it does place the tree and shelter somewhere purposeful ... on someones property.
I just went to your Flickr album to look at the Exif data on this one to see why there's noise in the sky. ISO 200 shouldn't have produced that. Aperture priority f5.6 and 1/160th. I can only assume that aperture priority has been fooled by the brightness of the snow and sky here and stopped down (even though you fix the aperture/ f-stop the camera uses the shutter speed to create the same effect) and slightly under-exposed the shot creating the noise.

The 3rd shot is big step up in composition also with a cool added interest of seeing the mini scene through the window. Less or no noise here either. However, in an effort to not have anything centered it appears you have clipped the trees branches on the right even though there's plenty of room on the left after the shelter.
I agree with A.L that the colour seems a bit flat.
I'd be inclined to maybe burn in some of that sky detail as well and see if that helps.
This shot is another that could work as a set of the seasons, and like ArtT suggests, for natures more dramatic moments as well ... sunsets/rises, storms, perfect skies, snow falls etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

Oh they are harsh aren't they Bambi! :)

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Trust me this is not harsh :angel:, now the reason I rarely critique is I am unable to bite my tongue because I am brutally hard on my photos and if I was the same with others I would be tarred and run out of town on rail, lol. See Signature hahaha ... first line ...

Yeh ... you can be as subtle as a shark attack sometimes A.L :rolleyes:

The third one for sure is the winner for its simplicity. As suggested losing the tree branches on the right and extending the tree to the left would have been a stronger composition but still it reminds me of a watercolor painting and I quite like it.

I like #3 too Bambi. :) I think the first one you could eliminate the house by also getting low down on the ground and shooting. These days I've taken to wearing waterproof pants and jackets when I go out shooting so I have the option to lay on the ground as far down as I can go to get different perspectives. Might look a bit goofy but saves my clothing and keeps me dry and warm.
Just a thought. :)

Btw, is that an ice hut? I am curious to know what the building is?

Oh and in #2, I would off center it a bit more just to make it even more interesting,,,or Ii would make it in dead center....to match the other one but that's just me. :) I really like the patina of the wood here as well as the view.

The 1st one doesn't really work for me, because of the composition with the houses in the backround. They are in the but only halfway and look like they have no real place there.

The 2nd I really like, and I agree, you should make this a seasonal set. That could really make a great set.

The 3rd one works good as far as composition goes. Especiaclly how you can see under the hut. A lower perspective could enhance this.
Also I feel the light makes the picture kind of dull to my eyes. Maybe a diffrent time of day could make it more intresting.
B&W with higher contrast could also enhance this shot, since the shadow of the tree would be more pronounced.