lone tree

[mackay123]

Click here for the higher resolution version!

Shooting data: canon 5d2, nikkor 14-24 @ 18mm, f5.6, iso 50, 1/4, tripod and cable release

this is from a few days ago, we got more snow!, it's nearly all gone now though.
thanks for looking C&C most welcome

[kliton77]

this is art.. exellent shot ....great atmosphere... cong

[SteB]

Excellent minimalist composition Steve. It really does work very well, the subject is ideally suited to the composition. I see you have the Nikkor wide-angle zoom now - congrats.

[Blueripper]

I like it Steve, very simple comp but it works so well in B&W, which I think is the best option for this type of shot. The line of the horizon where it meets the sky (mainly on the left side) looks strange, I dont know what you might of done, It does not detract from the image but it does'nt look quite natural in the HR if you look really close. Sorry if I'm just seeing things? At least there's no mistake on who took the shot

[HansKoot]

Its great photo Steve, except for your copyright information, which is bit prominent...

[mackay123]

hi kliton77, stephen, paul and hanskoot!, many thanks all for comments!

paul, i hear you mate, your friendly honesty is always well received!, in fact i think the forum is back on track! . i always love it when you scrutinize my pics, you keep seeing stuff that i've missed (so please keep scrutinizing! ).............in this pic i think you are maybe refering to the dark line along the horizon? (it looks like a bad blend), when i was processing it i wondered the same.
this dark line is actully grass.
i hope these 2 pics explain the reason?, this first one is from behind the tree, the brisk wind has exposed all the grass, the area below is out of the wind so is untouched.
the second is a 100% crop from the original (far left)


but to be fair my pp (heavily increased contrast) has probbly made things look unnatural?

hanskoot........i hear yo too , yes i think my signature is way over the top

[Blueripper]

Cheers Steve, now it all makes sence. Thanks for the explanation

[sashicka]

Great compo and mood! Thanks for sharing.

[Vellu]

Great shot, very artictic indeed and very moody! Very nice!

[F.A.E.]

Great compo and a fantastic mood, excellent b/w shot.

[William]

Beautiful shot Steve. This is one of those shots that would look good hanging on most walls as it is so relaxing to look at. Love the clean comp and the B&W conversion.
The copyright may be filing a great part of the frame, but then its a great shot as well

[SteB]

Hi Steve

I thought it was just a sort of edge effect. When I have used my micro-contrast boosting techniques with my macro photographs I have found that even when there is no sharpening halo at all that the edges can look a bit unnaturally hard. So I've found an easy quick fix for it. I just create a duplicate layer, select a small brush with the blur tool and at high magnification trace along this edge. This makes it look far more natural. It is a lot quicker to do than it sounds as there is only normally at most a few of these hard lines in an image. Also with it being on a different layer it is easy to fine tune it by adjusting the opacity of the layer. I've often used this after I've hosted the image or even posted if I can edit it and in a couple of minutes its fixed. It's often only when you post it that you notice it.

[O.K.]

Excellent composition, Steve!
Very nice silhouette of the tree.

Beautiful b&w image.

Orhan

[mackay123]

cheers paul, sashicka, vellu, fabian, william, stephen and orhan!, much appreciated all.

stephen, many thanks, that's a great tip and one i am trying out now!

[CPR]

Hi Steve,

A very "clean" B&W shot