Jim Bodkin, APSA, PPSA  


Fern Tree Fond Fantasy by Jim Bodkin, APSA, PPSA

May 2020 - Fern Tree Fond Fantasy

May 2020 - Jim Bodkin, APSA, PPSA

Original

About the Image(s)


I have always enjoyed fern trees. Their fanciful shapes with tall rough trunks reminds me of deep tropical forests and our evolutionary past. During a wonderful trip to New Zealand, I discovered many new species, included their famous Silver Fern. I was always searching for new perspectives, but not until I was on a bridge elevated over a river valley did I find what I was seeking. Looking down directly over the tree fern presented a new viewing option.

Processed in Lightroom with no change of exposure or white balance, slight texture, clarity, sharpness, vibrance and saturation, and standard highlight/shadow compensation to increase contrast. Exported to Topaz Simplify4 to increase detail and converted to B&W with BuzSim Black and White preset with low simplify size and re-imported to Lightroom. No other adjustments or cropping were made.

Captured handheld using Canon 7D Mk 2 with Tamron 16-300mm lens at 16mm, 1/125 second @ f/10 and ISO 640.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted




Allen Tucker   Allen Tucker
Beautiful BW subject, but the background foliage doesn't deserve all that real estate. Consider a tight square crop.   Posted: 05/11/2020 00:04:07
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Henry Heerschap   Henry Heerschap
I love ferns in black and white and this is no exception. Nice sharp image. I agree with Allen's crop and did a similar square crop on my version. I also brightened the ferns and darkened the background.   Posted: 05/11/2020 13:40:13
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I agree with Allen's square crop suggestion and Henry's suggestion to brighten the fern.   Posted: 05/18/2020 11:07:28



Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
Excellent choice of subject and conversion to mono. Have to agree about the square crop, though I'm not sold on brightening the fern. I think the tonal range is fine as it is. Good capture!   Posted: 05/18/2020 17:20:17



Jim Hagan   Jim Hagan
Very nice. I like the image, the composition and the pattern. I felt the image should be a little brighter so I brighten the image and especially the edges. I also brightened the partial fern in the bottom right to give a leading edge and also so the image is not quite so square. I would have liked a little more space at the bottom.   Posted: 05/19/2020 06:08:15
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Hi Jim:) This is such a lovely subject to photograph. So much texture and without the knowledge that it is such a large tree it could be a tiny little rainforest fern. I love everything about NZ and as you know it is just across the ditch from us. ( or pronounced 'dutch' to our kiwi cousins) I think that what has been already suggested has considerably added to the image. My only thought would be to do a horizontal flip so the tree fern is orientated to the right rather than the left. Well seen and taken Jim.   Posted: 05/23/2020 21:12:23