Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA  


Ancient One by Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA

December 2019 - Ancient One

December 2019 - Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA

Original 1

December 2019 - Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA

Original 2

December 2019 - Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA

Original 3

About the Image(s)

This image was captured in the Bristlecone Pine Forest near the eastern border of California. It was just after sunrise in bright light and it was very cold. I think these trees made good IR subjects even though a lot of the wood is dead. The settings were: f/16, ISO 100, with 3 exposures one and 2/3 stops apart. The HDR was created in NIK HDR Pro2. I did the monochrome conversion in Silver Efex Pro after making a channel swap and adjusting levels and curves in PS. I did not have to do much additional processing as the HDR created a crisp contrasty image. While I like this image, I am wondering if it has much impact for people who are unfamiliar with these ancient trees. (Some of them are 4,000years old.)
NOTE: This image is actually sized correctly. The fact that appears small is an optical illusion due to the three origianls being vertical. Feel free to zoom in on the image.


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




 
Yes you have certainly made an impact with this image. Your processing has really brought out the texture in the bark of the dead tree. I am not sure whether the dead tree on its own against the sky would have made a stronger image but this was probably impossible to achieve. Overall a lovely image, one that certainly captures the essence of these Bristlecone Pines.   Posted: 12/11/2019 04:38:04



 
4,000 years old. What stories they could tell. I do like the shape of the tree and the way you have brought out the texture but I feel its effect is a little lost being in front of the
shrubbery behind it as they are both of a similar tone. If it was at all possible to have taken it on its own I feel it would have been a much more dramatic image, but that's not always possible and I'm sure it wasn't in this case. In fact I do like your original 1 better as the dead tree seems to be more prominent against the warmer tones. It is an excellent image and I'm sure if you could subdue the bush behind somehow it would make a stronger and more dramatic image.   Posted: 12/11/2019 10:20:08
Sharon Prislipsky   Sharon Prislipsky
(Group 52)
I will take another look at original No. 1. As a Christmas present to myself I purchased the CLiR Panel so maybe I will work on it with that software, although the effects are much less dramatic with the Deep B&W conversion I used.   Posted: 12/11/2019 10:29:42



 
You did a great job processing the image, beautiful textures of the dead tree; it will be even stronger if it was standing on its own, try to darken and blur the trees in the back, maybe?   Posted: 12/11/2019 23:22:05



 
Love all the texture in the dead tree. It has such beautiful lines to it. Will agree with others assessment that it would be more powerful if the plant behind it were more subdued.   Posted: 12/16/2019 13:28:54



Stuart Bacon   Stuart Bacon
Probably because I've been to the Bristlecone Pine forest several times I easily recognized the subject and I like the presentation with a tree with foliage behind the dead one. The drawback may be the lack of separation between the two. Yet anyone who looks at it long enough will see how the dead tree stands out. I really don't have any suggestions as I feel the presentation is very good as it is.   Posted: 12/23/2019 09:07:35
Sharon Prislipsky   Sharon Prislipsky
(Group 52)
Thanks for your comment Stuart. When I first made this image what I liked was the way it seemed to me that the dead tree did stand out from the background, so I was surprised that others saw it differently. I remember saying at the time that I felt those trees were meant for IR. That is such a strange a beautiful location it is hard to do it judtice.   Posted: 12/23/2019 09:13:58