Melanie Hurwitz  


Dead Tree by Melanie Hurwitz

June 2020 - Dead Tree

June 2020 - Melanie Hurwitz

Original

About the Image(s)

As social distancing continues for most of us, it is forcing me to find some worthwhile things to do. I have been going through old images and have been surprised to find some that were worth revisiting.
This is taken in Monument Valley two years ago. In looking at it I was intrigued by the light falling on the tree stump. With my vivid imagination, it seemed to echo the distant edifice (probably a woman thing).
Converted with channel swapping, black and white in Photoshop, Toned in select color, detail extractor in Nik, Topaz De noise and crop.
Canon 20 D, 400 ISO, F11 35mm


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




Gary Potts   Gary Potts
Hi Melanie,

Your idea of 'revisiting' is probably something many of us have done. I sure have.
I like the image a great deal...it's classic Monument Valley/Southwest for me. I have only one wish...and not at all possible given this one is from the 'files'...and that is to want you just ever so slightly left of where you are standing. Why? To prevent the tree merge into the right-most structure in the background. Wonderful tones and a bold, classic IR sky.   Posted: 06/01/2020 07:35:09
Melanie Hurwitz   Melanie Hurwitz
Yes, I agree. I hate when I look at images and know that a few steps in one or other direction would be better. Interest in subject matter sometimes takes over from composition!   Posted: 06/01/2020 09:18:30



Charles Walker   Charles Walker
Yes, sometimes images stored in our vaults are worth revisiting. The clouds are lovely in this image. There is a worn path-like narrow stretch of earth leading toward the tall stone structure in the distance that ties the foreground with the background. However, my eye is somewhat conflicted with what it has deemed to be two subjects: the stone tower and the dead tree. But that could be a man thing?   Posted: 06/01/2020 19:44:39



Palli Gajree   Palli Gajree
Hi Melanie
I often revisit my files to see if they can be improved further.
Your image is beautifully processed and is full of drama. Those wooly clouds, the tree pattern and the foliage add beauty to the landscape. If you can carefully clone out the tree merger, it would be wonderful. A very pleasing image nonetheless.   Posted: 06/02/2020 01:13:53



Emil Davidzuk   Emil Davidzuk
Melanie,

Monument Valley is an IR playground. The clouds on the day you visited were off the charts. My eye is drawn to the light grass in the foreground immediately and then I move to the next light spot of grass. My thought is to lightened the path and darken the grass so your eye is led into your image towards the first monument.

Regards

Emil   Posted: 06/02/2020 09:42:12



Melanie Hurwitz   Melanie Hurwitz
I did some "gardening "on my image and thank you all for your critique on improvement..   Posted: 06/07/2020 11:15:07
Comment Image
Palli Gajree   Palli Gajree
Excellent bit of "gardening", Melanie! What would we do without those tools!!!   Posted: 06/08/2020 21:33:10



Jack Florence Jr   Jack Florence Jr
I agree with Charles' comments here, Melanie. Even though that little bit of light on the tree is nice, I think the image is better without the tree, or if the tree were smaller. Alas, not to be ;) But the sky is just great, and there's a surreal painterly feeling to the foreground, which make for a beautiful image nonetheless.   Posted: 06/11/2020 17:27:15