Hi Barb

Reading your write up made me perk up with joy and frustration at the same time. Like you state as you walk through the forest you ae always looking for that unique play of light, the angles of trees, that certain something that foretells that special something. I have tried this approach hundreds of times I'm sure. A single golden tree alone in a lush green pine forest. A red bud tree in bloom against a green backdrop of spring oaks. It looks great in the forest, even in the camera viewfinder (just tried a while dogwood against a bare tree forest) and it just never works out. This image makes me feel I'm standing in your shoes looking at this scene. The resulting image just never measures up to my expectations.

In your image the Analogous Colors create a perfect color palette, the image is technically strong with great sharpness and accurate exposure and the composition centers the subject, which be color, is well separated from the background. Yet for me something still seems to be missing. So, this month I'm asking, practically begging, for you to explain to be what I'm missing. I'm totally at a loss. The image just doesn't seem to have the impact I'm dreaming of and hoping for. I'm looking forward for your explanation because this never seems to work for me. HELP!

  Posted: 04/02/2026 22:26:34

Barbara, First let me say that my eye loves the golden color. Whether I'm looking at a large version or a small version of the photo, it rests easily there. You have the same issue I do with photographing a forest. There's just so much stuff that I don't know what to do with. We live in the woods and it should be a rich studio, but it just hasn't been for me. I'm going to try looking for a tree that has more space around it or a slope so that my eye can travel a little farther. I look forward to more photos from you of the forest to help me figure out what I can do as well.   Posted: 04/05/2026 12:31:48

I really like the warm colors you captured and the interest of the tree with brightly colored leaves. The two larger trees frame the subject well. It is really difficult to get a good clean and balanced forest shot. There is still a lot of random branches that add a bit of clutter, but the focus on the color mostly offset them.   Posted: 04/05/2026 18:46:05

I really love the golden color of the leaves and the idea of the lighting emphasizing them. I must admit, I do prefer the second image. When I examine the first image, I do see the gradients you created to draw the viewer's eye to the subject, but the effect was not strong enough to overcome the leaves being lost in the background. In the second image the leaves are more pronounced and better separated from the background.   Posted: 04/06/2026 20:22:02

Hi Barbara - Wow - I think your 2nd try made a huge difference by darkening the background to emphasize those luscious yellow leaves. Your change in lighting pushes the viewer to immediately focuses on those yellow leaves. This is a subtle but important change that adds drama and impact to this image. Nice work!   Posted: 04/08/2026 02:58:18

B,
I love the colors. It looks like a puzzle picture. I do not know of soft glow but it works great. I would not ouch it a bit more just frame it and put it on the wall.
  Posted: 04/16/2026 15:18:19