Dave, I like that you took the photo low as looking up gives the Joshua tree a strong presence against the blue sky. The texture on the bark and the spiky yucca clusters is great, with the warm backlight separating the details nicely and giving the branches a golden glow. While I like the sun with a partial sunburst where it is placed, I wonder if using a higher F-stop like F/11 to f/16 would have resulted in a noticeable stronger, crisper rays while keeping the bark and foliage texture sharp (I appreciate its too late for this). The slight lens flare streak (that purple/blue artifact on the lower trunk just below the last main branch going to the left) likely should be eliminated. The base of the tree is dark- a touch of shadow recovery in post could open that up. The hills along the bottom edge are just barely visible, and I am really not sure whether I would like more or less but I think you can't do either - cropping higher would leave that branch on the lower right unattached and it helps balance the tree. There is a right directed branch with a split into 2 smaller branches that pulls my eye away from the tree as I wonder where they end - the ones on the left, doesn't bother me as much. Just some thoughts on an other worldly tree and place. Also, locally in North Carolina, this Spring was one of the worst for wildflowers in many years as we have received very little rain and are in drought situation already. Ray   Posted: 04/12/2026 18:44:12

Dave, the position that you took this image is so interesting....what I like about it is it shows some of background ( I think they are part of the surrounding mountains - (but I thought it was desert). So I'm having some trouble reconciling that with mountains. I would appreciate some enlightenment!
I find the tree itself to be fascinating and I like the star to set off the top of the tree. I might have tried taking it from further away so that I saw the grounding of the image and trunk. But you are correct, hind sight is 20/20! And we should not get stuck in what would make us happy, but rather the intentions of the photographer. I can't tell you how many times I've taken a shot then someone mentions more distance ...and I think duh! that makes good sense ...but in the heat of the moment you loose the perspective.   Posted: 04/15/2026 17:57:12

I think you've got a great image Dave. I do like the position you've taken to be looking up at the tree and also being focused on the center portion, I believe the Joshua tree can have lots of "arms" going off to the side and trying to capture all of the tree would make it much smaller in the image. From your position and the post work with shadows on the backlit tree, the features of the tree stand out and add interest. I think I see a few bright spots in the thorns that might have been sky that was brightened with the work on the tree. If you used a wide angle lens, you might have gained a greater starburst on the sun with an f/16 aperture, but that can be tricky. I tend to shoot straight ahead whether standing or kneeling, so I'm learning to try different angles from your work.   Posted: 04/15/2026 18:41:54

Dave, to me, what really works well is that you captured a clear subject - no ambiguity. You also captured the "character" of a Joshua Tree, and the backlighting always adds interest - good call. The image has a real tactile quality which isn't always easy to do, again kudos. It's technically solid save for that purple area that Raymond highlighted - who knows what that is, I don't believe it's sun flare though - I'd just remove it. The branching structure of the subject is both a strength and a weakness: it gives the Joshua tree its character and energy, but because so many limbs radiate outward and terminate near or beyond the frame edges, they pull the viewer's eye out of the composition. Nonetheless, the image was interesting to look at. Nice job.   Posted: 04/16/2026 21:32:36

Great composition. The hills in the background provide a really nice grounding to the picture; which I now realize is a pun but I don't mean it that way.

I'd be curious if there's a version with a higher f/stop to make the sun rays more pronounced? Although that might ruin it and I love how they're shining out from that top branch.   Posted: 04/17/2026 14:47:40