About the Image(s)

This image to me has a feeling of a team of Joshua Trees ??“ a leader in front with the rag tag bunch spread out in formation behind. In that sense, I feel it is much a portrait of the lead tree and its team.

I've always had a very difficult time finding pleasing compositions at Joshua Tree NP. So in my visit this past February I sought a couple of things. First, I tried to find a background that is not just sky. I was able to find this “hill” as the background (just beside one of the major picnic areas). This allowed the bright trees to stand out against a dark background. Second, I sought some organized grouping of trees that appeared harmonious and not random. This took some searching but not much to find this group.

From there I used a long telephoto to hold the trees against hill (the top of hill and sky is just out of the frame). I made the image just after sunset ??“ glow from sky is illuminating the trees. I made an alternative image just before sunset with direct light on the tips of the trees, but I like this version better. I focus stacked 7 images (probably overkill) to get front to back sharpness, and I darkened the background (and foreground / bases of trees) to get the trees to pop more. Finally, I cooled down the image overall to give it a bit statelier sort of look consistent with a portrait of the leader and their team.

I'd be interested if the idea of this as a "portrait" of the lead tree and team comes across. I also wonder if the lead tree isn't a tad too bright and whether I might not carry the crisp sharpness all the way to the hill in the background, so as to get the trees to pop even more. Suggestions on all of that encouraged.

Sony a1, FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM II, 2.5 sec, f8, ISO 100, 178 mm, polarizer