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Critique
dark scary forest
#FOREST#WOODLAND#MISTY
Holger Graeber PRO
9 months ago

This shot was taken in a natural wooded area. The fallen trees lie very chaotically. In the early morning fog, this scene looked very dark and mystical. It took me a while to find a perspective that shows order in the chaos and still conveys the mood.

The post-processing: colours slightly desaturated, use of the Orton effect to enhance the mood, dodge and burn

 

I am aware that this is not an easy shot. I particularly like it. I left it lying around for 2 years before I published it so that I could gain a little distance myself. 

What interests me in particular: is the motif too weak? Is it even worth a shot? Am I completely wrong in my own judgement?

 

Thank you very much for your open criticism. I appreciate it very much. 

 

Udo Dittmann PRO
9 months ago

Hi Holger,

 

I like motifs like this, where you can immediately suspect a dwarf behind the next tree root. Personally, I would give the photo a little more drama, so I applied a "fade to bw" B&W filter, where you can control the effect of each color individually (On1 Effects). I also cut off "the exit" on the left so that the viewer's eye is caught.

 

 

Greetings

Udo

Holger Graeber PRO
9 months ago
Udo Dittmann PRO

Hi Holger,

 

I like motifs like this, where you can immediately suspect a dwarf behind the next tree root. Personally, I would give the photo a little more drama, so I applied a "fade to bw" B&W filter, where you can control the effect of each color individually (On1 Effects). I also cut off "the exit" on the left so that the viewer's eye is caught.

 

 

Greetings

Udo

Udo Dittmann PRO

Hi Holger,

 

I like motifs like this, where you can immediately suspect a dwarf behind the next tree root. Personally, I would give the photo a little more drama, so I applied a "fade to bw" B&W filter, where you can control the effect of each color individually (On1 Effects). I also cut off "the exit" on the left so that the viewer's eye is caught.

 

 

Greetings

Udo

Hi Udo. Thank you very much. a good variant. Maybe I'm too careful in post-processing this shot. The subject promises drama, so you can emphasise that. Thank you

Elizabeth Allen CREW 
9 months ago — Senior critic

Hello Holger

 

Thank you for sharing your dark scary forest photo with us - it's a photo I wish I had taken myself! Udo's edit is excellent and I can't improve upon it so I am just offering a slightly different version with a softer feel and desaturated warmer tones.

Good light, Elizabeth

 

Holger Graeber PRO
9 months ago

thank you Elizabeth, this is very helpful. by the way: it is a very hidden place in the Lake District, UK

Slawomir Kowalczyk CREW 
8 months ago — Senior critic

Hello Holger,

 

Thank you very much for sending the photo to this forum.

 

I really like such atmospheres. Shapes of nature emphasized by fog and interesting light - it's honey to my heart.

 

your shot is interesting but I lacked a bit of boldness in the colors. By using the Orton effect you lost the juiciness and colors of this place. in addition, I also lacked the accent of light, which is in your shot but was not properly "extracted".

 

my proposal is based on increasing the contrast in several places in the scene and also on emphasizing the lights and restoring the colors. I did it in PSCC 2024 using layers made for lights and shadows.

 

You find interesting places!

 

Best regards

 

Slawomir Kowalczyk - SC.

Ute Jackisch PRO
8 months ago

Hello Holger,

what an atmospheric photo! I really like it and of course it offers endless scope for digital accentuation. Whether you emphasise the fog, the forest atmosphere, the damp grass or whatever is up to you. Here in the chat you can already see how different an interpretation can be. And none of them are better or worse, just DIFFERENT.

I find it exciting what can be extracted from such a photo. That's why I couldn't hold back and uploaded my personal interpretation here. I worked with NIK Viveza and LR. 

LG Ute