first post - looking to improve

[ShebJonson]

I've been looking at photos posted on this site for some time, decided it's time to make the step and start looking to improve my knowledge.

Took this picture the other day and it intrigues me, but I'm not sure why. Would really appreciate comments.

[Iguanasan]

I'll give if it a first go.

First off, welcome to the forums! I hope you enjoy your stay and I hope you get what you want out of my comments.

I like this shot too. The log is very interesting with the wonderful contrast. You've shot with a reasonably short depth of field which is what is causing the blur the farther away you go. I love shots like this.

The sky is a little blown (overexposed) so I would rather not see it at all. A tighter crop to get rid of the sky and hide the blurry foreground so that the image starts out in focus and progresses on from that. Having a blurry foreground is a little distracting some times.

Other than cropping, I wouldn't change a thing! It's a very nice capture.

[Mad Aussie]

Just adding to Iggy's comments ...

I think the intrigue probably comes from the composition you've used here. You have created a 'Leading Line' with the log itself which takes our eye from the foreground bottom corner throught the image to where the log ends. Well done.

[web44]

The essence of this photo is in the central (in fosus) piece of this beautifully aged wood & the contrasting rock texture, try cropping the north & south (out of fosus) areas, you may end up with a powerful close up of nature. The washed out sky, definitively has to go!!!, it drains all the visual impact from the main subject, there is no golden rule in my book, that says you need a sky line. Hope this helps & keep looking where most just walk.

A picture is worth a thousand words, hope you don't mind my boldness

[Mad Aussie]

I like what you are seeing in your mind here. The aged wood and contrasting rock, textures. Definitely agree sky is not needed in landscape photography although I'm sure I'd call your work landscape exactly, but I think that's what you are going for anyhow. Landscape with a difference.

I think having the log split the image more diagonally rather than almost in half vertically might have been a stronger composition.

[kat]

I agree..a blown out sky isn't needed but I feel that the tip of the wood is. I find it gives the photo something. I would of croped a bit from the beginning and the end and a bit to the right as well.

[jlabel]

I agree with web, I think the picture must have that crop and the contrast enhancement is a plus since the trunk is not very special.