Yakumo's World
Near Shizuhara (静原), Fork in the Road
Posted by GJC (Kyoto, Japan) on 26 September 2008 in Landscape & Rural.
The contrast was too high for me to get it well, but at the base of the tree is a small shrine.
Hikari from Kumamoto, Japan
It´s so difficult to get this kind of image right , but I think you did it very well , the tree and the two ways make the photo.
26 Sep 2008 5:52am
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
i appreciate that you tried to get it but let me tell you friend that the Light on the Mountains is Divine
26 Sep 2008 11:00am
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Um... which road to take? Which road does the adventure lay down? Great shot...
26 Sep 2008 12:21pm
gbe from kansas city, United States
this turn, the wet road, the light, the tree - well, it's all wonderful
26 Sep 2008 12:26pm
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Tough contrasting brightness but I think you've done a superb job... I actually feel even more drawn into the picture because of the huge contrast.:-) Very beautiful compositon, colours and pattens! Enjoy this very much my friend.
26 Sep 2008 4:01pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
geek stuff: did you try the active D-lighting (or the after the fact retouch d-lighting) for this shot? I am still trying to get myself really wrapped around the way the D300 handles contrast in such scenes... have had mixed success so far and probably use the active setting at times when it isn't needed - the price for that as I sadly discovered is a slightly delayed release.
alternatively, this probably would be a great candidate for an HDR, but that involves traipsing around with a tripod.
I've also been meaning to ask what colour settings you use within the camera... [end of geek-stuff]
I do like the composition of this shot and especially the light in the background and the mysterious dark central silhouette of the tree trunk. there's something about it that pulls one in.
26 Sep 2008 8:23pm
@baobab: Thanks so much for your visit and thoughtful comment. As to the geek stuff: I did indeed use the active D-lighting (set at "medium") but didn't use the in-camera re-touch. I did add some contrast later in Lightroom, but that's all I did. I find that the d300 handles contrast extremely well -- in fact sometimes too well because I sometimes want more and have to try to change the settings. I agree that a tripod is a major pain in the neck and it's why I dont' carry one around, but many times I wish I did :)
madcat from Los Angeles, United States
i like shots like this, where the eye is invited down more than one path. As for the contrast, yes, next time just set up a giant wall of 20k lights just off camera left, and no prob. ;)
26 Sep 2008 10:03pm
@madcat: Now I like that idea! I'll start shopping for some today . . .
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Very nice shot. The Nikon is a very capable camera showing the shaded area when mixed with strong lighting. This is perfect and you wouldn't get the green if you meter off the tree. Beautiful beautiful shot!
27 Sep 2008 12:55am
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
As a daily D300-user, I have those debates running thru my mind constantly! But I like the balance of exposure found in this image, I like the intensity and there is enough detail in the shadows for me to have seen the shrine straight off. The shot seems to have 'meaning' somehow . . something to do with choices.
27 Sep 2008 7:49pm
Nikon D300
1/100 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
27 mm (35mm equiv.)
