Willow

[Cheryl Slechta]

This was taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico during my trip. I used a slow shutter speed because the wind was blowing and I wanted to get that effect on the willows. I used a slight Topaz Simplify to brighten the colors at a reduced opacity.
f/22, .4 sec., ISO 50

[Dennis Bishop]

Being successful at this is not as easy as it sounds, and I think you did it well. The little splashes of color are delightful. Although the main branch makes a strong primary diagonal, and I think that's good from a graphical standpoint, my inclination would be to lighten it and increase its contrast. The lightening is primarily so it doesn't stand out as much; the contrast is because it's then easier to see the bark, which reveals that the branch is stationary and that contrasts with the movement in the rest of the image.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Dennis, I agree - I need to go back to the original - I probably increased contrast in LR and it would have been fine the way it was. I'll check it out and repost - thanks

[Nancy Bell]

Very good capture of blowing wind. Makes me think of the poem, "Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I. But when the leaves hang trembling, the wind is passing by." I like what Dennis has done to the tree trunks. On the upper right border those streaks of light are somewhat distracting. A very nice delicate palette of colors.