Sycamore Tree in Corn Field

[Anita Bower]

I drive past this scene every day. I love that the tree has been left standing in the field. I also like the slight curve of the land. I would prefer to live in or near mountains, but, I'll take whatever rises in the land I can get.

I added textures by 2-lil-owls, and an unidentified person. Added the birds because the sky looked empty, using brush by Shadowhouse Creations (which forced me to learn how to install brushes in Elements 10). I also used CEP Detail Extractor, and Gaussian Blur selectively, as well as selectively darkening and lightening.

I welcome constructive critiques.

[Paul Lagasi]

I like the image a lot, lovely setting. Only thing I may have done differently is not adding so many birds. Lovely composition

[Anita Bower]

I like the image a lot, lovely setting. Only thing I may have done differently is not adding so many birds. Lovely composition

Thanks. I wondered about the birds. Let's see what others think.

[Hazel Grant]

I agree about the birds. without them, it has a minimalist look. Maybe one bird???? not sure. love the curve vs the tall tree.

[Anita Bower]

Version with no birds

[Hazel Grant]

Maybe I'm just in a minimalist frame of mind (strange for me) but I really like this repost better

[Anita Bower]

Maybe I'm just in a minimalist frame of mind (strange for me) but I really like this repost better

Thanks for your feedback, Hazel.

[Warren Hatch]

I very much like the image. Both treatments are beautiful. In contrast to some of the previous comments, my eye favors the version with the birds added.

I do wonder if dropping the birds a little further into the background might strike an appealing balance between the original rendering and the more minimalist view?

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Anita, I think Warren makes a good point. I'd like to see it the way he suggested. Maybe you could lighten them a little also?

[Diane Miller]

Hmmm... a quandary. I love farm fields with the odd tree left standing. Maybe fewer birds with a few bigger than the others, and some staggered spacing....

[Anita Bower]

Here is another version.

[Hazel Grant]

Ah, yes.

[Anita Bower]

Ah, yes.

Hazel: Thank you for hanging in there with me.

[Diane Miller]

Yes, I like this version best, with more interest in the birds.

[Anita Bower]

Yes, I like this version best, with more interest in the birds.

Thanks, Diane!

[Cheryl Slechta]

I like this one the best, Anita!

[Anita Bower]

I like this one the best, Anita!

Thanks.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Great colours and angle to take you into the scene. I think I like it without the birds as the tree and the path leading into the cornfield are the main subjects (for me anyway) Really nice texture work.

[Mitch Carucci]

Lovely scene. (Is the corn really hat high already?)

[Anita Bower]

Lovely scene. (Is the corn really hat high already?)

Thanks. And, yes, the corn is even higher now, a week later.