photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

I took some of the critiques of my first effort and tried again. This time I split toned it to retain highlight detail and retain a somewhat more realistic quality. What do you think?

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

WHAT???

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi, Photoninja,
Absent a higher quality download, I am left with some disappointment that the most characteristic feature of maleleuca, its delicately thin, curling decorticating bark is left to be appreciated without the sharp deliniation of critical focus.
The contrast of the light-colored subject with the darker BG does, however, provide some needed impact.

Use of color in this version, does not, for my eye, make up for lack of the sharply detailed bark.

Dave in SD

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I am interested in what you are trying to make out of these interesting paper-bark trees. This version has improved exposure control, but somehow in the process of improving exposure you've lost focus. Perhaps the camera focused on that twig that comes across the front (to be honest, I'd pull that thing off).

I do think there's a wonderful picture hiding in this thicket, and I hope you'll keep looking for it. I'm a tree geek myself - I take pictures of trees no one else cares about, includind the pest varieties. And I seek out and admire nice photos of trees by "real" photographers (not like me :) )

For you and anyone who's interested, here are some links that inspire me in photographing trees. Michael Frye's portfolio of the Eastern Sierra http://www.michaelfrye.com/port/eastside/eastside1.html and Guy Tal's trees in Utah http://guytal.com/gtp/gallery/search.jsp - even though yours are a different kind of tree, the concept could be similar, since both aspens and your maleleucas have very interesting bark for detailed images.

I even found a guy who'd taken some paper tree photos in Australia http://www.madcat.com.au/gallery/pages/Forest%20Twilight%201-Boranup%20Forest-Margaret%20River%20Region-BFV1.1-V1-TH1.htm and some on fine art America http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/melaleuca+trees/acrylic+prints

I think you're onto something good because there are many people taking photos of these trees in this country, most are from Australia. Keep working at it and keep sharing! It's an interesting journey.