forest stream | San Gorgonio Wildernessby
ErikTurnerComment by macrothing: 
Critique Club Critique
First Impressions
The big log. Nice water, color and scene, but the big log dominates too much. I gave this a 6 during voting.
Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
On reading your processing, I can't help but wonder if the elements that you have enhanced are perhaps the elements that needed toned down. There does seem to be a touch too much contrast in places.
Composition wise: tough - the image is very busy, so much so that the more interesting elements, such as the stream, the flow and shape of the foliage on the slope and the interesting forest in the rear, all get lost. With the image as is, it is tough to suggest a crop, maybe going for a very bold crop on the right to bring just the stream and 'log' into play, not sure. There's no getting away from the big log and exposed root that dominate the image and compete with all the other elements.
More attention paid when 'in-situ' to angle and composition will make things a lot easier for you when it comes time to process the image and choose a crop and frame.
Comments, Score & Placement Review
Your one comment is helpful and perhaps reflects similar thoughts to what I was saying above.
A score of 5.26 is quite good for a Free Study and a placing of 318/419 is admittedly fairly low down the pack, but as mentioned above, there was probably nothing to hold the voters long enough to be drawn into the image and wander around.
Summary
A nice scene, but needs simplifying or otherwise a different vantage point to capture the feel a little more overall.
Photographer found comment helpful.
