Lost Oasis

It is Thursday and that means it is time to bring an old image back to life. This shot is one that is tinged with sadness for me. The location is one that I used on many occasions for various different images, including the Bluebell ones, however last summer when I returned to what I thought was one of my trusted favourite spots large sections of it, including this rather beautiful fallen tree had been cut down by the local farmer who owned it. To say I was sad would be a huge understatement and I sat on one of the tree stumps left behind and thought about all the wonderful hours I had spent in this little oasis with my camera and shed a tear at its passing.

The original image: Give me Shelter is one of three images I took with this felled monster but is definitely my favourite. Whilst not technically perfect, the stump is too dark and the sunlight on my leg is overexposed I love the relationship between me and the tree and the harsh red of my outfit against the muted tones of the winter woods.

However with this new edit I have darkened down the surrounding woodland and reduced the contrast and clarity giving them a more eerie sinister feel whilst preserving the colour and light on me thereby making me the real focal point of the shot. Still not technically perfect but for me a much stronger image than the original.