Afternoon trees photograph: comparison to ones by Richard Muir and Ansel Adams

This is my image of afternoon trees which I would like to compare with two images - one by Richard Muir and one by Ansel Adams.

The settings I used were: f/16; ISO 200; 1/80 second; focal length 40mm

Comparison to Richard Muir.

Initially the similarity is not obvious. Richard's image is taken in early autumn whereas mine is taken when all the leaves have fallen. The light appears to come from the side, and from the quality of the light was probably taken in early morning - the soft, bright and slightly 'yellow' light highlights the colours of the leaves. This is a warm image of autumn. In contrast my image was taken in fading afternoon sunlight and is back lit; it is stark and relatively cool.

However structurally they are similar, which they should be since Richard's image was the inspiration for mine. In both neither the top nor bottom of the trees is shown; the tree trunks are relatively thin and nearly vertical; the trees act as borders on each side of the photograph.

Which do I prefer? Richard's image. The play of the sunlight on the trees gives warmth and vitality to the image. I am pleased with my image, and think that its composition is successful. This shot could be repeated at another time of year in different lighting to come closer to Richard's image - but my current image is I feel good enough to stand on its own merit.

Comparison to Ansel Adams.

This image has even less similarity to my own. Its focus is upon a young sapling highlighted by (early morning?) sunlight, with numerous trees and is in black and white.

The similarity to my own image lies in the starkness of both images. However Adams image has the contrast of the bright and living sapling within the image, which gives a story to the image. 

In Conclusion by comparing my image to both those of Richard Muir and Ansel Adams I believe its great weakness is in its lack of story. Richard's tells of autumn, Adams gives a contrast; the aim of mine was to portray the late afternoon sunlight on the bare autumn trees but unfortunately it has not succeeded. The basic composition of mine can be kept but a story must be added - light, leaves, season - there are choices available. Again the moral is to practise and try again.