I normally hold my tongue in critiques till all are finished, not wanting to taint the critique and comments. I think though this is as far as it will go. Seems another thread is all the rage. Soooo.....
Well, you did ask for it.
Yep I did, I enjoy all points of view good, bad, or indifferent. They are all tools to use.
I'll ignore the photography and concentrate on the image presented.
Thank you for that merciful pardon....I would still like to know what writings are out there on photographing bonsai. I thought there was a article at AoB, was unable to find it.
I like the rustic feeling of the stand, it adds greatly to the overall image, especially the pot. I do however feel it is to big for the style presented, forcing the container to be placed off center to the right to allow the cascade to flow down uninterrupted. A smaller surface area would bring the focus back up to the tree, as it is it steals the eye as is apparent by the comments above.
My stand collection is very limited. The stand I built from an old piece of furniture. To use as a more or less a utilitarian piece for study groups and impromptu photographs when a pot is wet or the pot feet have grit on them. Would not break my heart if it were marred. I agree with you that it is to big for this style and carries an enormous amount of negative visual weight.
The stand is also too massive for this tree, even with a smaller surface area, the stand is overpowering and would be more suited for a massive trunked bonsai. Possibly replacing the wide side rails with narrower ones or carving out the existing would help lighten the visual load. Another possibility may be the removal of the cross rail, this would give the stand the illusion of greater height, again lightening the visual load.
Agreed as I stated above. Your suggestions on lightening the visual load are good. Which I may incorporate to help with the image for future impromptu photos.
I like the pot and feel it is well chosen for this tree. I do not like the slabs placed on the soil, they look contrived to me. I realize the tree is planted extremely high and the slabs may serve some purpose here, but I can't help but to think that a single stone inset into the soil would be more visually pleasing.
Thank you for that observation. Was a labor of love by myself, and Vic Harris of Erin. Wanted to give the feel of a tree that had collapsed on a mountain slope. As for the stones...I would agree from that photograph. In person it has a different feel to it. I posted some shots from different angles that I believe gives it a different feel and a little more believable. However, I missed the mark. As bonsai today are most often shared through the Internet in a straight on shot of the display. I will confess that the stones would have been easier to manage than a surface covered in moss as in the picture in the above post. Had a hard time keeping it all green due to several different light conditions over the surface of the pot. I had reservations doing the stones, but my wife, with her good common sense said, take them off if you don't like them, but see what it will look like.

I will invariably end up with all moss again and possibly a single stone as you suggested.
The cascade bonsai itself is well on the way to having some real nice foliage pads, the stairway to heaven is well defined, the ramification looks very nice and the tree is healthy and appears to be thriving. The lowest apex is too bushy, it does not reflect the "attitude" of the upper pads, some fine wiring and definition would do wonders here.
It is healthy and thriving the upper portion is all but set and the way I want it. I agree that the lower pad is to bushy. There is a method to this visual madness. As I'm sure you know "most" trees are tend to be apically dominant. In a situation like a cascade the lower portions of the cascade tend to suffer, at least in larger bonsai. So to deal with this problem I hold the growth in the upper tree in check the best I can forcing the energy down the cascade to the "bushy" pads below. Once I get the ramification and back budding I want that pad will be thinned and be given more definition.
I am sure you know that the straight trunk section is out of place and draws the eye, some movement here would add greatly to the image presented. The jin on the top is too white for my taste.
Unfortunately there is a old life line that died long before I collected this yew. It runs down the back side and there fore makes bending this section off trunk pretty much impossible at this time. I had Colin try and give it ago. He begged off saying the risk was not worth the reward. I know in the future I will deal with this as it is the greatest imperfection of the tree. I have separated living tissue from dead before, however doing it to a yew is slightly different at least in my previous attempts. I still want more practice before I attempt.
The shari was just cleaned and sulpur applied for its winter slumber. So that coupled with a night shot and a flash...well you get Mr. Clean white. As in past years when this tree emerges from its slumber the shari should have a nice patina to it.
Thanks for your time, observations, and comments Will.