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Thread: Lonely Leaf

  1. #1
    JemC's Avatar
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    Lonely Leaf

    Hi all
    spotted this in my garden today and thought it made an interesting picture, also tried a little processing, cropped it a little and used some USM although i think i may have used a little to much? c+c welcome
    Regards
    James

    Lonely Leaf

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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    James,

    I think the focus on the leaf is pretty good. In fact the leaf itself is pretty interesting. The rocks in the image make it a little busy and I have a hard time focusing my eye on the leaf. I would say a simpler background with a tick more contrast from the leaf would work wonderfully.

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    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi James,

    I agree with Scott; it is too busy and also too similar in shape and colour.

    So you need to think "what can I do to make the subject more obvious", here are some ideas to try;
    treat leaf separately from stones
    enhance texture of leaf viens
    slightly darken background
    properly downsize the image,then final sharpen (especially leaf texture) before you upload to TinyPic

    If you don't do the last bits right, we won't be able to see some of what you do, because TinyPic has a 1600px limit and when it downsizes to that, it will soften the texture again.

    HTH,

  4. #4
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi Scott , Dave

    thanks for the comments, however i am even less experienced with photoshop than i am with the camera and i have no idea where to even start to try some of the advice you have given, looks like i a lot of reading to be done to try understand PS coming up
    Regards
    James

  5. #5
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Quote Originally Posted by JemC View Post
    ~ thanks for the comments, however i am even less experienced with photoshop than i am with the camera and i have no idea where to even start to try some of the advice you have given, looks like i a lot of reading to be done to try understand PS coming up ~
    I can appreciate it may sound daunting James, but it really isn't that bad - take it one step at a time - and then put the steps together.

    What PP software do you have?

  6. #6
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi Dave
    I currently have photoshop 7, not the latest i know, but for my capabilities and knowledge it is!
    Regards
    James

  7. #7
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Quote Originally Posted by JemC View Post
    Hi Dave
    I currently have photoshop 7, not the latest i know, but for my capabilities and knowledge it is!
    Regards
    James
    Hi James,

    Is that the (really old and pre CS2) Photoshop 7 or Photoshop Elements 7 ?

    Cheers,

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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    James,

    I find the idea of this capture very nice and inspiring !! All you need to consider next time, is isolating the main object of the shot (the leaf) from the background. You can do this by setting your lens with narrower aperture (i-e higher F) and slower shutter speed.

    Ahmed

  9. #9
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi Dave
    Yes thats the one, the really old one

  10. #10
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Quote Originally Posted by Ahmed Shahat View Post
    James,

    I find the idea of this capture very nice and inspiring !! All you need to consider next time, is isolating the main object of the shot (the leaf) from the background. You can do this by setting your lens with narrower aperture (i-e higher F) and slower shutter speed.

    Ahmed

  11. #11
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi ahmed
    Thanks for the advice, will keep that in mind for future reference.

  12. #12
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Quote Originally Posted by Ahmed Shahat View Post
    All you need to consider next time, is isolating the main object of the shot (the leaf) from the background. You can do this by setting your lens with narrower aperture (i-e higher F) and slower shutter speed.
    Hi Ahmed,

    I'm not sure I follow your line of thought here, that action would given even more Depth of Field and result in more of the stones being in focus and sharper - I don't see how that would help.

  13. #13
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi Dave
    after quite a bit of reading i tried this with the picture, would love to know what you think, its not perfect i know but it's making me use my brain a little
    Lonely Leaf

  14. #14
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Quote Originally Posted by JemC View Post
    Hi Dave
    after quite a bit of reading i tried this with the picture, would love to know what you think, its not perfect i know but it's making me use my brain a little
    Lonely Leaf
    Hi James,

    Ah, now some might call it a cliche shot, but I like it - you have done it very well

    You have good sharpness and viens on the leaf, best viewed large.

    Very good progress from the first iteration.

    Taking it only slightly higher, I now look for any other small things that could easily be remedied;
    I might burn a few stones in certain places to make them just a bit dimmer
    Clone out a tiddly bit here and there
    Just wondering about the composition too, the leaf is quite central

    How's this (let me know if you object and I'll remove it);
    Lonely Leaf
    In addition to the above, I did a final sharpen with USM at 75%, 0.3px and 3 threshold

    Use F11 to maximise browser, then click image to flit between them in Lytebox for comparison.

    Cheers,

  15. #15
    JemC's Avatar
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hi Dave
    I do not object at all, please do not remove,
    i think what you have done is wonderful, thank you so much for your help and advice, i am so glad i discovered this site the people on here are so helpful and willing to offer help or advice unlike some other sites, it's also making me more critical within myself when taking photo's which can't be bad,
    Thank you
    James

  16. #16
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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Selective colour is not my thing - I would de-saturate the rocks, but still leave a hint of colour. I like the overall feel of the composition.

  17. #17

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    Re: Lonely Leaf

    Hello Dave,

    Thanks for your note. I am sorry for this mistake, Of course I meant the opposite .

    Ahmed

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