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Thread: Leaves and sunlight

  1. #1
    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Leaves and sunlight

    It's autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. We've all got a leaf shot or two haven't we?Leaves and sunlight

  2. #2
    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Blue sky

    Leaves and sunlight

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    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    I'm new here and this isn't a competition so it may be in the wrong area! I just wanted to see people's leaf and sun photos.

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    Moderator Donald's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Joanne

    Yes, I think this would be better in the relevant forum in the Photo Commentary section. If one of the Mods picks this up, they could maybe move it across. That way, people who wouldn't otherwise have seen it because they haven't come in to the 'Competition' section', will see it.
    Last edited by Donald; 26th November 2010 at 07:50 AM.

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    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Quote Originally Posted by Donald View Post
    Yes, I think this would be better in the relevant forum in the Photo Commentarry section. If one of the Mods picks this up, they could maybe move it across.
    Your wish is my command ...

  6. #6
    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Thanks you guys! Sorry you have to fix everything I've done so far.

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    Moderator Donald's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Quote Originally Posted by EyeofthePotatO View Post
    Thanks you guys! Sorry you have to fix everything I've done so far.
    That's no problem. Dave loves doing it, really!

    The important thing is that you enjoy being part of this forum and feel that it helps your learning and the development of knowledge and skills.
    Last edited by Donald; 26th November 2010 at 07:50 AM.

  8. #8

    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Quote Originally Posted by EyeofthePotatO View Post
    Thanks you guys! Sorry you have to fix everything I've done so far.
    We like fixing things because we are guys...

  9. #9

    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Hi, Joanne!

    I have, like, a thousand leaf and sun photos. I'm not sure what I think of them, yet. I, actually, like this one best, so far. No sun - it was setting early. It was so bitterly cold and windy. I had to work really hard to get what i wanted out of it - clean background - a bit of it, somewhat, not blurry. Great fun!

    Leaves and sunlight

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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Like the 2nd one best nice colours

  11. #11

    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Joanne

    The first image needs a litte manipulation of the tonal curve. It just needs the lefthand end of the curve pulling down slightly. About a1/4 way from the left-hand axis and then pull up the righthand end of the curve upward very slightly (again a 1/4 way from the right-hand axis). Sean has a great tutorial on tonal curve manipulation HERE

    You also need to watch for distractive objects entering your frame. It took me a while to get this as second nature. You get so engrossed in the subject that the eye fails to notice other objects that may complete for prime spot. I am talking vivid green leaves in the first image and the dark branch in the second image.

    I actually really like the second image it is crisp and a beautiful complement of colours. A bit of hunting through the viewfinder would probably have yielded a frame without the branch. We all do this and I still do it on occasion and it takes some discipline to remember to check all around the scene in the viewfinder before hitting the shutter.

  12. #12

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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Hi Joanne,

    Steve hits on an important point regarding distractions in the scene. A simple solution is to make a frame in the proportions (ratio) of your picture dimensions that you can hold up to the scene and then move it around freely without the camera to your eye. Or, you can use your fingers to make a rectangle, whatever. It is an old trick, but still worth its salt.

    I like the colors of #2. Both draw a second look though.

    David

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    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Thank you for posting! I hope more people post their pictures. I am new to this and love looking at everything.

  14. #14
    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    When you talk about the tonal curve, is this something you do while taking the photo or manipulating it afterwards? I have been doing this for a bit less than two months and want to absorb any help you give me as if I were a sponge. I totally understand what you are saying about distractions! But you're right. I walked out of the store at Yosemite and saw the sun through this leaf stuck in a pine tree and didn't even notice anything else. I need to assess before I hit the shutter. It would have helped with the branch as well. I was so amazed at the yellow and blue that I didn't see the branch. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention.

  15. #15
    EyeofthePotatO's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    I will try that! There was a very old TV show (the Andy Griffith Show) and some movie-people came to Mayberry and the whole town ended up making rectangles to look at things. Thanks for reminding me. I will use that trick.

  16. #16
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Here's an old one -- don't touch, though, it's poison oak.

    Leaves and sunlight

  17. #17
    Moderator Dave Humphries's Avatar
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    Re: Leaves and sunlight

    Hi Joanne, and, if I haven't already said it; welcome to the CiC forums from me.

    Quote Originally Posted by EyeofthePotatO View Post
    I totally understand what you are saying about distractions! But you're right. I walked out of the store at Yosemite and saw the sun through this leaf stuck in a pine tree and didn't even notice anything else. I need to assess before I hit the shutter. It would have helped with the branch as well. I was so amazed at the yellow and blue that I didn't see the branch. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention.
    It is all a matter of practice, feedback, practice, etc. and you've come to the right place for this

    Looking back at your first two shot, a small change of where you shot from, just a few inches, might have been able to exclude the distractions, but even if you can't completely exclude them, it often helps to get them in a position for easier cloning removal later in PP (post processing).

    Quote Originally Posted by EyeofthePotatO View Post
    When you talk about the tonal curve, is this something you do while taking the photo or manipulating it afterwards? I have been doing this for a bit less than two months and want to absorb any help you give me as if I were a sponge.
    Tonal curves are something you do in PP manipulation. You can't really do it at picture taking time.

    Here is a tutorial (on Photoshop Curves) that may help show where the phrase 'tonal curves' comes from, but it is fairly advanced stuff and you can achieve good pictures without even looking at a Curves dialog - indeed your PP software may not even have such a thing.

    It might help us to target PP advice more accurately in future if we knew what software you have for images on your computer.

    Cheers,

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