Lonely Leaf

[JemC]

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

[epmi314]

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.

[Dave Humphries]

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,

[JemC]

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

[Dave Humphries]

~ 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?

[JemC]

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

[Dave Humphries]

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,

[Ahmed Shahat]

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

[JemC]

Hi Dave
Yes thats the one, the really old one

[JemC]

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

[JemC]

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

[Dave Humphries]

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.

[JemC]

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

[Dave Humphries]

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

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);

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,

[JemC]

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

[Kris V]

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.

[Ahmed Shahat]

Hello Dave,

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

Ahmed