Last One

[FrankMi]

How do you present a thin object image that is mostly out-of-focus background in such a way that it has impact and appeal?

I like the stark nature of the lone berry and bare branch but I wonder if there are ways to make it more appealing to those that like this kind of an 'artsy' image?

[Bobobird]

Nicely done.

Making the background almost blurred out leaving only the colours but no obvious shapes might work to strengthen the isolation?

[FrankMi]

Nicely done.

Making the background almost blurred out leaving only the colours but no obvious shapes might work to strengthen the isolation?

Let's give it a try! I also wanted to try a different crop to make the berry more prominent. Your thoughts - is this any better?

Did I lose too much of the colour?

Should I crop even tighter?

[Geoff F]

My thoughts were for a crop of the original, Frank, but perhaps not exactly how you have done it.

I think I would try cropping below those broken white ends to the twig.

Maybe end up with a 5 x 4 ratio. Or try something around 3 x 2 and have more blank space on the right?

A case of try a few different crops then decide.

[Bobobird]

Edit works for me.

[ggt]

I like the crop --not what I would have done, but I like it. That's one thing I love about this forum. I am constantly seeing how perspectives other than my own work well or better.

[FrankMi]

OK, maybe one more alternate?

Took out the broken white ends at the top and added more space to the right. Went back to the original background, but reduced the saturation 20 points. At this crop I felt that the lines created by the branches were taking my eye out of the image so a bit of tilt was added. When that was done, it looked like a square crop would be needed.

I may have been better off sleeping in this morning! Oh well, it's a learning experience...

[Geoff F]

You have ended up with some pleasing lines there, Frank.

[Nicola]

Hi Frank,
just brain storming:
what about a 3:2 vertical crop as the 2nd picture but with the branch "running" the frame from up-left corner to bottom-right with the berry in the low-right cross between the third lines?
just a thought
ciao
Nicola

[ggt]

I still like #2. Dunno why, just do. Perhaps the extra twig gives a better idea of the size of the berry? Perspective?

[Kris V]

I like the last one. And can you tell what the berry actually is?
I've never seen anything like it.

[Steve S]

Never crop more, unless you've reached your min. focus.

[FrankMi]

I like the last one. And can you tell what the berry actually is?
I've never seen anything like it.

I don't know what the berry/plant is called. Perhaps someone can ID it for us?

[Dave Humphries]

I like the last crop best, with the more diagonal slant.

Nicola's idea might be worth a try too.

Echoing what Gretchen said, this is thought provoking in the variability of options in presenting something as simple as one berry on a twig and discovering what works and what doesn't - I am wondering what it would have looked like without the 'complication' of the berry egde 'touching' the stem, or without the branches behind it - mind you, it looks like one of them may be supporting it.

Cheers,

[Mike Buckley]

I didn't take the time to read the posts in the thread, but...

Nice side lighting that conveys the texture of the berry! Great color also!

Consider placing a black background behind the subject, whether shooting in the field or clipping the plant and taking it into a studio situation.

Consider using a polarizer to eliminate the glare, which in my opinion is a distraction and adds nothing to the shape or color of the berry.

[FrankMi]

Thanks Dave and Mike. I'll need to take these ideas into the field with me next time I shoot something like this. Every day I learn something new is a good day.

I had my CP filter with me that day but wasn't thinking about the glair off the berry when I was shooting this!