Leaves and sunlight

[EyeofthePotatO]

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

[EyeofthePotatO]

[EyeofthePotatO]

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.

[Donald]

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.

[Dave Humphries]

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 ...

[EyeofthePotatO]

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

[Donald]

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.

[carregwen]

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

We like fixing things because we are guys...

[Katy Noelle]

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!

[russellsnr]

Like the 2nd one best nice colours

[Wirefox]

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.

[David deSousa]

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

[EyeofthePotatO]

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

[EyeofthePotatO]

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.

[EyeofthePotatO]

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.

[mythlady]

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

[Dave Humphries]

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

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).

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,