Autumn Leaf
Nov 23, 2011 15:16:18 #
My wife found this leaf in our yard this morning. She liked the shape.
I took several shots of it. I would welcome comments. I'm trying to learn effects of backgrounds, lighting, etc.
I shoot now with a Canon 60D with the 18-135 kit lens. The only filter I have so far is a UV filter to protect the lens.
Constructive criticism is welcome. Rude comments will be completely ignored.
I took several shots of it. I would welcome comments. I'm trying to learn effects of backgrounds, lighting, etc.
I shoot now with a Canon 60D with the 18-135 kit lens. The only filter I have so far is a UV filter to protect the lens.
Constructive criticism is welcome. Rude comments will be completely ignored.
Nov 23, 2011 15:18:20 #
Nov 23, 2011 15:29:38 #
Nov 23, 2011 17:17:21 #
I like the third one best. For me the background color is a nice contrast and less distracting than the others making the subject stand out nicely. Pretty leaf and interesting color effects on it. Nice job isolating the leaf.
Nov 23, 2011 17:39:02 #
Number 2 does it for me.... Nice, straight forward, no gimmicks, good isolation, great color with no distracting background.
Nov 23, 2011 17:52:56 #
mrjcall wrote:
Number 2 does it for me.... Nice, straight forward, no gimmicks, good isolation, great color with no distracting background.
That one I had sprinkled with a little water. Then my wife shined a light on it to give it more front lighting, which meant a faster shutter and darkened the mess behind it.
I just checked the settings for these pics:
1. F/5.6, 1/2 Second, ISO 200, 87mm focal length.
2. F/5.6, 1/15 Second, ISO 200, 137mm focal length.
3. F/5.6, 1/15 Second, ISO 400, 75mm focal length.
I'm still trying to learn how various combinations affect the results, and was surprised by the different colors I got on the leaf based on the lighting and backgrounds.
Nov 23, 2011 17:57:04 #
Number 3 doesn't have the color manipulated? If not, great job with the variables!
Nov 23, 2011 18:09:01 #
mrjcall wrote:
Number 3 doesn't have the color manipulated? If not, great job with the variables!
I shot all of these RAW and used "Process Mutiple Files" in PSE 8 to convert them to JPEGs. The only differences were the lighting and camera settings (and of course the backgrounds).
I have done no post processing except what PSE 8 does automatically.
Here are a couple more shots. All of them except the first one here are hanging up which causes the light to shine through from the back.
f/11, 2 Sec., ISO 400, 75mm focal len.
f/5.6, 1/6 Sec., ISO 200, 79mm focal len.
Nov 23, 2011 18:15:21 #
jaymi1028
Loc: Los Angeles
I like the clarity and focus in the first two, but my eye keeps getting drawn to what seems like soup cans in the background! It would be cool to see a shot like this outside, maybe with other trees in the background. the leaf is very beautiful though!
Nov 23, 2011 21:34:30 #
I like the 5th one best. The slightly wider crop and the angling of the leaf makes it look like the leaf is falling.
Nov 24, 2011 07:02:39 #
Thank you all for your comments. I had hoped that I could set the f-stop low enough to blur the junk in the background and that I would just get the color. I guess I need a better lens if I want to do that.
The main point of this exercise for me was to use the leaf as a means of trying various lighting and camera settings and try to practice some of the things I have been reading about.
I doubt that anyone would hang any of these photos in their living room.
Anyway, I'm learning and will look for another subject to try different things with.
Thanks again for your comments.
The main point of this exercise for me was to use the leaf as a means of trying various lighting and camera settings and try to practice some of the things I have been reading about.
I doubt that anyone would hang any of these photos in their living room.
Anyway, I'm learning and will look for another subject to try different things with.
Thanks again for your comments.
Nov 24, 2011 09:04:15 #
It is a beautiful leaf. Since it is a piece of nature, I might have left it in its natural setting. It looks as though you've taken it indoors and propped it up to shoot it...I'm not sure. To get the most impressive leaf shots, try shooting them with backlighting....when the sun is at a low angle in the sky (after sunrise or before sunset) and is shining through them. They look like they are glowing. (You might have to get down on the ground.) You can still get a sharp leaf shape, but if you open up as far as you can with your lens (f4 or f5.4) you'll be able to soften the background of whatever is behind the leaf as well, remembering that the farther your leaf is from its background, the more blurred the background will look. You CAN do this with your lens, it just takes practice.
Nov 24, 2011 09:25:17 #
mnm wrote:
It is a beautiful leaf. Since it is a piece of nat... (show quote)
Thanks. My wife saw this leaf and brought it in to me. We hava a yard full of trees, but I don't know where this leaf came from. Most of our trees are just oak and cedar.
Anyway, this was just an exercise for me. I appreciate your comments and will probably try to find a good subject or two to move this subject outside. I'm really learing a lot from the posts on this forum, and appreciate the helpful comments from everyone.
Nov 26, 2011 20:19:15 #
Have you tried using Topaz Adust??
I use this program for enhancement.
I use this program for enhancement.
California Autumn leaf
Nov 26, 2011 21:10:41 #
At this time the only post processing I do is to convert the RAW files to jpegs using multiple file processing in PSE8.
I'm still trying to get a handle on the camera settings now. I'm planning on taking a class on Photo Shop later but for now I just want to figure out how to get the best image I can from the camera.
I'm still trying to get a handle on the camera settings now. I'm planning on taking a class on Photo Shop later but for now I just want to figure out how to get the best image I can from the camera.
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