I like it as it is Jean. The colour, lighting and composition all work well together. I dont think a plain background would give the depth you have in this image. The oof background helps the image. It looks like a tongue to me, albeit if my tongue was that colour I might be tempted to get myself along to the doctor Iain
Thanks Iain - if your tongue was that colour, I'd be very, very worried about you.
A lovely surface on that leaf. It does look like a tongue. I wonder if a crop off the right hand side would help?
Thanks, Sue. Yes, I think a crop on the right is a very viable alternative and was actually my first take on it, but then I thought the stem colours were pretty ...
Cool subject - great surface texture, well spotted
Awww - thanks, Dade. It's a shot I've intended to try for a while, so I'm glad to have done it before the plant dies on me.
Excellent take on the theme, Jean. I really like the colours and the DOF. I tend to prefer plant shots with a natural background rather than something contrived.
Jenny
I'm sure you're right about natural b/g, Jenny. I was just trying to earn extra 'bang on theme' points by getting in more textures.
Amazing texture on the leaf.
Congratulation to you and your daughter and family.
Thank you,JL - Mum and baby are doing well, and I'm racking up shutter clicks every time I see her.
that leafs texture is cool, and agree its like a tongue, not that i would want a rough tongue though. I keep going back for another look. good work.
Thanks, David. I'm glad you like it - and it's actuall quite soft and slightly furry - still not a good look for a tongue, though. lol:
Great picture Jean, lovely texture to the shot and fits the theme well. Two things missing for me though. The little scratch off and smell strip and the need to run my hands over a lovely soft surface. You have nailed the dof with this perfectly and the composition is strong, well done
:bang: Sorry, Chris - I knew I'd missed something with this one. One scratch and sniff strip coming up just as soon as I've mastered (and patented!) the technology.
Nice colour and texture captured here. It does make me want to reach out and touch it. Might have been tempting to get even closer in for all that lovely detail. A small shame about the leaf bottom right as it's a little distracting, but good effort
Thanks, Darren. I seriously considered removing that bottom leaf, but it left the main one looking a bit lonely.
As has already been said, fantastic textures in this.
I also love the colours, love the DoF and love the angle that you've shot the leaf at! I want to reach in and touch it too.
I'm glad that you didn't go for a black b/g. As much as I love black b/g shots, this one really benefits from the natural backdrop. It emphasises the DoF and holds all the colour tones together.
Re: Your feeling that there's something more that could be done to this, the only thing that bothers me slightly (and I do only mean slightly) is the RHS.
Maybe a square crop to lose those 2 extra leaves on the side and make the main leaf run diagonally corner to corner - or perhaps a bit of vignetting to darken those 2 leaves down a touch?
Thanks for the detailed feedback, Sarah - it's always much appreciated. I've must admit I never think of adding a vignette. :bang: Something I must try.
A quick catch-up from me. I prefer the concept of the first image for mobile, but it needs more punch somehow - probably a greater dof would have done the job.
I really like the texture on the surfaces shot - I wonder if you could have got a angle where we could see three leaves in the frame - I think it might have made for a more appealing composition.
Phil
Thanks Phil - I wasn't pleased with either mobile shot - the mojo was on a go-slow that week. I must try and have another go when I've got a minute. I did try to get more leaves in the picture, but unfortunately, I'd used a handful of them in dinner the previous night and kind of wrecked the plant's good looks. Grrrr ...
Fantastic texture caught on the leaf and it really does look like a tongue !
Perhaps you could try a bit of a crop on the right or just darkening that part with Levels, but I like the natural look of it as it is.
Thanks Tracer. I hadn't thought of darkening the RHS! This is one of the great things about this 52 challenge - people give such constructive and helpful feedback.
Transform, a great idea, and the skin are interesting images. I think they probably just needed a little faster shutter as they look a little soft. Shame on the snake motion too.
Mobile, love the idea in the first one, the silver on black, particularly with that hexagon works so well... I'm afraid it's another one, that looks a little soft.. Sorry.
The second one works better from a sharpness view, and I like it, but I feel it's not quite got the same impact as the original.
Surfaces, ahh now... there we go. Spot on. The muted colours in the oof background add to it nicely, and there's plenty of detail in the leaf.
Thanks for the comprehensive catch-up, John. I've been kicking myself for not getting the Transform or Mobile shots pin sharp. :bang: I'm glad you like the sage leaf.
Jean, firstly my apologies. I could have sworn I'd commented on your thread, but looking through it appears I haven't. So a quick catch up on the previous few weeks:
Endings - Love your luggage shots. Maybe a slightly more aged and worn look by adding a texture perhaps.
Electric - a bit sneaky with this one Jean - I recognised it, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Mobile - Prefer the second shot and if you desaturate the Blues and Cyans, it would give a nice polished look.
Surfaces - Lovely texture in the leaf Jean.
Paul - no apologies needed - I'm way behind on commenting on other people's threads (but hoping to catch up this week!) Thank you for all the feedback - I really appreciate it. On the ELO one, I thought everybody would recognise it, but you must all be too young!
Jean