Nature's Dandruff

[Ben H]

http://www.benhall.co.uk/pics/fall02.jpg

I thought this was quite interesting - in doing some various fall-themed pics, I was trying to get away from pictures of leaves (not particularly creative, but hey, they're pretty!) and I came across this.

I had better ones from lower angles where the leaves looked thicker and more artistic, but I like this one, because you get the tree branch shadows, emphasising the fallen leaves, and the desaturated grass makes it a little surreal and presents the leaves in a different light.

Dunno if it completely works, but there's something I quite like about it...

[Marko]

I think this is interesting.

It's dark though - some levels or curves play should serve you well.

Hope that helps,

Marko

[Ben H]

It's dark though - some levels or curves play should serve you well.

Here's a lightened version. I had darkened it before because I liked the contrast between the grass and the leaves, but you're right, looking at it again it's too dark (funny how when you concentrate on specifics too much, it's easy to overlook the whole).

This was done in Lightroom where I lightened up the green colour channel that I had previously desaturated and pulled down the luminosity.

http://www.benhall.co.uk/pics/fall02b.jpg

[tomorrowstreasures]

IMHO I think the darker version is the more interesting one, which, is very interesting!!:)

[Ben H]

Thanks. On balance, I also prefer the darker one for the original reasons - the contrast it gives the leaves. However, it's always tricky to get a proper impression on small web-size pictures - it's much easier to see on the higher res images.

As often the way, these things are a judgement call, and I'm not really experienced enough yet to trust my instincts, which is why this forum is useful - to get some outside perspective.

[Fredric]

I find this shot really interesting.

My first thought was that I would have liked to see the shadows of the branches a bit more defined.

IMO the darker one, of the two versions, works better when shown with a lighter background, e.g. on this web page. But when I blew them up in full screen the lighter one is more pleasing to my eyes.

Also, think that a couple of the leafs could do with a bit of burning in as they stand out a little bit too much.

You have a great idea going here!

[Ben H]

Thanks Fredric - yeah, good idea about burning in the branch shadows to make them more defined - I'll give that a go on the lighter background one (to make them stand out more).

[Ben H]

Branches burnt in some more:-

http://www.benhall.co.uk/pics/fall02c.jpg

[PKMax]

That's looking good now, prefer the last version there :) think due to being lighter, but more defined shadows for the branches helps to add some cool detail.

Nice.

[Marko]

This is where the fun begins. So far i like this last version best. If this were my shot I'd try to maximize tonal range throughout the image....this takes a bit of work and play and practice. The tones on the left have a nicer tonal range. The tones on the right are a muddier grey, they are making that whole side feel flat. You can really bring out the shadows on the right side and that will help make this image sing.

Hope that helps - marko

[Ben H]

Thanks - yeah, the right side is weak here. I tried cropping it, but wasn't happy with the results.

So you'd burn down the right hand side to be darker, and give some contrast across the image from right to left..? Cool, I'll give that a try...

[Marko]

Thanks - yeah, the right side is weak here. I tried cropping it, but wasn't happy with the results.

So you'd burn down the right hand side to be darker, and give some contrast across the image from right to left..? Cool, I'll give that a try...The contrast IMO mostly needs a boost on the right side only. The burn though is trickier, because it might look best if only the shadows of the branches were much darker - not the grass. Play with the levels or curves on that side of the image and it should start to sing real fast..it's the refinement (as always) that will likely take the extra time.

Hope that helps

marko