Natures Ice Heart

[kat]

We had some rain today..then of course - it froze.

So I took a walk about, mind you not an easy walk and took some quick photos of the leafs. Any appeal at all? The subject may not appeal but how is composition, color. All that fun stuff...

[kat]

And this would be the end of it. Thanks for the critiques!

[Mad Aussie]

This stuff amazes me. It's not cold enough in my freezer to do that!!

It looks like you've missed the focus a bit there Kat. Perhaps the DOF is too short? A higher f/stop might have been the go perhaps? Tripod it if necessary.

Anyhow, I love the autumn colour in the leaves but due to the focus I'd either be displaying them as b/w (as you have done but perhaps with a touch of added noise as well) or applying a filter like the Etheral Glow filter someone mentioned in the forums here a couple of weeks back. Both the b/w and E/G make slightly out of focus shots look meant to be.

I think the 2nd photo in this thread is the best b/w example. It has more contrast than it's neighbour.

If these are cropped at all I'd probably suggest leaving a bit more negative space under the frozen drops to let our eyes drift off the drops a bit.

Really nice spotting though. Truly photo worthly.

[Marko]

Good eye. My faves are in the second set. Although the B/w treatments and colour shot is good, that branch running through the near dead center of the leaf spoils the shot for me.

My fave is in the second set. That b/w branch ice droplet is awesome. I'd clone out the darker branch edge in the bottom left corner, I'd burn the ice drop at the mid right edge and I'd try to sharpen the actual droplet a wee bit more, but that's it. Again my goal here is to focus and guide the eye. This shot rocks big time. The colour leaf facing us is also quite good and would also look good (possibly better) in b/w.
Hope that helps
Marko

[kat]

Thank you for the replies.

I noticed the dof too. To be honest, I didn't bring my tripod out. I had a really hard time getting these shots. Ended up in the woods behind my house up to my waist in snow..lol. Not good when you are in your pajamas and little boots

I wish I could go back out and reshoot..but everyting has melted again. With luck maybe it will do that again this evening..this time I'll be much more prepared!!!

Yesterday I did a first. My whole shoot was by manual focus. It was very dissappointing. I took 200 shoots of drops and honestly I only like two of them..lol.

Hoping practice makes it better but if you have tips please don't hesitate!!!!

I redid that one Marco, I think I did what you mentioned. I have a hard time with the sharpen tool. Nothing seems any different when I use it.

[Marko]

I redid that one Marco, I think I did what you mentioned. I have a hard time with the sharpen tool. Nothing seems any different when I use it.

That's odd re: sharpen. Do you use photoshop?

I like your redone version better. I notice the 2nd version is smaller which is cool but it looks better larger. I'd suggest darkening that ice on the right mid edge even more though. Perhaps 20% more.

[kat]

Yah..use Photoshop CS3..

I think I have to play with the options more. I'm not to sure what the difference is between the different modes. I think that may be where it all stems from. Time to get a course in I think. There definatley is a lot to it!!! LOL..took me an hour to figure out how to clone..oh you use the ALT key.. bwahahahahahaha

I'll keep playing with it! Thank you!

[Marko]

A down and dirty way to play - is just use the sharpen tool (in the palette along with the blur tool) over the area you want to sharpen. Play with the opacity or flow by lowering it A LOT so the effect is subtle.