Dead Leaves #2

[Christopher Miller]

Here is another dead leaf image that I took recently. Any C&C are welcome!

Olympus SP-550 UZ
f8.0 @ 1/25, ISO 100, -0.3 EV
Aperture priority mode, pattern metering
Processed in PS CS2; curves adjustment, channel mixer, hue/saturation layer, color fill layer, cropped some from the bottom, and darkened the edges of the image a little

[Dave Mills]

Hi Christopher, Love the sepia which really works with this type of image.I also like the sharpness and contrast.
IMO the comp could use a stronger center of interest which I'm not able to pull out of the image. You have a nice format your working with and I would like to see more.

[Julie Kenward]

I agree with Dave - everything is right on except there's no definitive point to focus on. When I use dead leaves for an image like this I try to find one that will really carry the image and then let the others be in the photo with it. Try isolating one big leaf or two that lie in a particular angle to each other and let the other leaves be their BG.

[Christopher Miller]

Thanks Dave and Jules. Do you think this crop focusing on just the left side of the image is better, or is the curved leaf in the middle not a strong enough focal point?

[Dave Mills]

Christopher, I think it helps but there is still some competition from the whitish leaf in the upper left and others. There are no absolutes on how to shoot something like this but I have found the simpler the comp the stronger it is.

[Harold Davis]

the repost is a ton stronger, but i think you might should try a vignette blur on the original and see what it looks like. i like where you are going with this. i think a couple more PP thingies and you got a keeper!!

[Harold Davis]

decided to have a play. glamour glow and a vignette blur in nik color efex pro. it's different for sure.

[Christopher Miller]

Thanks Harold. Your repost definitely gives it a different feel, but I like it! I'll play around with this some more and see what I can come up with.