Light Catchers

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 13, 2010493 views27 comments

This time I thought I would take a break from the dogwood, reds, oranges and yellows. Still on this same weekend in Yosemite at the beginning of November, we ventured over by Yosemite's Little Chapel. It's a wonderful area of granite boulders and all the variety of trees of Yosemite scattered about.

This granite boulder, about the size of a small house, provided the clean backdrop for these Big Leaf Maple leaves (leafs for Tony) catching the glow of the mid-day sun, all be it somewhat diffused light in the depth of the woods.

I just love to see leaves back lit like this and will do what I can to find a comp to showcase them. This wasn't an easy image for the 4x5 because of the way the branch curved and also fell away from the camera. But a little tilt here and a swing there and I was able to get just about all the leaves in focus. Dead still which allowed for the long exposure and enough depth to include the granite.

Anyway, as always would love to hear your thoughts and critiques.

4x5, Nikkor 300mm, V100, f/32 @5s

Thanks!

Lon

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on December 13, 2010 at 5:58 AM

Sometimes only minor details make the difference - in your picture it is the delicate diagonal stripe in the background to the right lower corner! I enjoy the pleasant colors contrasting to the dark grey of granite.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on December 13, 2010 at 7:17 AM

Simple, intimate, and expertly crafted. I love the way the blue'ish granite sets off the leaves.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 13, 2010 at 7:36 AM

Love the contrasting textures in this and where the crack in the rock and the branch meet

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on December 13, 2010 at 8:12 AM

Well done, Lon. Beautiful.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Lori Kincaid on December 13, 2010 at 8:13 AM

I can appreciate the challenge of getting all of the branch in focus with the 4x5 and a 300mm lens. Great work there. While the light on the leaves and their crisp clarity is beautiful, the overall composition feels a little forced and doesn't resonate with me as so many of your images do.

Lori

Registered on November 15, 2003, 90 Posts, 2033 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Stough on December 13, 2010 at 8:50 AM

I'm quite fond of backlit leaves myself as well and this has a simple, quiet beauty to it that is very appealing. My only very small nit is that I would have liked to see a complete leaf in the upper left corner.

Registered on November 20, 2010, 26 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond D Smith on December 13, 2010 at 8:56 AM

I love to see how other photographers see and I am always amazed with what you come up with. The leaves picking up the blues is awesome. I am surprised the leaves stayed still for you for 5sec. What with the LF you couldn't get the rocks in focus

Great photo Lon. Cheers

Registered on January 22, 2009, 12 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Vangrov on December 13, 2010 at 9:13 AM

This is where the large format really shines - capturing the crisp details in the leaves but leaving the granite just a tiny bit out of focus to set off the leaves. Although I like the crack at the bottom right I could see a slight crop at the bottom.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 148 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on December 13, 2010 at 9:32 AM

Very nice intimate comp. I love the arc of the branch and the way the leaves seem to glow against the background. Very well done.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 13, 2010 at 9:37 AM

This is just lovely. I love the arc of the branch in this - adds a lot of grace to the image. The color looks great. I'l a little unsure about the granite - I can't decide whether I like it in focus or would rather have it more OOF in order to out more emphasis on the leaves.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM

I like this, Lon. The back lit maple leaves look great against the granite wall. I think you came up with a comp that works very well.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 13, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Camera Yoga - that is what I call it when you put the 4x5 to the paces. I really like how you composed this with the arcing branch meeting up with that crack in the boulder.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on December 13, 2010 at 11:31 AM

Though I love the comp, it's missing the wow factor, but not all the images need that anyway. Some autumn color on those leaves would have been terrific

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 13, 2010 at 12:04 PM

Lon,

As you know, I really like this--a lot. The leaves (leafs) have a lumnious quality that I really love. The amount of back light was perfect for this, and I like how the diagonal crack breaks up the monolithic nature of the boulder.

Excellent work!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 13, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Love the colors, the pop with the cool toned rock. It is a good solid image.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 13, 2010 at 2:30 PM

The granite makes an excellent backdrop and the branch does a great job of leading me through the leafs

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 13, 2010 at 4:24 PM

A nice combination of the two attractive but contrasting elements, The curve of the branch and the subtle lighting on the leaves make this work.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on December 13, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Wow Lon, this came out nice. Love the detail and the color. My Image of this came out alot more yellow, maybe I had a little more back lit sun. Great find, I think the grey rock adds a nice back drop.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 13, 2010 at 6:54 PM

Gorgeous contrasts in color and texture. The sweet light and the curve of the branch take this to another level.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on December 13, 2010 at 8:59 PM

Love the delicate detail in the leaves brought out by that light, the wonderful curve of the branch, and the outstanding green/yellow against gray palette. Another phenomenal image. Every one of the images you made that weekend is stunning.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on December 13, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Beautifully seen. Love that curve.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on December 14, 2010 at 1:03 AM

I think I like this more than the bright fall scenes... It is understated beauty that has a quiet and lasting impact. I saw this a few hours ago and I liked it, but didn't have much to say that hadn't already been said. Now I am back again because it kept coming to mind. Artfully composed and well seen, Lon!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 14, 2010 at 1:05 AM

Really not easy with LF particular considering the exposure time! The soft and subtle backlit glow is excellent here. That granite backdrop works great too, in particular that crack adds a lot of interest and "design" for me. Elegantly made a usual Lon!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 14, 2010 at 2:13 AM

Those cracks really add something special, at least for me, to the image. I like the greens and yellows against the blue. Simple and it works well.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 14, 2010 at 9:26 AM

I think elegant is a good word to describe this. Works well with many of your compositions. I agree about the added dynamic with the crack too. I think I know where this is, and looked over there many times with the intent to check it out, but never did.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 14, 2010 at 7:41 PM

Thanks for the honest feedback and comments folks! I really appreciate it.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 14, 2010 at 11:58 PM

You never cease to amaze me with what you come up with for images of trees, Lon. The curve of the branch here is almost sensual and the color and contrast are exquisite. At some level, I wonder if backlit leaves are to you what glowing sandstone is to me--special light.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments