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Sun Dew on Leaf

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted January 13, 2013687 views15 comments

A nine image focus stack using Helicon. The leaf caught my eye as the sun shone almost directly into the dew drops. It is off my usual beaten track, but I thought I would take a whack at it. I cleaned up a world of flare and focus artifact. It was amazing the difference focus change made from image to image. To me it was worth the effort and I like the result, but you decide. The one question in my mind is whether I need to warm up the WB. Thanks for looking.

Image Quality: RAW (14-bit)
Camera Info: Nikon D300S, tripod, remote release
Lens: 90mm f/2.8D
Focal Length: 90mm
Focus Mode: Manual
AF-Area Mode: Single
Aperture: f/3.8
Shutter Speed: 1/160s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Metering: Matrix
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
34% of full frame
PP in LR4.3, Helicon Focus, NIK Color Efex Pro 4.0, CS6

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 13, 2013 at 3:00 PM

warmer

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on January 13, 2013 at 5:48 PM

I love this. The pearls of water droplets are so delicate, just like a necklace. Beautiful.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 13, 2013 at 6:24 PM

warmer is better, imo - wonderful definition in the dew drops and nice colours throughout.
Love the reflected bits in every large drop -
Sweet image!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on January 13, 2013 at 6:27 PM

I'll take either version. The blue>violet hues are gorgeous. The dew adds a lot, and you have just enough dof. Have you considered a rectangle crop from this?

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 13, 2013 at 7:32 PM

This is an alluring and fun-filled photo. Colors, dew-drops, and shapes are a lot to deal with. I Like the dof and emphasis given the center. I like corner vignetting... but, I would experiment using the b/g to bring out the faint lime-greens and pinks on the leaves. The avocado green and dark b/g as-is tends to push those drab colors in the leaves...a bit too dark for the bright colors with diamonds in this. Well done... special shot.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 13, 2013 at 8:15 PM

Terrific shot, Phil. I slightly prefer the warmer version, but both of them sparkle like crazy. The larger version shows a couple of soft areas towards the back of the center leaf. I sure hope that's a processing artifact, cause it'll be tough to get a redo and the lighting and colors here are spectacular.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 13, 2013 at 8:41 PM

Amazing image, Phil. Not sure I've ever seen so many dew drops in one image. I really like all the mini refractions as well on the edges of the leaves. I think the work you did with the stack really paid off. I don't see much difference in the two versions, so either works equally well. Although I like it as is, I think that Michael's suggestion to crop this one to rectangular (I assume he means horizontal) has merit. I actually find the orange at the top a little distracting and, to me, this one is all about the leaves covered with dew. I think you could also leave off some of the bottom, making a 4 x 5 horizontal work well. If you leave it as is, you might try burning the orange, bright green, and bright oof water drop circles at the top. You might also further blur, lighten and soften the dark brown spot bottom center. It's a great image, and certainly worth the time trying a little additional or alternative processing.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 13, 2013 at 11:07 PM

Leave it cool. Absolutely stunning, Phil!

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

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on January 13, 2013 at 11:56 PM

Amazing image, Phil. So many droplets and reflections in that special light. There must have been a lot of moisture in the air. I prefer the warmer version from a colore point of view, though it seems to me that the small droplets are slightly better defined in the cooler version. But that may be my eyes. A rectangular crop is a thought as already mentioned. Bur gorgeous as posted.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on January 14, 2013 at 2:31 PM

Well, Phil, I think you should take the path less traveled more often. . . this is beautiful! Love the spacing of the drops around the leaf edges; as Christina noted, it does remind me of a necklace. I think I prefer the warmer repost better but they are both great. Agree with some other comments about a slight crop from the bottom and top to make it more rectangular.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by David Bush on January 14, 2013 at 5:09 PM

Love the detail! Both versions are great.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 89 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 16, 2013 at 6:02 PM

Very nice work as posted Phil, like this a lot.
I prefer the cooler version..
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on January 23, 2013 at 6:25 PM

Really a fun shot Phil! I think I prefer the cooler version but it was a toss-up. Congrats on your EP!!