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RainGems_Long Pd-16_BW

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted September 5, 20171,954 views5 comments

Please click on the image above, or the expansion symbol for a larger view.

(Finally getting a break from medical stuff, and the grandkids are back in school, so I can spend a little time on NPN.)

This was taken during a canoe trip on a rainy weekend last fall. After a downpour, I was paddling around in light rain under very dark skies. Windblown collections of red maple leaves were scattered on the pond, and of course I could not resist making more than a hundred exposures of the leaves floating on the dark water. The colors were nice in these conditions, but I decided to convert this one to black and white to concentrate on the details of the leaf and raindrops.

My wife does not like the hole in the leaf, but I left it there partly because of a devotion to reality, and partly because I think the "imperfection" adds character. What do you think?

Canon 5D3; Canon 24-105 mm..
1/100 sec. @ f/11; ISO 320
Hand-held from canoe
Processed in PSCC and Nik Silver Effex

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on September 5, 2017 at 6:37 PM

I really like the black-and-white tones on this. Wonderful textures and form. It really needs to be seen large in order to be appreciated. The subtleties of the water really make this image work. Nice job

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on September 6, 2017 at 9:10 AM

Wayne, I like the detail in this, and especially the water patterns at the edges of the leaf. You did a great job of holding subtle detail in the dark water. As for the hole in the leaf, I tend to side with your wife, but I don't think it's a big deal. Well seen and captured!

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 6, 2017 at 9:59 AM

This is great, Wayne. The sparkle of the water drops and texture in the leaf really pop as b&w against the black water. The details that show in the larger view include the subtle wave action and the glow of the meniscus are excellent additions. I think the hole and the stem pointing into the air are great bits of extra interest. While we all "dream" of nature as being perfect, it never is.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 6, 2017 at 11:14 AM

Hi Wayne

Mark's comment said it so well. that i'm at a loss of words this is fine technical and inspired photography devil

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 6, 2017 at 7:24 PM

This is lovely, Wayne. I don't know why my leaves don't float and yours do. The drops are really cool. I think I agree with your wife on the hole, though I think it would work very well in a color version. Excellent work.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments