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Leaf and Insect
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Leaf and Insect

by Dennis Plank

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted September 6, 2017176 views5 comments
This is the same leaf as my last post and photographed in the same session.  I liked Wayne's b7w treatment of his floating leaf, so I went back to find another one from that old session to try it myself.  I liked the look of the insect relative to the leaf here, so I cropped the horizontal original to a 4x5 vertical for this.

5Diii, EF180 mm f/3.5L, tripod, f/16, 1/400, iso 500, aperture priority, pattern metering.  Processed in LR & PS CC.  B&W conversion in Silver Efex pro 2.  Lots of cleaning up little floaties in the water on this one and I removed a few reflections of leaves and rocks intruding into the edges.

Your critiques are always very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on September 6, 2017 at 8:34 PM
Another fine composition, Dennis.  Your conversion really highlights the fine details of the leaf, and the silvery cloud reflections still shine through even without color.  I agree that the insect and the little ripple around it are in the perfect position.

As for why your leaf was such a sinker, that's something I have not thought about before.  I don't know what plant it was from, but it looks so dry that you would expect it to float initially (they all sink after a while).  It does not appear to have a waxy coating like maple and oak leaves, so I am wondering if it might be soaking up water quickly without the float you attached to the bottom surface.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 7, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Dennis, your crop puts the insect and ripple into a fine balance with the leaf.  I also like how the subtle tonal changes in the water suggest a cloudy but bright day.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 7, 2017 at 12:20 PM
Dennis, a cool contrast here. The bug looks like it is swimming toward the raft for safety out there in the water......sad
I like it.....laugh
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on September 7, 2017 at 1:14 PM
Wonderful composition with fine ripple detail around the edges of the leaf.  I really like the reflections in this one.  The water is superb.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 8, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Hi  Dennis crying    Another fine capture of a leaf.    agree with Wayne,    the conversion  brings out  some very  fine  detail... and a  wonderful sense of scale 


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments