I've got a thing about repetitive patterns in nature - whether its a load of geese taking off or a field of flowers, I love the variety of the repetition, but I've found it really hard to take images that please me. You'd think that it'd be easy - after all the subject(s) are all the same (pretty much) and only vary really in their distance from the camera. But try as I might with big fat DSLR Canons I just kept capturing shots that I deleted. However the wee Ricoh managed to grab a frame I really like, even thought the wind was whuffling the leaves. I love the 'cascade' effect as the leaves come into focus down the frame, and grow larger as they do so.
Techs: Ricoh GRD3, ISO 100, 6mm lens, 1/130sec @ f2.2, full-frame, b&w mode in-camera, tweaked slightly in Lightroom.
Posted by David Taylor on August 4, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Not normally a fan of B&W, but this one certainly works for me. Excellent and well observed.
Looks like you chose the right tool for the job in hand.
Posted by eric weight on August 5, 2010 at 1:50 AM
The depth of field gives a nice impression of distance (height?) to this shot John; from the barely oof and not too dominant leaves at the bottom through the sharpest and away up the trunk. I like this one and I doubt you would have been able to achieve such a similar effect on an slr whatever aperture you used. Imaginative use of a compact and you have definitely achieved what you aimed for. eric
I'm viewing this on an iPad - the emphasis it gives to the backlighting of the leaves (through its backlit monitor) looks beautiful. I really like this type of perspective when trying to reveal depth and trees lend themselves well to this approach. This shot goes to show how camera gear of any sort can be utilised if you have good ideas and an eye for a picture.
Being very pedantic, I'd like to see a slight shift in position to the left, thus balancing the space either side of the (full) leaves, left and right - however, that probably says more about my obsessive/compulsive tendency.
Nice work John - you've convinced me I need that Leica compact I've been promising myself; any chance of you trying to convince my wife?
Chris - I see what you mean. That lower rhs is a bit bare.
The branch was gently wandering to and fro as the wind gently wafted it about, and my main aim was to keep the black trunk in the frame, and if I have one criticism of the wee compacts its the difficulty seeing anything on the lcd in bright light, and the impossibility when looking against the light.
I'm sure if you whisper sweet nothings in your dearly beloved's ear anything's possible, even a Leica!
Discussion
5 repliesTechs: Ricoh GRD3, ISO 100, 6mm lens, 1/130sec @ f2.2, full-frame, b&w mode in-camera, tweaked slightly in Lightroom.
Looks like you chose the right tool for the job in hand.
Being very pedantic, I'd like to see a slight shift in position to the left, thus balancing the space either side of the (full) leaves, left and right - however, that probably says more about my obsessive/compulsive tendency.
Nice work John - you've convinced me I need that Leica compact I've been promising myself; any chance of you trying to convince my wife?
Cheers,
Chris
Chris - I see what you mean. That lower rhs is a bit bare.
The branch was gently wandering to and fro as the wind gently wafted it about, and my main aim was to keep the black trunk in the frame, and if I have one criticism of the wee compacts its the difficulty seeing anything on the lcd in bright light, and the impossibility when looking against the light.
I'm sure if you whisper sweet nothings in your dearly beloved's ear anything's possible, even a Leica!