"As autumn leaves"

[kathryntaylor]

So I wanted to create an image that gave an impression that autumn was leaving so I gathered some leaves and had them float away in the lake.
My questions for this picture is, what do you think of the cropping? Do you think the colors should have more saturation? Or could i do anything better with the colors.
Any other comments would be much appreciated



Camera: Sony DSC-H50
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 5.2 mm

[dcclark]

Very nice photo! My first impressions are: this is a very colorful and pleasant composition. I love the blue shadings in the water, and the contrasting leaf colors and shapes are great. (Not many notice this, I don't think, but I always feel like the shapes of leaves contrast nicely with the smoothness of water.)

As far as cropping, I like it. The only thing I might suggest is to remove a little from the left, to balance the "border" of water around the leaves.

Colorwise, things are a little bit dim, or maybe greyish. I'm not sure that saturation is what you want -- perhaps working with curves might remove a bit of that haze. If you had a chance to reshoot, a polarizer could be used -- don't go for the full "no reflections" effect, but just remove a little of the reflectivity from the water.

All of that said, this is a very well done photo. Great job!

[nanbil]

This picture is off to a great start. I especially like the ripples and light points in them. The dark to blue really brings out the colours which are fine btw.

I agree with dcclark about cropping. Although I would suggest cropping on both sides to tighten composition (make it portrait proportions).

The only other thing to say is purely a personal preference. The leaves themselves seem in too good of shape to be "natural" and the one leaf on the left by itself draws the eye too much. It should be in contact with the others.

Try it again! You are so close to an excellent picture. MORE LEAVES

[kathryntaylor]

Originally Posted by nanbil

The leaves themselves seem in too good of shape to be "natural"

Thats probably why i chose them from off the ground instead of the crippled, dried up ones haha but you make a good point. I actually had a bunch of leafs at first too but they floated away. Thanks for the comments I'll try cropping it right now.

Oh and I dont know which leaf your talking about that seems by itself..?

[Eduard]

I wonder what how it would look with a longer exposure? Would be interesting to see a sense of movement introduced by the blur of the leaves floating.

[wulf]

Did you try a portrait-framed version of this shot? The leaves seem to be drifting away and I think the vertical format would enhance this movement.

Wulf

[Eduard]

Originally Posted by wulf

Did you try a portrait-framed version of this shot? The leaves seem to be drifting away and I think the vertical format would enhance this movement.

Excellent suggestion!

[nanbil]

Originally Posted by kathryntaylor

Thats probably why i chose them from off the ground instead of the crippled, dried up ones haha but you make a good point. I actually had a bunch of leafs at first too but they floated away. Thanks for the comments I'll try cropping it right now.

Oh and I dont know which leaf your talking about that seems by itself..?

The upper left light green one.

[kathryntaylor]

What do you think of this? I tried to get as close of a crop as i could. Does it work better?

[YorkieCrazy]

I love theTitle. I think the color contrast is fantastic. I love the shading in the water