One perfect leaf

[David Eckels]

.

[degrub]

The luminous area to the right on the trunk is distracting if you want to focus on the leaf. i don't know if you can reduce it or just crop to remove.

[francois]

I like it a lot. The leaf looks like a tongue that sticks out of the tree. Degrub has a point about the light area on the right but it doesn't bother me much, to be fair.

[David Eckels]

Thanks Francois. I thought about degrub's concern and concluded the light spot on the trunk provided a certain context of chaos, which I have been thinking about lately. And as I looked at the image, I could only come up with that one perfect leaf as a focal point of simplicity. So I posted this here to see how folks reacted. I always get great feedback here.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

TMI

[David Eckels]

TMI

LMAO! That is a great critique. Thank you.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

I can show you, with your permission, what I would have done with the image?

[petermfiore]

It has excellent bones, but the entire photo needs to be deeper in value.

Peter

[David Eckels]

Below is one possibility to bring more focus to the leaf
But I am intrigued by Slobodan's and Peter's comments.
I'd love to see what you would have done, Slobodan. Please.
Peter, I don't know what you mean by "deeper in value." Can you elaborate, please.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Given the popularity of Instagram Stories* format (16:9), I see it that way more and more often.

I included the two leaves in the upper left corner and then the two in the lower right one, for balance. Also lightened them a bit, whild bringing down highlights in the main leaf simultaneously.


* sorry, boomers, google it 

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Below is one possibility to bring more focus to the leaf
...

Sure, that's a possibility. Looks good.

[David Eckels]

I like your approach, especially since I liked those leaves upper LOF and wanted to include them in the original, but didn't think of the framing possibility you have come up with. I should learn to pay better attention to what my mind is telling me! Your version is so much less chaotic and keeps the mystery. Wouldn't this be 9:16 by the way? Thanks Slobodan for showing me this; it teaches me to always consider shifting my frame of view

[petermfiore]

Deeper darker down...

Peter

[David Eckels]

Another great lesson! Thank you, Peter. This too, I would not have thought of. In yours, the two light areas become a dialogue. I like the toning too. Wish I'd seen this possibility sooner.  But maybe next time.

[francois]

So many interesting interpretations but the source image was superb!

[petermfiore]

The term Deeper Darker Down, I believe, was coined by Eugene Smith. However, most B&W greats adhere to this idea. I have used this concept almost all of my life in printing.

Peter

[David Eckels]

Thanks, Peter, I can see why. So following on with the original, I took it "Deep Dark Down" and cleaned up the right edge and brought the luminosity of the splash of light on the trunk closer to that of the leaf. I added what I hope is a modest amount of toning to the dark tones and a warming filter to the highlights. Maybe it is still too chaotic, but I think it holds together better this way. Francois is right:

So many interesting interpretations but the source image was superb!

Thank you, Francois.

[degrub]

Now the ordered leaf and leafed branches are in "tension" with the chaotic bare branch area. Much better imo.

[David Eckels]

Now the ordered leaf and leafed branches are in "tension" with the chaotic bare branch area. Much better imo.

Thanks degrub. Always appreciate your helpful criticisms. It always helps me to see through others' eyes.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

The series of suggested versions is quite instructive.