Mahonia Contour

I've been working with these leaves for a while now: I think I'm

making progress. Comments invited.

I too think you are making progress. This one is my favourite to date. I wonder how this would look if you cropped and out that fourth point on the right side and then maybe dodged down the tone to match the darker tone of the shaded leaf that cropping would remove. I'm not sure about this suggestion myself but figured I'd toss it out there anyhow.

I think see your point about the 4th point. That's the thing about these leaves--they give you these wonderful lines and shapes but very rarely, a clean crop. I think that's what makes them such a good challenge for me. To date, I've relied on cropping to resolve compositional issues but clearly, I'm going to have to learn other approaches--like digital dodging & burning.

Very nice work, Dave!

Nice shot Dave. Good color & DOF. I see that you use the same camera and lens that I use for most of my pictures - the Tamron 18-250 is a great carry around lens.

Beautiful composition, colours and forms.

Ruud, Thanks for your encouragement ! These are prickly subjects in more ways than one but an interesting challenge.

 

Steve, I didn't realize you were a fellow Pentaxian! The Tamron is indeed a very handy lens: it and the 43mm turned out to be a great combo on our trip to England this summer. I'm beginning to think it may not be quite up to snuff for the kind of serious macro work I've gotten into here but it's going to have to do for now (and I'm willing to discover that it's the photographer not the lens that needs improvement.)

Dave, I love this one. Great composition. The "subject" reminds me of the pointed habits that the nuns (the poor nuns) who taught me wore. The 4th point doesn't distract me at all.In fact, I found it interesting.

 

I do think that more lightness/contrast would produce more drama. No food for thought attached - you're on your own.

 

Great progress happening! How exciting!!

 

Cheers ~

Alberta, I'm glad you found this. I can certainly see the habit headgear but, also, a steamed crab claw (hey, I'm in Baltimore, Hon.)

Wonderful composition, color, and detail. A very fine image. Regards...

Thanks, Joseph!

Sometimes the simplest photos say the most