Nature Skeletal

**Tamia** · 11-01-2010, 01:53 PM - **1 Like**

I was out shooting in the gloomy rainy woods yesterday, and this was one of the shots I came away with. It's a soaking wet leaf which molded itself to the subtle contours of a downed debarked trunk. The softer tissues have almost entirely rotted away (though a few plaques remain behind), but the intricate network of veins remains and stands proud of the smooth wet trunk.

I found that I liked it a lot for its texture when I converted to monochrome, and thought it so unusual it might be one of my better photos. Not so sure that my idea of "excellent" is the same as others' views of excellent, though! So, I'm looking for opinions and suggestions for improvement.

Here are two views of the leaf, the color version with a tighter crop, and the monochrome. CC much appreciated!

Parallax · 11-01-2010, 01:56 PM - **1 Like**

I am generally a fan of B&W, but in this case, the color version is much more striking.

**Tamia** · 11-02-2010, 05:42 AM

Thanks much for your comments, Jim. I didn't look at the pictures for a day to distance myself from it a little, then went back with fresh eyes, and have to agree that the monochrome here really doesn't work as well as the color and tighter crop.

kmwsbabe · 11-02-2010, 11:19 AM - **1 Like**

I love a good bw conv, too, but must agree the colors and texture together really make this photo striking. Well done!

Big G · 11-02-2010, 03:58 PM - **1 Like**

Really like the first image, cracking shot.

**Tamia** · 11-02-2010, 04:48 PM

Thanks very much for your comments, Patricia and Big G -- much appreciated!

Kryosphinx · 11-03-2010, 07:18 PM - **1 Like**

Definitely the first one. It's really eerie, nice job!

juu · 11-04-2010, 02:22 AM - **1 Like**

Colour one is great. The B&W doesn't do it justice. A bit more exposure might help though (on the colour version).

**Tamia** · 11-06-2010, 05:55 AM

Thanks for your comments Kryosphinx and juu. I've been working more on this image to bring out the outer edge better. Here it is. What do you all think? Have I lost some of the "drama" by doing this?

Here's the original color for comparison:

**Fries** · 11-06-2010, 06:37 AM - **1 Like**

I like the first one better. Somehow the 'drama' comes across better if it is somewhat understated. But thats me... I do love the way you pick little elements of the world around us and present them this way!

**Tamia** · 11-06-2010, 09:30 AM

Thanks very much for your kind words, Remco. I love focusing on the details most people overlook.

christophleipzig · 11-06-2010, 09:51 AM - **1 Like**

Great shot anyway - but I like the black and white one a bit more.

I cannot say exactly why. Probably the b&w is more abstract: pure "structure of decay". The other one adds "interesting color of a rotting leaf". Good as well, but I personally don't need that. But you had a good eye to find that leaf.

KevinR · 11-06-2010, 10:51 AM - **1 Like**

The first color one is by far the best IMHO. Great shot, moody but yet entrancing and really draws the eye in. The B&W version looses all impact and looks like a weird PP artifact, while the brighter color version seems a little pasty and decreases the dark decay impact.

Nicely done...

JeffJS · 11-06-2010, 12:30 PM - **1 Like**

Mark me down for liking the color one better as well. Almost looks fossilized. Nice shot, appropriately named (as usual).

Wombat · 11-07-2010, 01:11 AM - **1 Like**

The colour one for me too - absolutely gorgeous, nice & sharp, fills the frame, tells its story, ticks all the boxes. I'd be happy to hang it on my wall. If you want to persevere with the monochrome image you are, of course, not restricted to black and white. You might find a soft, light sepia or a cyanotype blue could bring out what you were looking for.
Beautiful work - congrats.

11-01-2010, 01:53 PM - 1 Like	#1
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	Skeletal Lens: DA 18-55mm II Camera: K200D Photo Location: Woods in Northern NY ISO: 200 Shutter Speed: 1/45s Aperture: F8 I was out shooting in the gloomy rainy woods yesterday, and this was one of the shots I came away with. It's a soaking wet leaf which molded itself to the subtle contours of a downed debarked trunk. The softer tissues have almost entirely rotted away (though a few plaques remain behind), but the intricate network of veins remains and stands proud of the smooth wet trunk. I found that I liked it a lot for its texture when I converted to monochrome, and thought it so unusual it might be one of my better photos. Not so sure that my idea of "excellent" is the same as others' views of excellent, though! So, I'm looking for opinions and suggestions for improvement. Here are two views of the leaf, the color version with a tighter crop, and the monochrome. CC much appreciated!

11-01-2010, 01:56 PM - 1 Like	#2
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	I am generally a fan of B&W, but in this case, the color version is much more striking.

11-02-2010, 05:42 AM	#3
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Thanks much for your comments, Jim. I didn't look at the pictures for a day to distance myself from it a little, then went back with fresh eyes, and have to agree that the monochrome here really doesn't work as well as the color and tighter crop.

11-02-2010, 11:19 AM - 1 Like	#4
kmwsbabe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 100	I love a good bw conv, too, but must agree the colors and texture together really make this photo striking. Well done!

11-02-2010, 03:58 PM - 1 Like	#5
Big G Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 581	Really like the first image, cracking shot.

11-02-2010, 04:48 PM	#6
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Thanks very much for your comments, Patricia and Big G -- much appreciated!

11-03-2010, 07:18 PM - 1 Like	#7
Kryosphinx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 129	Definitely the first one. It's really eerie, nice job!

11-04-2010, 02:22 AM - 1 Like	#8
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	Colour one is great. The B&W doesn't do it justice. A bit more exposure might help though (on the colour version).

11-06-2010, 05:55 AM	#9
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Thanks for your comments Kryosphinx and juu. I've been working more on this image to bring out the outer edge better. Here it is. What do you all think? Have I lost some of the "drama" by doing this? Here's the original color for comparison:

11-06-2010, 06:37 AM - 1 Like	#10
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	I like the first one better. Somehow the 'drama' comes across better if it is somewhat understated. But thats me... I do love the way you pick little elements of the world around us and present them this way!

11-06-2010, 09:30 AM	#11
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Thanks very much for your kind words, Remco. I love focusing on the details most people overlook.

11-06-2010, 09:51 AM - 1 Like	#12
christophleipzig Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 318	Great shot anyway - but I like the black and white one a bit more. I cannot say exactly why. Probably the b&w is more abstract: pure "structure of decay". The other one adds "interesting color of a rotting leaf". Good as well, but I personally don't need that. But you had a good eye to find that leaf.

11-06-2010, 10:51 AM - 1 Like	#13
KevinR Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 653	The first color one is by far the best IMHO. Great shot, moody but yet entrancing and really draws the eye in. The B&W version looses all impact and looks like a weird PP artifact, while the brighter color version seems a little pasty and decreases the dark decay impact. Nicely done...

11-06-2010, 12:30 PM - 1 Like	#14
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Mark me down for liking the color one better as well. Almost looks fossilized. Nice shot, appropriately named (as usual).

11-07-2010, 01:11 AM - 1 Like	#15
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	The colour one for me too - absolutely gorgeous, nice & sharp, fills the frame, tells its story, ticks all the boxes. I'd be happy to hang it on my wall. If you want to persevere with the monochrome image you are, of course, not restricted to black and white. You might find a soft, light sepia or a cyanotype blue could bring out what you were looking for. Beautiful work - congrats.