[angkymac]

My grand-daughter has a yam vine hanging in her mom's window
Both mom and daughter are eager to learn photography, thus came this image as I tried to learn a new technique with them.
I've never done high-key and soft focus; this is one of my first attempts. I did want the detail sharp in the tip leaves while remaining soft throughout the rest of the plant.
In fact, I'm not even certain that this is a good venue for high key. Or, maybe monochrome would be better?
I surely could benefit from helpful critiques, if anybody would be so kind...
Angky.

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[Peter Rockstroh]

The juxtaposition of new growth and old is a very interesting way to take plant portraits There’s not only size differences, but also beautiful differences in the luminosity of new tissue and old. Young leaves are translucent and conduct light like fiber optics. That makes a great contrast when taken against the out of focud silhouette of old leaves. You did a great job here. If you want to see a monochrome version of this concept, I posted a B&W example some time ago titled Tectaria.

[angkymac]

The juxtaposition of new growth and old is a very interesting way to take plant portraits There’s not only size differences, but also beautiful differences in the luminosity of new tissue and old. Young leaves are translucent and conduct light like fiber optics. That makes a great contrast when taken against the out of focud silhouette of old leaves. You did a great job here. If you want to see a monochrome version of this concept, I posted a B&W example some time ago titled Tectaria.

Thank you, Peter.
I looked at your Tectaria image and noted your description--another useful bit of info to improve photos.
Also, found myself appreciating the detail that the tonal variations showed.
Angky.

[Peter Rockstroh]

Our eyes are not able to distinguish the same amount of discreet shades of all colors. We can tell apart about 35-40 shades of Green and blue, from the lightest to the darkest, while on yellows and browns the scale is much shorter. B&W allows us to distinguish over 75 shades between white and black (in a silver print).The medium and its tonal scale are more flexible and forgiving. It is more difficult to make an image with a rich tonal scale in color. So if you choose color, green should be the best choice.

[angkymac]

Our eyes are not able to distinguish the same amount of discreet shades of all colors. We can tell apart about 35-40 shades of Green and blue, from the lightest to the darkest, while on yellows and browns the scale is much shorter. B&W allows us to distinguish over 75 shades between white and black (in a silver print).The medium and its tonal scale are more flexible and forgiving. It is more difficult to make an image with a rich tonal scale in color. So if you choose color, green should be the best choice.

This is new info for me! Very glad to know it, and it explains a lot of what I've often wondered about.
Thanks for the insight!
Angky.

[angkymac]

Our eyes are not able to distinguish the same amount of discreet shades of all colors. We can tell apart about 35-40 shades of Green and blue, from the lightest to the darkest, while on yellows and browns the scale is much shorter. B&W allows us to distinguish over 75 shades between white and black (in a silver print).The medium and its tonal scale are more flexible and forgiving. It is more difficult to make an image with a rich tonal scale in color. So if you choose color, green should be the best choice.

This is new info for me! Very glad to know it, and it explains a lot of what I've often wondered about.
Thanks for the insight!
Angky.

---------- Post added 08-06-21 at 06:43 PM ----------

Our eyes are not able to distinguish the same amount of discreet shades of all colors. We can tell apart about 35-40 shades of Green and blue, from the lightest to the darkest, while on yellows and browns the scale is much shorter. B&W allows us to distinguish over 75 shades between white and black (in a silver print).The medium and its tonal scale are more flexible and forgiving. It is more difficult to make an image with a rich tonal scale in color. So if you choose color, green should be the best choice.

Thanks for this very informative info!
I didn't know this, and It explains some of what I've wondered about in the past.
I'll put this in my mind as I plan future images.
Again, thanks!
Angky.
The forums site crashed as I was responding to your post; so now I have several posts of the same thing!!!

[dneira29]

My grand-daughter has a yam vine hanging in her mom's window
Both mom and daughter are eager to learn photography, thus came this image as I tried to learn a new technique with them.
I've never done high-key and soft focus; this is one of my first attempts. I did want the detail sharp in the tip leaves while remaining soft throughout the rest of the plant.
In fact, I'm not even certain that this is a good venue for high key. Or, maybe monochrome would be better?
I surely could benefit from helpful critiques, if anybody would be so kind...
Angky.

great shot! I like the way it came out none the less.

[angkymac]

great shot! I like the way it came out none the less.

Thank you for that perspective.
I have just now replaced the ancient lens I used to make that image, so I hope to have more such images, but more easily created (and a bit sharper in critical places).
Thank you for your response!
Angky.

[maucard]

My grand-daughter has a yam vine hanging in her mom's window
Both mom and daughter are eager to learn photography, thus came this image as I tried to learn a new technique with them.
I've never done high-key and soft focus; this is one of my first attempts. I did want the detail sharp in the tip leaves while remaining soft throughout the rest of the plant.
In fact, I'm not even certain that this is a good venue for high key. Or, maybe monochrome would be better?
I surely could benefit from helpful critiques, if anybody would be so kind...
Angky.

I like very much the image, it seems that your experiment has been successful! I like the delicate justapoxition of green and white, I would not feel that it would be better un black and white. I only could suggest you to try to obtain (next time) an even greater evidence of the main "in focus' part, positioning it, if possible, against a very light part of the background.

[angkymac]

I like very much the image, it seems that your experiment has been successful! I like the delicate justapoxition of green and white, I would not feel that it would be better un black and white. I only could suggest you to try to obtain (next time) an even greater evidence of the main "in focus' part, positioning it, if possible, against a very light part of the background.

I think this is a very good suggestion!
Thank you!
Angky.