Russ Butler
April 2021 - Rusty leaves
Original
About the Image(s)
“Rusty Leaves”
This is one of my favorite images. It was created in total darkness and light painted on a mirror. The leaves were part of a flower arrangement our granddaughter gave us for our anniversary. While the black & white is a different look, I prefer the color version. Taking a photo on a mirror causes a “ghosting” effect that can be eliminated by using black plexiglass. I fixed the ghosting with FastStone Image Viewer & then converted to black & white with Silver Efex Pro 2, taken with a Canon T2i, 45/1.8 Tamron, f/16, 4 sec, 800 ISO
This round’s discussion is now closed!
16 comments posted
(Group 4)
Lovely image, Russ. I can't quite make out the difference between the subject and its reflection, which makes me look harder and longer at the image. And then I still keep coming back to it for another look. Great idea to do it in the dark with light painting so the image is there on a plain black background. It is a great b/w image and I prefer it over the colour version. Posted: 04/05/2021 04:45:44
Thanks Guy for checking out my image. I am honored you would look at it and for your comments & observation. Hope your day is a good one. Posted: 04/05/2021 15:49:27
Hi Russ, I like both images equally, but on the monochrome, I find the bright underside of the rightmost leaf a bit too bright--funny I don't have that response to the color version.
Very clever technique and pleasing images. Posted: 04/05/2021 17:23:04
Very clever technique and pleasing images. Posted: 04/05/2021 17:23:04
Thanks Stephen, I agree with you about the brightness & that leaf is blown out some. I appreciate your comments & looking at this image. Hope your day is a good one. Posted: 04/05/2021 23:06:46
I like both and can't decide which is better. I hadn't noticed the ghosting on the colour one but peering hard, I found just a bit on the stem. I tried light painting the other day and found it quite hard to do. Did you use different coloured gels for the colours or just a white light. Giving the camera settings was helpful. Posted: 04/06/2021 03:31:39
Thanks Diana, the ghosting can be eliminated by using a black plexiglass. While a mirror gives a crisp reflection, ghosting will generally be present. I did not use any colored gels only the light from a LED light. Hope your day is a good one. Posted: 04/06/2021 17:35:16
You made a very interesting image. Thank you for sharing with us how it was made. I would clone out the upper stem from where it curves up. It seems to be pulling my eye out of the image. That would also create better balance with the bottom stem. I like the color image better. Posted: 04/06/2021 13:12:31
Thanks Tom, I appreciate you comments, view & suggestions. Hope your day is a good one. Posted: 04/06/2021 17:36:40
A beautiful "floating" stem and leaves on a black background. What do we have this month? Fine Art? Great. I love it.
Tom's suggestion about the upward curving stem makes a lot of sense.
Posted: 04/12/2021 09:34:58
Tom's suggestion about the upward curving stem makes a lot of sense.
Posted: 04/12/2021 09:34:58
Thanks Wes for looking at my image & comments. It was fun to create. Hope your day is a good one Posted: 04/12/2021 17:38:45
A really nice image Russ, but I must admit that the color version is my choice. The colors are great and the reflection of white captures my eye. The monochrome is nice, but the composition, colors and texture in your color version won me over. Posted: 04/17/2021 09:06:59
Thanks Lynne, the color version is also my favorite. Thanks for looking at my image and comments. Hope your day is a good one.
Posted: 04/17/2021 19:08:13
Posted: 04/17/2021 19:08:13
Hi Russ, very eye catching. I see a lot of these, and by far, this is the most well crafted. Although I'm a huge fan of B&W, I prefer the color version too. Regardless, I admire how you made the leaves seem as if they are levitating. The underside reflection provides the image with a silver-like effect that makes for a pleasing tone. It completes the composition eloquently. Posted: 04/23/2021 09:34:57
Thanks Dan, I am honored for your comments & looking at my image. While the B&W is nice, I also prefer the color version. Hope your day is awesome...
Posted: 04/23/2021 16:29:17
Posted: 04/23/2021 16:29:17
An interesting idea and technique you've used here with the light painting on the mirror. I, too, prefer the color version of the image, as I find the hues and contrasting colors in the leaves adds to the subject matter for me. While the monochrome image also is nice, I agree that the leaves themselves and the reflection are better separated in the color image. You do have nice sharpness and depth of field, which I have found challenging in my attempts to do still life images, even with the controlled environment. Posted: 04/29/2021 23:30:05
Thanks Jennifer for looking at my image & your comments. Hope your day is a good one. Posted: 04/30/2021 15:38:31