David Terao
December 2025 - Hosta Leaf
Original
About the Image(s)
While walking through a public garden, I found this large, withered Hosta leaf with an interesting texture and took it home to shoot in my studio. I placed it on a black plastic sheet and used two strobes in softboxes on either side of the leaf. The leaf was a little dirty and had a few holes in it. I used Photoshop to clean it up. I also added a subtle texture in the black plastic using Nik Collection's Analog Efex, "Paper Textures" filter. Taking 6 shots, I focus-stacked the image in Helicon Focus. Shot with a Canon R5 full-frame camera with a 100mm macro lens on a tripod. Exposure was 1/250 sec @f/16 and ISO 100
10 comments posted
I really like your subject matter and all of the texture and s on this dried leaf. Everything is sharp and your lighting brings out depth. I'm torn about your added background texture as I like the way the leaf stands out against the stark black of the original. I do like how the reflection is more subdued and kind of fades away in the final. I wonder if you just reduced the texture just behind the leaf a bit more if that would improve this in any way. Just a thought, but a really nice capture. Posted: 12/02/2025 20:54:56
Thank you, Denise. I'm not really a texture person and almost never use it. I recently learned of the paper-texture filter in Nik's Analog Efex and decided to try it out on this image. I'm not sure I like it a lot either. Posted: 12/02/2025 21:07:30
(Groups 20 & 81)
Beautiful and so lucky to have found the leaf with such lovely photogenic curves!!
I think you have improved on the original especially with the reflection. Well done. Posted: 12/05/2025 15:54:16
I think you have improved on the original especially with the reflection. Well done. Posted: 12/05/2025 15:54:16
Thank you, Angela, for visiting our group and for your feedback. Yes, although there were lots of dried hosta leaves available, this was the only one in decent condition with unusual curves. Posted: 12/06/2025 17:57:54
Love your presentation of the hosta leaf. It dried beautifully. You captured all the fine details. The golden color against the black background worked better as Denise had mentioned. The reflection is more defined against the black. Nice job! Posted: 12/06/2025 15:23:38
Thank you, Barbara. I'll have to go back there again and look for other potential hosta subjects. Posted: 12/06/2025 18:04:19
David, you have such a great eye for detail and to be able to see the image in your mind's eye before you even capture the image. Such a great image. This to my eye is art. Great composition and lighting. Like the subdued reflection. Like the background. Beautiful!! Posted: 12/09/2025 17:34:43
Thank you, Dick. I've tried shooting wilted, dried leaves before and even leaves from my own hosta plant, but this variety of hosta produces large leaves that are quite photogenic. Posted: 12/11/2025 23:39:30
Great photo! You brought out the lovely curves and texture of the leaf. At first I wasn't sure about the textured background, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. It adds an 'artistic' touch. Posted: 12/10/2025 13:22:22
Yes, I'm still not a fan of using textured backgrounds. In this case, I tried to apply it in a subtle way so as not to compete with the leaf. Posted: 12/11/2025 23:42:04