Hadleigh Camera Club - Digital Competition – November 2016
Subject: Leaves
Judge: Paul Adams DPAGB
Images at: http://hadleighcameraclub.org.uk/digicomp/competitionpics.php?month=November16
A bit spotty – Good detail and exposure on the spotty bit, but needs a crop to focus more on
that, which is the key to the picture. Also, tone down the highlights on the leaf, bottom left.
Acer in Full Bloom – Trying to show too much of the scene in a single image. I like the
shadow and the tree, but exposure too light on brighter parts of the tree.
Aloe Vera – Good depth of field and use of lens that isolates and simplifies the view.
However, focal point too central and not strong enough to give impact, though if you were
in much closer then central would work.
Autumn Colours – Some good colour, you choice of viewpoint has created a pattern picture
but with insufficient design to hold us in, or to provide that focal point on which to settle.
Also, light too bright for waxy leaves that reflect hot spots, try again on a dull day.
Autumn Kaleidoscope – You have filled the frame with crisp birch leaves, then puzzlingly
applied some sort of solarising effect that distorts reality, we end up with loss of detail and
weird colours. Really, this sort of effect is more suited to urban rather than natural settings.
Autumn Palette – Well done for this different approach, good photography! Two things
carp, where the stalks come together (push then closer together so no black shows through)
and the black background, not black enough has a bit of a cast (try using the black picker in
Levels, that might help).
2nd Place – Keith Payne - Autumn Hues – Lovely. I like the low viewpoint and wide angle.
Slightly let down (as it appears on my monitor) by the foreground brightness. Thus, it
needs a gradient selection* on the bottom half and more contrast will make those
shadows much stronger. Well done.
HC – John Everett – Works well, I like the out of focus background and the Bokeh rings.
Crop a bit off the left to put the leaf a bit off centre, lose the fly and clone out the leaf and
highlights top left. This will make it simpler and stronger.
Begonia Reflection - I enjoy the green leaf, but the red leaf is competing and I find myself
bouncing between the two. A bit tight to the edges, don’t get the title.
Big Leaves – Difficult shooting into the light, you’ve seen the possibilities of the light
through the leaves, but have included too much all around, particularly at the top where it is
very overexposed.
Canna Leaves – Good colour, but another quite busy image. There is a interesting
arrangement of leaves bottom left and up to halfway, maybe this would give a more
abstract finish.
Change of Colour – The quality is there, with strong colour and detail; also, initial impact. I
did find the very dark background rather harsh. Another photograph where I don’t find my
eye able to settle, partly because the lines in the image are all heading out to the right;
however, still in my top ten.
Choisia Leaves – My thoughts on this were similar to the ‘Autumn Palette’, this time the
white does not seem the most harmonious choice and the design is fine; just feel the overall
impression is a little contrived.
Colours of Autumn – Attractive directional light makes for a promising start. The lower
brown leaf works best, don’t think the greeny one or the overturned one suit. The
background is not very attractive. Bit of a rethink needed here.
Daring to be Different – The contrasting colour of the single leaf and its placement are the
strengths of this picture. Even so the leaf is a little tight on the left and the depth of field
chosen means the green leaves are quite intrusive.
Frozen Leaf – The leaf fills the space on a strong diagonal, crucially the ice obscures more
than it enhances, also the uneven lighting fails to bring any luminosity to the subject.
Glyn’s Garden – The light, the detail and the colour make for a good start. There are two
pictures on show, the secret garden to the right and the field to the left. It is a better if we
crop down a third in from the left, we are left with a square format and a stronger more
complete composition.
HC – Caroline Warrey - It’s Acer – The strong colour and the narrow depth of field have
been used to good effect. Just like the previous picture the image would be stronger for
square crop taking off the right third. Why? ... because, as presented, there are equal
amounts of sharpness and blur.
Jewelled Leaf – Generally, it works, it’s at an angle, there is strong directional light, detail
and colour. However, I find it rather conventional, almost clinical in finish; I think the light is
too strong for this natural subject, e.g. the shadows on the leaf have become very heavy.
Just Opening – Coming in close has worked, the exposure and depth of field are fine. Why
did you allow the fern leaf to intrude and obscure? (It’s needed but not so far over!) Also,
crop the top.
Last of the Summer Colour – Good clean crisp finish .... the blue and red work well together.
It is a pity the lower leaves seem to be picking up the blue from the sky, and so the image is
less strong at the bottom.
Last to Go – The diffused background is good. Sadly, the depth of field too narrow on the
centre of interest and the lack of light fails to lift the saturation of the leaf; this means the
picture is less successful.
Leaf Dew – Please remember that the background is as important as the foreground. Yes,
there is good light enhancing the leaves and water droplets but the hotspots throughout the
background compete for attention.
Leaf Fall Westonbirt – Ask the question, ‘Where is the picture?’ Here, it is the descending
branches, backlit leaves and the hint of pink rhododendrum. So get in a lot closer!
Leafy Path – At last, a person, adding scale and a focal point. A little small in the frame and a
bit central, a bit of a zoom in would help.
Leaves behind leaves – As with the Canna Leaves and the Big Leaves, the backlit potential is
spotted but the image lacks design. With this harsh light, the highlights are burnt out.
Leaves over lake – There is a picture here, but not at the angle you have chosen. I know the
theme is leaves but instead of blocking the view, a lower viewpoint would have allowed you
to use the leaves to frame the scene.
3rd Place – George Fonfara - Leaves – Love the delicacy achieved, the sepia tone and
slightly high key feel. Not sure about the smaller leaf it detracts/distracts .... however, if
removed would be tempted to have the single leaf perpendicular to make use of the leaf’s
symmetry.
HC – Keith Payne - Leaves in the mist - Lots of atmosphere, softness and gentle colour,
well done. But, why the restricted view, I felt that something had been cut off the bottom,
that lets down what could have been a winner.
Light Relief – That single leaf has been photographed beautifully. The saturated colour and
the evenness of light across it are just what is required, the dark background is fine, let
down by the distracting smaller leaves. Looks like flash has been used to good effect to give
that darker background. However, just compare the way the leaf edges are better defined
when there is black behind them! Maybe Photoshop can help?
Looking Under – More quality in the taking. The angle of shot does not present a very
dynamic composition, perhaps a rotation would help. Unfortunately, you cannot lose the
hint of a roof in the background.
Not Fallen Yet – Fits the theme well, but the background is competing, either a bit of flash
to brighten the leaves and darken the background; or, narrow the depth of field. Lose the
similar leaf on the right edge.
Orange Leaves – Yes, good colour jumping out from that muted background. However, as I
have said several times, not close enough and lacking design.
Red is the Colour – An attractive little corner, well spotted! Beware of converging verticals,
fine on the right but leaning in from the left, especially the red door. Trim a little of the
distractions from the bottom and give the overall image a bit more contrast, it’s a little flat.
Red Leaves Westonbirt – Similar thoughts as the other Westonbirt, there is little separation
of red tones at the top, which overpower the whole image; so crop to where the picture is
much more effective.
Rustic Red – Good to see someone trying something different. Like the way the leaves fall,
but the picture stronger where the blue edges the leaves. Ideally, move to a position that
will allow the sky to cros the top of the image.
Rusty Leaf – By now, you all know what’s coming! Lose the small leaf at the top, it simplifies
the composition. Even then, this leaf is not very photogenic.
Silhouette of Leaves – Fair enough as far as it goes; but no excuses for clipping the left edge
with the leaf! Don’t think this silhouette is strong enough to sustain our interest.
Silver Threads – Correct light and aperture for the subject, the silvery leaves don’t work
with this subject, either as colour harmony or positioned like this with such contrasting
tones.
Strawberry Leaf – Something different in way presented, good. Two leaves well lit, but right
leaf overly bright. Not sure about having a blue base.
The Holly and the Ivy – Sorry to be pedantic, but is that holly? The colours are true and the
idea is fine. However, still life is in your hands and this needs a bit of a rethink to get a more
pleasing arrangement.
The Leaves All Fell Off – Good idea, but beware of the impact of red on the scene. This
jacket is too intrusive, if you are able to plan something like this, think about how the
clothes blend with the scene. Would have been nice to see a bit more face.
The Magic of Autumn – Again, the idea has potential, but you really need to select an angle
that avoids distracting blurred elements in the foreground, and also, get the focus right. The
main part of this is out of focus.
1st Place – George Fonfara - Thorndon Park – Good use of standard or short telephoto lens
to concentrate our attention on this bit of wood. We are held in at the bottom and we
have an interesting view, which is evenly lit. A complete image, well done.
Undercover for Winter – Interesting subject matter, it poses the questions, what and why?
However, limited appeal photographically.
Vein Leaf – I like the close-up approach, filling the frame with the subject. However, this has
technical issues, it has lots of noise and is very soft in the majority.
Well Weathered – Good colour and detail, with another unneeded insect. The narrow angle
of shooting means we get more background than is helpful. Try getting more above the
subject.
Wet Leaves – I am getting repetitive, but these hotspots of water reflecting a white sky are
a problem, I know you want an out of focus background, but you don’t want the focus to fall
off too quickly as your main leaves then suffer.
*Gradient Selection

Select the Gradient tool

(Check Settings, they should be ….. foreground colour to transparency ….. with the
normal gradient pattern)

Next click the Quick Mask button at the base of the tool bar.

Now drag the cursor over the image (horizontally or vertically, holding the shift
button at the same time ensures accuracy, but not needed if you want an oblique
selection)

This will result in a pinky/red mask appearing over the image; now click Quick Mask
again and the mask becomes a selection. (If selection over the wrong part of image
then Invert (in Image Adjustments)

You now can adjust as you like, try Levels.