A while back Mark Graf wrote a piece concerning photography and naturally chaotic subject matter with a mention of striving to create simplicity. Simplicity generally makes for good photographs and Mark’s article has come to mind a number of times as I’ve taken photos of my own — this one included.
In this photo, I see many smaller leaves and/or pine needles arranged as they fell in various positions through three dimensions. Add to that the random shadow pattern formed by the sun and boughs above. Then there’s that one larger leaf, probably what initially drew me to make this image. This leaf provided an island of calm in the chaos. Perhaps in Marks example photo it was the deer that was that island.
Our brains deal pretty well with visual chaos as long as we have at least one clear focal point — an island of calm. As photographers, we regularly use light, color and varying sharpness to draw attention to our main photographic subjects. Chaos certainly can discharge that requirement as well.
I like your analysis of chaotic subject matter. This one today is a fine image that complements your description very well. It is also an abstract if the viewer chooses to add blur in the mind.
Fine work.
Don, thanks, and yes it can easily become an abstract…and is somewhat anyway. :-)
Great example Earl, and thanks for the link back. What I find most interesting about this image is the attention the big leaf wants vs. the brighter leaf on the left.
Thanks, Mark. Yes there is a conflict for attention between those two elements — nice catch!
At one point in processing I reduced the highlights of that brighter spot on the left, but reversed the change because the image, IMO, lost “a certain energy or a sense of tension” without it.
Nice photo, Earl. I like your use of color here.
Hey, thanks, Eric!
The chaotic layout of the leaves and the light patterns is somewhat mitigated by the overall single warm tone of the photo for me, more so that the single big leaf. We all interpret differently but the photo still has a lot of impact. This is up there with the best of your work.
Ken, sometimes working with an image you can become so close to it you can’t see beyond your own perceptions of it. I like others can see things perhaps lost to me for the moment in “my noise” — but once pointed out provides new enjoyment. Thank-you!
The chaos is what keeps me within the image. I move from the big leaf to the bright leaf to the bright leaves on the right edge and back to the big leaf. It works well for me. Not only that but, for me anyway, the color is one of power and draws me in to study it.
Monte, yes the color is a powerful part of this image and being “held hostage by the chaos” does not seem as terrible as it first sounds. ;-)
Thanks!
Another for my long list of Earl’s best. The color and the light grab me immediately, then I am drawn to that one leaf that stands out because of it’s contrasting size. The “hot” spots keep me moving around in the image. Well, long before then, I am lost in the rich depths of all the details and not looking for a way out.
Anita, You certainly have a different list then I do for myself. My list is very, very short and continual changing. :-)
I like the phrase “best for now” because it surmises better ones are just down the road and I hope that to be the case. Thanks!
that’s an awesome capture…the tones are incredible. there’s definitely a lot going on that photo, but the lit areas command attention and brings order to the chaos.. love the photo
Nik, thanks!
That is a great photograph – I love the pattern created by the sun, it makes some leaves almost look golden. My eyes are drawn to the one single big leaf, it really tries to organise the chaos as you’ve mentioned in your article. Wonderful work!