Leaf characters
Similar to portrait photography, not all photographs need to be of glamorous supermodels. I think nature photographers can also be guilty of choosing only the prettiest, most perfect petaled flowers or choosing the bird with flawless colorful plumage. And similar to portrait photography, just as the grittiest, most wrinkled old man can make for an interesting portrait demonstrating character – a recent day in the field found me photographing gritty leaves from an area recently flooded by a river.
Caked with mud and starting the cycle of decay into dirt, I found character in these images that is quite the opposite of say the brilliant colors of fall – or the freshness of dew covered leaves in springtime. Nature doesn’t have to be pretty and glamorous to be alluring, nor does it need to be to make for intriguing photographs.
Mud caked leaves
An interesting observation I had to myself is that I found myself attracted to leaves that were further along in their state of decay as graphical elements. It was almost as if I was searching for the dirtiest, oldest person I could find that had stories to tell. Leaves that had holes in them or started to turn into their skeletal structures made for great focal points of my compositions. A mud covered leaf floor can look rather static, plain and homogeneous. I found it a great exercise in seeing to pick out the elements that made a image a bit more dynamic – and symbolic of the change that was happening.
I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes:
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” -Elliott Erwitt
As we leave winter behind and start to look forward to the energy of spring – it is easy to overlook the elements that decay and provide the nutrients for those spring blooms we become so overly enchanted with. I hope to draw a bit more attention to them with these images. A short series of decaying leaf pictures with this theme are now in my gallery.
Hi Mark,
Those images of decaying leaves show great beauty. Your eye for great light, good composition and contrasting shapes and colors have produced excellent images of a subject that most photographers might well ignore in the presence of something more vibrant and colorful.
Regards ……………. Aubrey
Those are beautiful Mark – great eye!
Hi Mark, well I think you have ‘lived out’ Elliott Erwitt’s quote in this situation. You have stopped and studied a subject that the vast majority of people would tramp right over without a second glance (including many photographers) and you have then spent time working these subjects and offering us the way you see them.
These leaf studies are beautiful and I like the way you have processed the images. Nice subtle tones…
P.S. Hope you are well. I have got to move my comptuer desk out of my daughters room, I hardly get to process any images or update the blog these days. It’s either that or buy a bigger house!
Mark, I agree those remnants of the passing winter remain at least as interesting to observe as the coming spring. Great use of detail, grain and subtle color/tones on your leaf studies.
i agree with you about imperfect objects. I think they often make the most compelling subjects.
That is an excellent series of photos of decayed leaves.
You know me — it’s all about the decayed, crumbled, and dried!
Thanks folks – glad to see there are so many fans of rotting dead stuff.
Excellent article and great photography. The beauty of the decaying reminds us of our mortality and the importance of enjoying today. The patterns and textures of this highlight the delicate and wondrous splendor in nature. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
A bang-on observation, Mark! I agree with the Erwitt statement, and would be so bold as to elaborate it a bit — it’s not just observation, but interpretation of what is observed. That’s what Erwitt is getting at by saying “the way you see them.”
One person looks at a pile of mud-caked leaves, a rotting stump or whatever and sees nothing but clutter and ugliness. Another looks and see a slice out of the incredible cycle of life, full of hidden intricacy and connection, from which everything beautiful arises in its time. To me, art is about both observing and interpreting reality, and that’s the kind of thing you’ve done. Good stuff!
Your use of light and framing brings out all the beauty of these nutrients for spring. A great reminder to open our eyes and hearts.
Curtis, Royce, Anita – thanks so much.
I really like the tones in that decaying leaf image. Good choice in the processing.
Great shots Mark, you have definitely captured the beautiful in the imperfect world, this is what I always loved about photography and that is turning the mundane subject into a beautiful image, well done !!
You know Mark, I’m so tired of glamorous photography style, almost all the photographers nowadays take pictures of so called supermodels. It’s so boring. There is no soul in these photos. Previously I was a photo retoucher in one magazine but I can’t work there any more because there’s nothing except the same glamourous pictures each day. I filled so unhappy…Now I make old photo restorationand I like it. Previously 30-50 years ago people made awesome shots. It’s a pleasure to work with them.
And I’m so happy that nowadays I can still find photographers like you who cares about what they create. You photos inspire me. Thank you so much for your works.
Nice idea for a theme Mark, its just turning Autumn (sorry Fall!!) over here now and we’ve got lots of forest near me – will have to take the camera out along with my dog!
Thank you Anna and Shaun for your comments. Much appreciated.