Balboa Lake
Some images have one small element that the scene turns about, one element that if it were not here it would be telling a different story. I call this turning point the epiphany element.
This photograph is a pleasant scene in the fog shrouded park with very good composition, and excellent exposure. But would it be the same scene without the one falling leaf off to the right? Would we have the feeling that an exact moment in time was captured without the leaf hanging between heaven and earth? Without this epiphany element the image could have been taken ten minutes earlier or ten minutes later. But this one small falling leaf tells us that a unique moment was recorded and these exact elements will never come together again. The photo-artist has created one unique snowflake.
I’m sorry to go on about such a small thing, but also note that the photo-artist placed the leaf so far off center that it has not become the subject. If it had been centered we would have said “How nice, a picture of a falling leaf”, but it is not about the leaf but the captured moment.
Click on Image 
Photographer’s Original 
February 18th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Personally, I would like to have seen the color version of this photograph. I think the photo provides a moment of
tranquit elation, the the falling leaf adds to the
composition, providing a “lighter than air,” simply
put spirit (dance) to the image. However, the color
version just might bring this image alive—-ecstatic,
and living fully in the moment!
I would also like to know the camera, and settings used
for this photograph?
Regards.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I like the B&W much better than the color.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:32 am
The exposure was 1/500 sec to catch the falling leafs at f2.8 70 mm 400 ISO Canon Mark 2 using 8 frames per second. As you can see I removed the larger tree stump that was too centered after I cropped it.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Wonderful shot and crop. I wonder if the photo would benefit from it if the contrast would be a little increase to have stronger blacks. Maybe a very saddle tint? I like the bw version much better then the color version.