Forest Leaves

I am going to hurt your feelings and say that this does not quite 'make it'. The gross underexposure of shadows, combined with the correct exposure for sunlit sections is too extreme to be anything close to aesthetic. Your exposure of EV 15.5 is a bit difficult to assess because one does not know what speed the '400' has devolved to by now with it being so old. (Fast films get slower faster than slow films do.) An attempt to highlight those three or four leaves by the 'golden sunlight' fails because there is little but glare there.

Pentax Pete: please do not consider this post to be an attack, but, rather, a viewpoint that is simply meant to force you to reconsider. I have had pictures that were far worse; thus, I am not entitled to rate your work in other than a solitary evaluation which hinges upon no prominence, evolves from no provenance.

To salvage the extreme lighting situation I probably would have exposed at about EV 13.5 and developed the negative about 20% less. - David Lyga

David -- NO PROBS at all !! After over 60 years in Camera Clubs I am used to 'Critiques' !! I guessed it would be 'technically difficult' and the 'Misty' one was next frame so could not do an 'Ansel' and process differently.

It just fails, Pete, because there is nothing there, nothing to think about other than what is missing. - David Lyga

I don't think it fails. I think it's other worldly... or two worlds that meet... or... Anyway, I really like it.

It's what we call in Camera Clubs a 'Judge Bait' photo --- Ha Ha !! Thanks all .

I like this. 'Different & I'm not drawn to images where low key is used for artificial drama. I just like it. Your comment about judge bait is of interest. I contemplate local clubs, but don't know if the time spent (likely hr drive each way) has a good return on learning. I also suspect most clubs would be heavily weighted towards digital. If there were a way to learn more about what gets attention on judged photos, I'd be interested.

Mr Silver -- here in UK we have a 'list' of Hundreds of Clubs all over on the Photographic Alliance of great Britain web-site. When we go on Holiday we can contact a Club and visit ( FREE ! ) in the evening or get some info on 'Photogenic Spots'
http://www.thepagb.org.uk/about/federations/
It is worth it to investigate YOUR Clubs -- I learnt all about Composition, Pictorial Photography and enough to get my 'Letters' after my name in 1970 from 'Club' membership. How to learn what Judges 'look for'
1. WHITE bits on the edges of photos. ( Spot or 'Clone' them out)
2. Not enough 'space' in front of moving or implied movement for the subject to 'move' into'
3. Horizons that are not straight.
4. No 'Catchlights in Eyes' of Human or Animal Portraits.
5. Main subject in Middle and not on a 'Third' or the 'Golden Mean' if a single subject ( G MEAN is proportion of a line 1/3rd of photo in)
6. A 'Busy' photo with NO real 'Centre of Interest' and not enough depth of field control so background is out of focus.
If I think of any more I will let you know -- Happy Snapping for now !
Peter

Peter, Thank You! 'Sounds like you feel they'd be worth the time. I'll have to visit some here. There are several. I appreciate your kind help - taking the time to share your thinking.