Natures Layers

[BrianN]

Good evening everyone,
I had a night away in my campervan by Talla Reservoir and in the morning I drove to Meggat Reservoir and went on a one mile walk that was waymarked from the head of the reservoir....once back on the C class road I saw a lot of bracken by the side of the road.
I spent some time looking in amongst the bracken and came across a nice little scene of natures layers with leaves and a pine needle, the layers comprised the decaying bracken which had an oak leaf resting upon it and then finally the pine needle.
I then asked myself a question....does the pine needle add to it or not ?
I finally settled for it being in as I saw it with the three layers of different small elements in nature and a colour contrast.
I have included both images as I did remove the pine needle to have a discussion on this.
I look forward to hearing your opinion.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 24-50mm F2.8 G
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 6/10 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 24-50mm F2.8 G
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/2 sec
• ISO 100

 

[Richard A]

I like the pine needle but maybe it’s just a bit too horizontal…

 

[Unframed Dave]

I prefer without, I'd probably have opened that aperture right up to throw the bracken out of focus. Separate the leaf and make the shot more atmospheric.

 

[BrianN]

I prefer without, I'd probably have opened that aperture right up to throw the bracken out of focus. Separate the leaf and make the shot more atmospheric.

My intention was to show the layers so hence the f11, thanks for your opinion

 

[BrianN]

I like the pine needle but maybe it’s just a bit too horizontal…

Thanks Richard

 

[Slug]

I prefer it without the needles. Maybe if they were dry and brown too it might work better.

 

[BrianN]

I prefer it without the needles. Maybe if they were dry and brown too it might work better.

Thanks a lot

 

[Richard A]

A lot of great comments here. And there is no correct answer really. But it just goes to show that, if you stumble across something like this, it often pays to take a lot of different shots because you don't want to get home and wish you had done such and such...