Leaf with reflection, originally uploaded by jjvornov.
My primary photographic mentor is Vincent Versace. His book “Welcome to Oz” is a relative short book, written in an unusual style that more workshop than manual, but it is full of techniques that permit manipulation of light within photographs.
I’ve had many influences over the years both as models of how to pursue this art and as technical inspirations. Vince is pretty accessible through his Flickr group in particular.
I’ve been struggling to suppress light in photographs. His advice has been to clip the light end of the curve in photoshop. And he’s right. It achieves the goal of lowering contrast and killing the brightest highlights. In this image I burshed back the darkness over the central leaf to have it emerge from the darker background.
Thanks Vince.