Leaves are marvelous constructions. Of course they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors - which makes them especially attractive to photographers.

Take the photo on the left for example; the most striking thing about these leaves is the warm golden color made possible by backlighting the old leaves in Autumn. I love backlighting! Many of my photos of plants are backlit. This is where the subject is interposed between the camera and the sun. The details in the leaves - their veins and shape - are often clearly visible by this method. Autumn is a particularly good time for photographing leaves - the vivid colors are most prominent during this season. 

Often, with backlit subjects the background is darker due to the fact that it is in shadow and, to properly expose for the bright leaf, the background is underexposed. This combination however, often leads to the leaf of interest being prominent in the image, without any distracting background elements.

The photo below on the right was taken at a conservatory in Madison, W isconsin. The lighting was soft and ideal to avoid harsh shadows. This image highlights another feature associated with photographing leaves - the beauty of patterns. Here, the leaf veins segment the leaf (and photo) into lovely shapes with subtly changing shades of green. In a real sense, this photo is a study in shapes. In addition, the lighter portion in the center of the top third provides a sense of three-dimensionality.

This photo is of another autumn leaf set - this time hanging down and not backlit. The rich variety of browns, both of the leaves and the background make for a color palette that is easy on the eye. I especially like this photo because of the curves of the leaves. I absolutely love curves in nature. One doesn't often see them, but they are beautiful when spotted. If you look closely you will also see the remnants of a spider web - adding yet another sense of age to the photo. The water droplet at the tip of the left hand leaf is a nice touch.

Here's another photo of a series of leaves - again in Autumn - that are partially backlit. The veins stand out clearly and are quite interesting in their own right. The background color variation adds to the Autumnal scene and makes the photo interesting.

I hope this photos of leaves will encourage you to slow down and look out for specific leaves - they are all part of God's wonderful creation which he has graciously provided for our enjoyment.