Today I just want to feature leaves, simple shapes that carry their own stories. I shot these in black and white to focus on three things I love: silhouette, lighting, and texture. Color can be distracting; in monochrome, the lines speak clearly and the mood sits closer to the surface.
The first frame is a silhouette against a pale sky. I exposed for the background and let the leaves fall into shadow, turning them into clean, graphic forms. It’s a reminder that even the smallest branch can look bold when the light is behind it.
The second image is all about lighting. The curled leaves caught a soft shine that moved across their surfaces like a slow wave. During editing, I lifted the highlights and pulled down the blacks to deepen the contrast, letting the gloss and shadows carve out shape and depth.
For the third photo, I leaned into texture. I got close enough to see the veins and small edges, the kind of details we usually miss when we walk by. A slight boost in clarity helped the ridges stand out without losing the softness around them.
And then there’s the single fallen leaf on rough concrete—a quiet epilogue. The grit, the cracks, and the faint stains became a backdrop for a small goodbye. Leaves give me a feeling of nostalgia, like memories you don’t want to let go of. Monochrome sometimes makes me feel a deep sadness, but that’s okay. Photography isn’t only about bright moments; it’s also about honoring the quiet ones.
These photos are simple, but they remind me why I keep returning to black and white: it reveals form, keeps the story honest, and lets emotion breathe.
~ Andri Cauldwell
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