This is one of those wonderfully lit photos of an ordinary subject. I think it is the ordinary subjects that challenge us most in our craft. I think it is also true that these ordinary subjects teach us the most about our craft if we get it right.

This whole picture is carried by two things. First, the leaves are organized in two groups of three (remember the odd number rule?). Second, the light is spectacular. The leaves are back lit, top lit, and side lit, and combinations of all three. The leaves have interesting curves, the light illuminates the veins in the leaves. This composition has it all. But most of all, the subject is very ordinary. Plain old ivy leaves.

This also demonstrates the thirds rule. The clusters of leaves fall right on the intersection points.

It also demonstrates another principle of compostion, repitition or rythm. The two clusters of leaves both repeat one another and counterpoint one another.

All these compositional features, coupled of a long tonal scale from bright to dark, led me to try this in black and white. (next picture)