New Life; Monstera Deliciosa

[Mick Fagan]

Shen Hao HZX45-IIA
Ilford FP4+
Fujinon 250mm f/6.3
1/30 at f/16 includes ½ a stop for bellows extension.

[Barry Kirsten]

Nice one, Mick. Lovely shine and tonal structure on leaves. These broad-leafed plants offer lovely opportunities for LF b&w. Well done.

[Mick Fagan]

Thank you Barry, they do indeed present great possibilities, however, unless the light is just right, one usually ends up with a flat uninteresting image.

[Maris]

Good one Mick. That's a masterclass in capturing gradation in specular highlights. Left to themselves they tend to burn out to blank white. There's plenty to look at. Monstera is a visually engaging plant worth putting up with as it tries to take over a garden..

How many photographers would have reached for a unworthy polariser to subdue the gleams?

[Mick Fagan]

Thank you Maris.

I never thought of a polarising filter as I waited and waited for the right light to get the reflections. The aim of the photograph was to somehow depict the highlights without them blowing out.

Freshly expanded leaves are the glossiest and have the best reflections, so pretty much every leaf you see here is quite young and a lighter shade of green than older leaves that are out of the frame. The central leaf, which is uncurling and expanding, is the lightest coloured green and this difference is only there whilst it is unfurling.

I needed full sunlight and at this time of the year, early to mid October, full sunlight only happens between 07:30 to around 08:30 on cloudless days.

Living in Melbourne meant I had a long wait.