Awakening 2.0

Spring is in full bloom right now and I decided to simply walk around my backyard looking for growing leaves and sprouts to photograph.
This subject immediately felt familiar because I photographed the same type of leaf about a year ago. I ended up calling the image Awakening because the shape almost felt alien or alive.
What really caught my attention was the symmetry and texture in the leaf, and I immediately knew the scene had potential for a darker cinematic approach.
This image was actually shot in broad daylight.

[SCENE SETUP]
A tiny growing leaf (1) placed centrally in the frame, surrounded by darker forest elements used as natural negative space. Another version of the same leaf was placed in the foreground to help guide the eye directly toward the center of the composition.

[LIGHT PLACEMENT]
(2) amaran Ace 25c + Grid (left rim/key)
Placed slightly behind the subject on the left side to create a warm rim light and directional highlights while keeping the opposite side darker for depth.
(3) amaran Ray 120c + Peak Battery (background)
Placed further back to illuminate darker trees in the background with a cooler blue tone and create atmospheric separation.
(4) Grid Attachment / Light Blocker
Used on the right side to block direct sunlight and preserve shadow depth throughout the scene.

[KEY SETTINGS]
f/2.8 · ISO 400
~50 images (focus stack)
Underexposed by ~3 stops

[INTENT]
Create a cinematic and atmospheric image where the subject feels alive, isolated, and sculpted through controlled light and shadow.

[KEY IDEA]
Underexpose first, then slowly build the light with intention.

Before / After

Explanation

What makes this image work is the balance between symmetry, shadow, and color separation. The warm rim light gives shape and dimension to the leaf, while the cooler background helps separate the subject and create a more cinematic atmosphere.
The darker foreground and surrounding shadows keep the attention centered, while the foreground leaf subtly guides the eye directly toward the subject.
Even though the image was captured in broad daylight, controlling the exposure first allowed the lighting to feel intentional and atmospheric rather than flat and natural.

Gear Used

– Canon R5 & RF 100mm Macro
– amaran Ace 25c + Grid
– amaran Ray 120c
– Peak Battery
– Tripod

Settings

Camera: Canon R5
Lens: Canon RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed:
ISO: 400
Focus stacking: ~50 images

Breakdown

I started by carefully refining the composition and aligning the subject (1) centrally to emphasize symmetry.
Since the forest background felt too bright and distracting, I underexposed the scene by around three stops to create room for artificial lighting and deepen the atmosphere.
I placed light (2) slightly behind the subject on the left side to create a warm rim light and shape the leaf while keeping the opposite side darker for depth.
Then I added light (3) further back in the forest to illuminate the darker trees using a cooler blue tone and create separation between the subject and the background.
I used (4) on the right side to block direct sunlight from entering the scene and flattening the shadows.
I also placed another version of the same leaf in the foreground to subtly guide the eye toward the center of the frame and reinforce the symmetry of the composition.
The key part here was balancing shadows and highlights carefully so the subject felt dimensional without flooding the scene with light.
I captured around 50 images at f/2.8 and stacked them in post to keep the subject sharp while maintaining a soft cinematic background.

Quick Tip

Use whatever you have available to block direct sunlight from hitting your scene. Controlling unwanted ambient light makes it much easier to shape the image intentionally with artificial lighting.

Final Thoughts

I really love this composition because everything feels intentional… the symmetry, the foreground, the shadows, the way the subject almost feels alive.

Watch the process