Arati, a few more words about the image as you see it ? While "natural arrangements" is probably your theme, what are your thoughts about inclusion of stone in the frame ? Just wondering whether exclusion of it would have left a stronger signature of time in the frame - which may be a different composition altogether.

Hi Ganesh,
That is a piece of coral, not a stone ... these heart-shaped pieces of coral were all over the beach and i found it quite different from the others. This particular scene with the dried leaf stole my heart, for the beach is where terrestrial (leaf) and oceanic (coral) treasures seemed to come together.

i do have a bunch of various compositions, including one with a hermit crab in it... will upload here in a bit.
thanks,
arati

it is pictures like this which make " a picture is worth a thousand words" look like an understatement. To me this shot is not describable. It is at once tragic, destiny, end of cycle, merger, rest, poignance, nostalgia...pure visual for me is what makes one stutter, lost for words. This is one such shot. bordering on the edge of meaning. I'll go with Ganesh about excluding the coral.
Thanks for sharing

very interesting, Nirlep - thanks for your comments. when i saw this on the beach, i knelt down. there was no other reaction befitting. i fell silent, words vanished themselves and the scene around hushed itself. there was something very fragile and heartstopping about it. glad you feel/felt some of that. and very interesting that you and Ganesh would both exclude the coral.
to me, it is (was) integral to that scene... but maybe because i was an immersed witness.

thanks,
A

immersed witness.....beautiful!!

Hi Aarti. This is a Typical situation I would see in BnW right from the beginning. Exposure to pull out the leaf shadow. Show the texture of the sand and coral. The play of light on the sand accentuating tone differences. More sharpness and dof. Sorry if i picked too much. I saw an excellent potential for very impactful BnW . The artistic thought and the connect you build with the subject is a learning for me. I need to be more of a " immersed witness" beautifully coined

Barring the philosophy I like the natural elements in muted tones.