Comments/Critiques Please Leaf/Rain drops

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum as of today and so I thought, why not jump in with both feet and let one of my recent photos be critiqued. This photo was taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T3 with a Canon 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens. Here is some EXIF data for this shot:
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 75 mm
ISO Speed 800

I appreciate your comments and critiques. If you want to see a larger version, I can point you to my Flickr URL where the photo is located. Thank you!

Since you have flickr, why not embed rather than attach? Its much easier and you can size it properly. Just use the share feature on flickr to the get BBcode and paste it here.

That said, you've done good with the exposure and focus. Subject and composition are sort of boring, but you made the most of what you had.

Oh and welcome to the forum!!

Thank you gonzogolf! Here is the larger image.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/lifespoetry/8​064759935/

Details are sharp but a bit underexposed. A simple editing job would make these pop.

I'd bring the exposure up on the leaf, and dim the oof white spots in the background. It might have been nice to not cut off the leaf on the right edge.

Thank you for the comments and critiques. I'm constantly trying to improve my skills, so I really appreciate this. Would you bring up the exposure on the leaf and dim the white spots in the background by using layers?

Yes...under-exposed. Perhaps an off-camera flash positioned above the leaf would help make the leaf and the water drops jump out more.

Thank you for the critique and suggestion GorgeShooter.

If you want your drops to be larger, wash that leaf with Rain-X then use spray bottle.

Wow Chauncey, what a cool idea! However, this leaf was at a nature conservancy park and found in its natural state.

chauncey wrote in post #15105602
If you want your drops to be larger, wash that leaf with Rain-X then use spray bottle.

Does that kill the leaf eventually?

Don't have a clue, but...I would have killed it anyway by snipping it off to bring it inside and shoot in the comfort of my home,