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I was asked once if I arrange leaves for a photo. When asked a question about photos I try to be forthright and honest. My answer in this case was “sometimes”. Generally, I don’t arrange leaves or almost any objects in the nature shots but I will try to remove some distractions that I don’t think would be of interest to the composition, if at all possible. Sometimes it’s not possible to get the look I wanted and I have resorted to using the clone stamp tool to remove unwanted elements, but this is rarely done. Sometimes it’s hard to improve on what you naturally see.
2clicksaway 
Big like on this one, Ken!
Thanks, Malin.
That’s lovely, Ken. The coppery-orange and green leaves are really set off against the brown-grey leaves.
Thanks, Meanderer. It was the combination of colors the drew my eye.
Personnally I do not rearrange objects or things that nature offers me, I try to catch nature as it is but it did happen on a few occassion that I removed something small things that are blocking what I considered a perfect view
Thanks, Nelson. That’s my strategy, too.
My personal approach is that there’s nothing wrong with a little “landscaping” to clean up a background or to remove something distracting. Mother Nature isn’t necessarily a photographer!
Or a good housekeeper.
I don’t have any issue with rearranging things a bit, if it results in what I think is a better photograph. Like a painter painting a landscape, I’ll take things out as I see fit. It’s all about the end result!
That’s a good point, John. The photographer may have a vision and may need to rearrange a scene to suit that vision.
Sometimes you can’t improve on nature, and sometimes you can. Whichever applies here is immaterial – it’s just a great abstract design. All we need to do is look down and just tip toe through the leaves and find those potential images. Well found, Ken
Thanks, Andy. That’s the philosophy I try to follow. I can’t improve on nature but I might be able to improve a photo.
superb! The colours are stunning against the grey background.
Thanks, smacked. I liked the color contrast of the newly fallen leaves against the old leaves.
Lovely photo….my personal philosophy is it’s art not photojournalism. Nothing wrong with rearranging.
Thanks, Howard. I agree. I could never get away with it at the museum.
Very beautiful, like a painting.
Thanks, Bente. A few days after this was taken the forest floor was covered in newly fallen leaves, making a shot like this almost impossible.