When I started working on this shot I was aiming for a reasonably straight shot of this lily. It was in a vase with a bunch of other flowers, and while it’s clearly dead, I did think it was rather beautiful. But, for one reason or another, I couldn’t get it right. Every shot I took left the subtle colours of the dead petals looking washed out and devoid of any interest.
So, as with my shot of the blackboard from a couple of days ago, I decided to exaggerate what it was that I thought made this an interesting subject. And on the whole I’m not sure that it’s all that successful, but I really don’t have anything else to put up today.
So, it was either not post anything today (and spoil my run of 39 straight days), or put this one up. And on the basis that I don’t think this is a total disaster, I chose the latter ;-)
camera capture date aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO focal length image quality white balance optical filter
Canon G5
11.50pm on 6/3/04
f3.0
1/30
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
50
28.8mm
RAW
custom
B+W UV 010
comment bydeceptive at 12:38 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
It's definitely not a disaster, I like it. I like the muted colours, patterns and texture - though I do find it a little soft, possibly.
comment bySara at 12:56 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
I love the colors. It almost looks like the wing of a colorful butterfly.
comment by djn1 at 01:02 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
This is mark II of this image. Following Deceptive's comment I've added a bit more sharpness which does a better job (I think) of emphasising the texture in the petals.
comment by Yi at 02:41 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
It seems a little out of focus for me. Are you using the Macro mode of canon G5?
comment byclayton at 03:43 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
the colors of the wilting petals add so much in making this abstract... despite the slight softness in detail (which may have been intentional for effect), the shot works well... very nicely done.
I dig it.
comment by djn1 at 04:06 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
In response to Yi's comment (because I agree that it still looked out of focus rather than deliberately softened) here's the third and final version of this image. I reckon that if I do too much more to it I'm going to wreck it altogether ;-)
comment by p23e at 06:46 PM (GMT) on 14 March, 2004
+++Wonderful+++
The color combination
is really *NICE!
comment bynariman at 02:12 AM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
You have picked a difficult subject this time and you have good reason to post it. I like the experience. Anyhow, I like the color schema. Happy 39...
comment bymyla at 03:26 AM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
It *does* look like a butterfly's wings; actually I originally thought this was perhaps the back of one of your daughter's costumes (you know, for dress up or dance) -- it's beautiful. It must have been really something when it was in full bloom. . .
comment byRichard at 03:55 AM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
Not so crazy about this one. The out of focus areas in the top and lower left are distracting to me.
The somewhat muted colours works well but not too crazy about the light (a little hot on the right and a little dark on the left).
Compositionally it's good with the petal just off to the left of the center - but I think that's just about the only thing that works for me in this image.
I only say this because I know you appreciate honest critique (which of course always is very subjective) :-)
comment by djn1 at 11:40 AM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
Thanks all ... but if I'm honest, I'm inclined to agree with Richard - aspects of this image worked ok for me, but on the whole I have to say that I'm not overly happy with it.
comment byemarquetti at 01:00 PM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
When I started working on this shot I was aiming for a reasonably straight shot of this lily. It was in a vase with a bunch of other flowers, and while it’s clearly dead, I did think it was rather beautiful. But, for one reason or another, I couldn’t get it right. Every shot I took left the subtle colours of the dead petals looking washed out and devoid of any interest.
So, as with my shot of the blackboard from a couple of days ago, I decided to exaggerate what it was that I thought made this an interesting subject. And on the whole I’m not sure that it’s all that successful, but I really don’t have anything else to put up today.
So, it was either not post anything today (and spoil my run of 39 straight days), or put this one up. And on the basis that I don’t think this is a total disaster, I chose the latter ;-)
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
focal length
image quality
white balance
optical filter
11.50pm on 6/3/04
f3.0
1/30
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
50
28.8mm
RAW
custom
B+W UV 010
It's definitely not a disaster, I like it. I like the muted colours, patterns and texture - though I do find it a little soft, possibly.
I love the colors. It almost looks like the wing of a colorful butterfly.
This is mark II of this image. Following Deceptive's comment I've added a bit more sharpness which does a better job (I think) of emphasising the texture in the petals.
It seems a little out of focus for me. Are you using the Macro mode of canon G5?
the colors of the wilting petals add so much in making this abstract... despite the slight softness in detail (which may have been intentional for effect), the shot works well... very nicely done.
I dig it.
In response to Yi's comment (because I agree that it still looked out of focus rather than deliberately softened) here's the third and final version of this image. I reckon that if I do too much more to it I'm going to wreck it altogether ;-)
+++Wonderful+++
The color combination
is really *NICE!
You have picked a difficult subject this time and you have good reason to post it. I like the experience. Anyhow, I like the color schema. Happy 39...
It *does* look like a butterfly's wings; actually I originally thought this was perhaps the back of one of your daughter's costumes (you know, for dress up or dance) -- it's beautiful. It must have been really something when it was in full bloom. . .
Not so crazy about this one. The out of focus areas in the top and lower left are distracting to me.
The somewhat muted colours works well but not too crazy about the light (a little hot on the right and a little dark on the left).
Compositionally it's good with the petal just off to the left of the center - but I think that's just about the only thing that works for me in this image.
I only say this because I know you appreciate honest critique (which of course always is very subjective) :-)
Thanks all ... but if I'm honest, I'm inclined to agree with Richard - aspects of this image worked ok for me, but on the whole I have to say that I'm not overly happy with it.
Like a butterfly.
Stragen picture. It looks like a flower, but then again... it doesn't. Don't know whether I like it.