Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Chris Calohan on March 07, 2013, 10:36:54 am
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(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8536048521_f823d70bf6_o.jpg)
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I like the light in it, Chris. But the problem with flower pictures is that the guys who shoot for seed catalogs can beat out just about any amateur. And I doubt a grayscale shot of a flower would be featured in a seed catalog. But that light is very, very nice. Is it available light or did you light it?
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I like the light in it, Chris. But the problem with flower pictures is that the guys who shoot for seed catalogs can beat out just about any amateur. And I doubt a grayscale shot of a flower would be featured in a seed catalog. But that light is very, very nice. Is it available light or did you light it?
Unfortunately, you're right.
That was the prime reason that I gave up trying to incorporate flowers into my stock work: I knew I hadn't the eye or even the access to the perfect blooms. Why waste limited time?
Of course, if your name was Mapplethorpe, you could shoot your lily till the cows came home. And sell it.
Rob C
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I like the light in it, Chris. But the problem with flower pictures is that the guys who shoot for seed catalogs can beat out just about any amateur. And I doubt a grayscale shot of a flower would be featured in a seed catalog. But that light is very, very nice. Is it available light or did you light it?
Outside shot using a simple circular 12" diffuser. No fill. I never would try to compete against the seed catalogue shooters, though I've shot quite a few Day Lilys for a friend's daylily farm for catalogue shots.
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This is the color original.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8532415431_53cd6e454d_o.jpg)
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And a Day Lily shot from the Dragon's Meade collection. It's called, "Mellow Yellow."
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6175/6228158452_80ea4b969e_o.jpg)
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Shooting a flower in B&W is a perfectly valid creative endeavor. Robert Mappelthorpe's B&W photographs of flowers, for example, are exquisite.
The main problem with doing flowers in monochrome is hitting on the right B&W conversion filtration to preserve the delicacy and luminosity of the tonal values. Your shot is beautifully lit, so it's important not to destroy the quality of light in the conversion.
The hibiscus is a very brightly colored flower and it's all too easy to end up with harsh tonality. With some judicious tweaking of Photoshop's B&W conversion filters it's possible to overcome this.
Here's what I did with your color original of the same image.
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I had that very same look and posted it to another forum who all liked the darker version better..beat me with a stick. Thanks, Doug.
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I had that very same look and posted it to another forum who all liked the darker version better..
Did not know you frequent Goth sites? ;)
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I had that very same look and posted it to another forum who all liked the darker version better..beat me with a stick. Thanks, Doug.
Next time, make sure your stick is bigger and don't let them push you around. ;)
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First version
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8536126402_1b7daeff96_o.jpg)
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First version
I totally don't get why anyone would prefer dark version over this. But then, there is no accounting for taste.
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Yet again an illustrated lesson on the futility of seeking outside opinion.
As ever, do what you think is right, and the hell with the rest of 'em! Nobody's going to respect you if you don't even respect your own opinion as artist/creator/visionary!
;-)
Rob C
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But the problem with flower pictures is that the guys who shoot for seed catalogs can beat out just about any amateur.
Seems like more of a general "problem"?
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Just imagine for a moment, if you will, that Chris has zero ambition to go into the seed catalogue and packaging business. What if (heaven forbid) he is on a journey of enjoyment and self-discovery.
I am no fan of flowers but I have to say that the floral portraits of Robert Mapplethorpe are sublimely exquisite — and many were in black & white.
Oh, and for Rob C, Viva the Hasselblad that he used to capture those images.
Cheers,
W
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I'd never give a second of thought about hanging a color image of a flower on my wall. A black and white one is another story.
*edit*
And I like the darker of the two versions, the way the stamen stands out is what makes it interesting to me.
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Love the flower (prefer the lighter version), but not so crazy about the OOF leaf sticking out the right side...
Mike.
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Nice work.
Maybe I'd go for a BW in between light and dark? Don't know.
Looks like it would eat up lots of K ink to print.
Don't worry if someone else has a better flower or any other type of pix than you. If that was the case, none of us would shoot a thing and we would just let the top man / gal in the world click the cam.
Just keep shooting and send in some more!!
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Love the flower (prefer the lighter version), but not so crazy about the OOF leaf sticking out the right side...
Mike.
As a guru said, "there's no accounting for taste" ! I prefer the darker version but agree about the OOF leaf. I thought the image MIGHT look better if it was a bit warmer with the leaf less cr*ppy.....
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The leaf is only partially oof and for me, it doesn't just fill out the frame, it also acts as a counter-balance or anchoring point. I did it both ways and can't go with just the flower.
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I totally don't get why anyone would prefer dark version over this. But then, there is no accounting for taste.
And I totally don't get why anyone would prefer the lighter version over the dark one, but then, there's no accounting for taste.
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I like both of them, almost equally so I printed both, and hung them side by side at a friend's gallery. Everyone who's seen them like both though a few have leaned dark, a few light, pretty much like this forum.
There is no accounting for taste, though in my art time on this earth, I'm quite sure I've experienced more distaste than good taste, but then who am I to make that determination. Frankly, I wouldn't own a Dali (and don't) but would kill for a Kathe Kollwitz, (which I don't own either).
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And for all of you who could not decide between a dark or light version..here's the compromise...which I also find pleasing.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8545777118_6487c22a64_o.jpg)
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Hi Chris-
I like all the versions of this image. It is quite striking. The leaf doesn't bother me at all. It can be a bit difficult to settle on one version when there are so many options available in post processing. A lot of people disparage flower shots but I love to photograph and look at flowers. Thanks for showing this.
Michael
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What I find objectionable in the darker version(s) is not that it is darker, but the strange bluish tint it acquires. Perhaps warmer dark would work better?
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I tried a selenium toner...perhaps too heavy. I'll look at a different tone.