Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => Landscape Showcase => Topic started by: Bob_B on June 10, 2021, 03:15:51 pm

Title: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Bob_B on June 10, 2021, 03:15:51 pm

More experiments...

This time a photo of Calopogon tuberosus flowers. This is an orchid native to the wet areas of Maryland and adjacent states, and commonly known as Tuberous Grass Pink. Yes, this one has white flowers, and that's fairly common for this species. These plants happen to hitchhike in a pot of pitcher plants I bought from a grower several years ago, and are doing quite well in my artificial bog. The flowers do not last more than a few days, so I thought I'd better get some photographed while they were still decent looking.

The flowers were photographed in diffuse natural light against a white background, and processed in LR and PS using several texture overlays for background.

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. Best regards, Bob

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid
Post by: David Eckels on June 10, 2021, 04:09:24 pm

Now these overlays are quite effective in my view. My only suggestion would be to highlight/lighten the orchid more.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid
Post by: Bob_B on June 10, 2021, 05:19:39 pm

Thanks David. I think I will be able to improve that with more work on the background texture.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 10, 2021, 05:41:18 pm

Quote from: David Eckels on June 10, 2021, 04:09:24 pm

Now these overlays are quite effective in my view. My only suggestion would be to highlight/lighten the orchid more.

I'm with David on this.
This has great potential, and I look forward to further variants.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid
Post by: Bob_B on June 11, 2021, 07:29:34 am

Thanks Eric. Experiments continue...

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Bob_B on June 11, 2021, 10:37:01 am

Same image, major mask editing and color changes reflecting David's and Eric's comments.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 11, 2021, 10:47:15 am

Now that is quite lovely!
You can stop with that one, IMHO.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Bob_B on June 11, 2021, 04:39:30 pm

Thanks Eric.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on June 14, 2021, 06:23:51 am

The second version is very nice.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Bob_B on June 14, 2021, 06:55:15 am

Thanks.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: David Eckels on June 14, 2021, 08:36:15 am

All I can say is, Wow!

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: francois on June 14, 2021, 09:37:22 am

Ethereal, the second version is definitely an improvement.
Well done!

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: Bob_B on June 14, 2021, 11:45:13 am

Thank you David and francois.

Title: Re: Calopogon Orchid revised
Post by: BAB on June 16, 2021, 05:55:47 pm

Your second version is a nice panel
I still would like to see a more blended pink to purple background (salmon to lavender color) without the blotchiness. Also the green leaf directly behind the bloom is very distracting to the eye, I might try removing it totally?