Thistle(?), & processing?

[PhotosGuy]

So there I am engaging in one of the least popular 'activities' in Michigan... sitting in stopped 'traffic' in a road repair zone. Looking around I see this field of thistles(?) so I pull off & get out the 300D. (Then I see 3 wild canaries which seem to be eating them, all together & tightly grouped for a nice 200mm shot if I had the adaptor for my Nikkors. :cry: Got to order that soon!)

So, two questions...
Are these a variety of Thistle? (I've still got some little spines in my fingers), and

Which processing do you like the best? #2 is only a touch of Levels. #1s & #3 I'm afraid I went a little nuts on.

300D, Kit lens, ISO 100, 1/500 @ f 6.3, 22mm, +10 filter.

http://img72.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Thistles-6-26-04_0075.jpg


http://img72.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Thistles-6-26-04_0087_orig.jpg


http://img72.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Thistles-6-26-04_0087.jpg

[Meerkat17]

Frank,
My preference is for #3 because the colours are more vibrant, however I feel they are all spoiled (IMO) by the shallow DOF and the soft focus on the foreground flower distracts my eye.

Regards
David

[RoB_m]

Frank,
My preference is for #3 because the colours are more vibrant, however I feel they are all spoiled (IMO) by the shallow DOF and the soft focus on the foreground flower distracts my eye.

Regards
David

[PhotosGuy]

73 views & no-one knows what they are? Do I have to go with Justapinkfuzzyflower?

David: I sort of like the more vibrant colors, too, but still have the feeling that I've gone too far. Maybe I'll tone it down to somewhere in between.
As to "soft focus on the foreground flower", they're soft, fuzzy things in real life (which is why I like to use the +10 with them), so I'm not bothered by that as long as I give the eye something sharp in the pic to focus on. I suspect that I'll just let the marketplace decide the issue.

BTW, did you notice that I left a few grass blades in for you here? :lol:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=240146#240146


RoB_m: A man of few words!

Thanks for the input guys.

[jonnyhorizon]

i like no. 1 because the left flower is nice and sharp
i would have shown the left one as a landscape with the right one cropped out
but thats me
the ranchers around here go out of their way to kill thistles because they can take over an area and are bad for livestock to eat
although they are listed in the wild edible plants books as having an edible stalks(don't take my word on that!)
our seem to have a little differnt color bot otherwise look the same
here is one



http://www.johncastor.com/canon%2Dforum/thistle-IMG0070.jpg

[Meerkat17]

BTW, did you notice that I left a few grass blades in for you here? :lol:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=240146#240146



Ah, those design features again! :lol: How they do make the picture! The plant looks like a plant we have in the UK called Selfheal.

However, I think this time I'm more concerned about you lying on someone elses lawn! :shock: People have been arrested for less than that!

As for the thistles and which ones they are:
In the UK I'd call them either Welted thistle (Carduus acanthoides) or Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) but thats the UK and I'm not sure about the USA There are so many types and I think its all to do with their spiky leaves and the overall shape, etc. I could be wrong!


Regards
David

[PhotosGuy]

Thank's for all the input everyone.

Now that I have a wealth of names to call them, I'm starting a new post with new pics (& without any blades of grass! :lol: ) here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=240958#240958