Stargazer Lily

[Conk]

I had originally put this in the shared photo's forum and realized that maybe it was in the wrong place after seeing that there were no responses.
So here we go again.
Thought I'd post these before and after shots
for some feedback. Tell me what you think.
Before
http://www.pbase.com/image/3404251
After
http://www.pbase.com/image/3423929
Thanx.

[slejhamer]

Hi Conk,

Those who usually critique must be on vacation, so you're stuck with the comments of a very inexperienced photography newbie. :p

Great colors here. But I think that shooting head-on makes the flower look flat - the height of the stamens (right terminology?) is not at all apparent. Shooting at an angle would give it more depth and interest.

The background in "before" is obviously distracting, which I guess is why you blacked it out in "after." Maybe a deep gaussian blur (after you clone out the wood and other distractions) instead of a blackout would produce an interesting DOF effect?

I'd also suggest cropping "after" and putting the flower off-center a bit. Or a lot, depending on your preference.

There you go; I hope those comments are helpful.

[Conk]

slejhamer wrote:
Hi Conk,

Those who usually critique must be on vacation, so you're stuck with the comments of a very inexperienced photography newbie. :p

Great colors here. But I think that shooting head-on makes the flower look flat - the height of the stamens (right terminology?) is not at all apparent. Shooting at an angle would give it more depth and interest.


Thanx very much Mitch,
Very helpful feedback. The idea of shopoting from an angle would have been the way to go. A tip to remember for sure. I took a few pictures of the Lilies and shot them all straight on.
As far as you being the only feedback of some 48 viewers, I'm fine with having yours alone. :)
I suppose I'm too new. :(

[Leighow]

COLIN

I for one was on vacation! Probably cruising on a schooner in Maine!

Look, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In general flowers are beautiful things to photograph (says I who have shot about 20 flower shots in my life!). But the guys in the office would say "artsy"! So, your first flower is superb. PERIOD. That's all there is to it.

But, its like a ship in a cradle. That is to say, it would be even better (more artsy) if you removed the wooden support and shot another image. Maybe at an angle. Maybe with the greenery in the left hand corner, guiding guide the eye forward to the flower.

Regardless, this is a senstive shot. The beauty and fragility of this flower pops out of the screen and knocks your socks off.

HOWIE (Ottawa, Canada)