my muck around with candles

hi all was playing around with my 400d today and start mucking around with different settings
so here is two pictures i took with no editing or anything done

also was just using my kit lens, 18-55mm

thanks all

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I like the first one but I don't really care for the second one. I think you've lost something with the b&w conversion there. In my mind, "fire" evokes strong images of certain colors from shimmery reds to luminescent yellows to "hot whites"...I think that's one of the reasons so many people are drawn to "flame"...the dancing colors and constantly changing patterns and such. It would be the same way with something like a campfire...a b&w shot of a camp fire isn't usually appealing because you've lost the "essence of the flame". I think in most peoples minds it's the colors that tell you "this is hot" where as showing "blue" in regards to ice or something tells you "this is cool or cold".

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

I would prefer a Portrait orientation for #1. It's a very nice shot but too much emptiness at each side.

Otherwise, very nice - congratulations!

I don't care for #2, at all.