|
|
|
Anne Bogardus
{K:2875} 6/12/2004
|
Linn,
I keep coming back to this one because I've not been sure what I think about it. The flowers are really lovely and you've done great on the white--the shadows really define the petals nicely. I like the black at the bottom as well.
I think what's bothering me as others have mentioned are all the stems in the background. The one on the farthest left has the most interesting colors and pattern, so I think I'd place it closer to the flowers, and crop out the others. I think that would give you what you are looking for in terms of the interest and the patterns, and direct the main focus to the flowers themselves.
Overall, I think it's really lovely.
Regards,
Anne
|
|
|
|
|
John Barclay
{K:3650} 6/12/2004
|
"All a matter of different views and likes :-)" YES! And that is what makes it so much fun. Are there some rules that do make sense and should be used as a guide? Yes! However, the bottom line is it is your vision and your creation which comes from YOU! The key as Mark says is to keep learning and growing which is the gift that you have. You are so open to feedback and more importantly open to trying... Keep up the lovely and inspiring work Linn. Great stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
Linn Currie
{K:24426} 6/12/2004
|
Morning John
I have been pondering your comment, and weighing it up against the opinions of Mark and Elissa.
Personally, I still like my original crop. That is how I saw it, and captured it. I think that one must be true to oneself, but always be open for suggestions and critique.
Would I shoot the same flower the same way next time? Probably not, maybe yes. Would I see something different, a new angle? Yes, most definitely.
I think photography, angles and crops are very much like the putting salt on your food - some like lots, others don't :-) All a matter of different views and likes :-)
Linn
|
|
|
|
|
John Barclay
{K:3650} 6/11/2004
|
I don't know... My eye prefers the original. I find that I'm bouncing back and forth between the soft (but not unpleasant) background and the lovely subject of white flowers. There is an implied rhythm that sweeps from left to right.. The only little and I mean little nit is that the one bud? is going out of the frame.. I feel like it is pulling me out of the frame just a bit. All in all, I like it!
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Spracklen
{K:32552} 6/10/2004
|
Very beautiful! You learn fast!!
Kind regards, Chris
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beltran
{K:32612} 6/10/2004
|
To some extent it's a gut thing, yes. It becomes that after awhile. Really, it is what you want to emphasize. That's the thing. Depends on the person looking at it, too, as to how they see visually. I'm being centralized to the white blooms, while you are seeing it in a broader sense, which makes you want to include the stems. But four stems doesn't balance well to me. Elisa's cut is very good. Not that yours isn't, but I agree with Elisa a lot more. I think you have enough presence of mind to attend a class on three-dimensional color and design. I say that, because anything that tries to teach composition is treading on dangerous ground. It'll kill whatever you have that's yours in favor of rules if you let it. But if you want to take a class on color & design, don't take it as gospel truth. It's just something to implement; not rules set in stone.
As far as the bluish tint, you can work it using masks, but I find it tedious. I prefer going to a local greenhouse because the light is already diffused and warmed. Or if you can use a reflector, get a gold one. I use automobile sunshades that are made of metallic mylar. Yes, learning is great. It's more like play, and you never stop when it's that.
|
|
|
|
|
Linn Currie
{K:24426} 6/10/2004
|
Hi Mark
OK - I hear what you say and appreciate it a LOT :-) When, or how, will I ever know when too much background is really too much? Is this just going to be a "gut thing" that I will develop with experience and over time? or are there "fast rules" that one should look up and learn? As you know, I am 100% amateur with only a couple of months' experience - I want to know how to do things properly :-)
When I shot and cropped this image, I liked the almost upright stem on the far left - I thought it gave it a "natural frame". I liked the "hang" of the white flowers, and that's why I left the big black background at the bottom. So basically, I presented an image of "an entire Watsonia" - but now I see I made the mistake of not having everything in focus, if that was my original intention. Right?
I had the focus on the white flowers and thus it should be cropped tighter, to put emphasis on the flowers, and not all the stems. Right?
Am I learning yet?
So is it a matter of WHAT you want to emphasise and cropping around that? and also making sure that that part is in focus then?
Regarding the bluish tint on the white - how do I get rid of it? Other than shooting indoor, which is not an option for me as I do not have lighting equipment. Can this be removed with PS and if so, with what tools?
Hey Mark - isn't learning fun? :-))
Linn
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beltran
{K:32612} 6/10/2004
|
Oh, right, the critique! ;^)
I partly agree with Elisa Svensson's crop. My suggestion is that you crop to form a perfect square instead. That would leave you with two main stems. Then, remove the remnant of the third stem, so that you are left with a cleaner black space. As it is, the green stems are taking away much of the impact of the white blooms. Another option, if you want to keep this rectangular format, is to burn in or delete the first two stems (the left-most). The thing with white is, it almost always needs black. Keep the colors to a maximum of three whenever you can. You know what bothers me (personally) are the bluish hues that the white flowers are picking up from the sky. It gives it an elegant kind of glow, but I'd remove it just to see how it would look.
|
|
|
|
Lori Stitt
{K:75282} 6/9/2004
|
Soft pretty tones Linn,
I like this very much,
I also like the black space
in the frame, really adds to it!
Nice work,
Lori ;)
|
|
|
|
Guido Tweepenninckx
{K:20076} 6/9/2004
|
another nice one Linn
|
|
|
|
|
Lucas Macedo
{K:12843} 6/9/2004
|
Excellent composition with the detailed flowers and blurred background, Linn!
I don't know that beaultiful flower, watsonian, it looks like a mix of an orchid and a lily.
Best regards! ..... Lucas
|
|
|
|
|
Ted vandenBergh
{K:5119} 6/9/2004
|
Oh, what a lovely picture, subtle colors, original way to capture. Good. Regards, Ted
|
|
|
|
Jose Ignacio (Nacho) Garcia Barcia
{K:96391} 6/9/2004
|
wonderful 7
|
|
|
|
Clifton Jones
{K:10688} 6/9/2004
|
BEAUTIFUL...........................
Clifton...
|
|
|
|
Glenn Edmiston
{K:7366} 6/9/2004
|
Hi Linn you are so talented . Pleas come to florida and teach this plowjockey what to do eheh . ps: THanks for the comments on my butterflys . was sitting out by the pool havin breakfast the other morning and they started coming around the garden . And Sue said get your camera and thats the story on my butterflies. cheers Cowboy!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Enjoy
{K:16125} 6/9/2004
|
pretty pretty Linn.... well seen
|
|
|
|
NN
{K:26787} 6/9/2004
|
You are right Linn, the stems ARE beautiful ... and the explanation to the black space at the bottom is accepted! :-)))
|
|
|
|
|
Linn Currie
{K:24426} 6/9/2004
|
Morning Elisa
Yes, I see what you intend with a tighter crop :-)
But ...the Watsonia has interesting stems, where it bends and curls and the flowers hang down. I wanted to leave enough black at the bottom, to depict the downward growth of the flower. Did I express myself in a clear way? :-)
I could perhaps have cropped a bit away on the left hand border, but I liked the out of focus stems with their colours and patterns.
Linn
|
|
|
|
|
NN
{K:26787} 6/9/2004
|
Delicate flowers indeed! What do you think of my attachment (cropped in another way)?
|
|
|
|
|
John Beavin
{K:4477} 6/9/2004
|
Great shot Linn, such delicate colours.
|
|
|
|
|
Linn Currie
{K:24426} 6/9/2004
|
And where's my critique???? :-(((((
Just remember because it is dedicated to you, it doesn't mean that I don't want an HONEST critique!
You are ever so welcome Mark :-)
Linn
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beltran
{K:32612} 6/9/2004
|
I'm speechless; flattered. Thank you very much.
|
|
|
|
Teunis Haveman
{K:53426} 6/9/2004
|
Linn, beautiful Shot
Great flowers
Teunis
|
|
0 
