Posted by JL Morris on December 19, 2007
Posted under
Color,
Critiqued,
Flowers
The photographer has done a very nice job of interpreting this subject. The graphics are what set this image apart. The use of selective focus shows a good understanding of the advantages and limitations of macro photography.
Graphically there are two dominant elements, the implied circle and the diagonal lines. The implied circle is seen in the tips of the flower traveling across the distant petals, then out of the frame, and reentering to the foregrounds. The repeating diagonals are observed in the soft focus background color striation and then again in the fragment of stem in the lower right hand corner. These give movement and interest to the background. The focal point of the flower, the filaments and anther, are sharp throughout.
The photographer did something very fundamental in the creation of this illustration, pre-visualization. He knew what he wanted the final image to look like and then successfully went about achieving it.
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December 19th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Jim, Thank you for your critique and comment. From the original shot I cropped only a little from the top and left, and softened the darker area on the left. I only adjusted the levels/curves and saturation mildly. Usually if I can find any dust on the flower petals I will clone them out.
December 24th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Great Photo. I love how your focus is only on the very core of the flower. The little bit of stem left in the bottom right also helps to give direction along with the light color streaks in the backround. This gives the picture a light, flowing motion.
My one and only suggestion is that you may want to crop the ends of the longer petals to give it more of a circular/angled feeling, but seeing as that would be hard to do and maintain a nice level of focus/anti-focus it would be hard. It is great as it is.