Due Drops
I have always been of the opinion that the old slide (transparency) film photographers were challenged more than the negative film shooters because they could not manipulate their images after the facet in the dark room. There is a movement of photographers today that want to take the perfect digital image in camera with minimal post computer manipulation. To do this they have to exert more control of the setup and environment of their subject at the time of the shoot.
The photograph of this flower has a very nice bright and fresh feeling. It just feels clean and cheerfully. I like the water droplets on the peddles and the magnified images within some of them of the flowers in the background.
There are a couple of suggestions I would like to make to the photographer. When you are shooting take a close look at the background. In this case the yellow flower in the background on the left merges with our subject. Another recommendation would be to throw the background more out of focus by using a larger f-stop. (Did you know that most motion picture cameras are set at f 5.6 to keep your attention where the director wants your attention to be focused?)
Click on Image 
February 13th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Nice shot. Just a suggestion; when composing, consider the “color wheel”.
Analogous colors: colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, e.g. yellow and green. Analogous colors next to each other on the color wheel “get along” and are referred to as being harmonious. Analogous colors are often used in visual design and have a soothing effect.
Complementary colors: colors opposite to each other on the color wheel, e.g. Blue-violet and yellow represent colors positioned across from each other on the color wheel.
Complementary colors exhibit more contrast when positioned adjacent to each other - for example yellow appears more intense when positioned on or beside blue or violet.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I was driving to the audiologists office. When I turned the corner to the entrance the sprinkler system had just shut off and water was running off the sidewalk and into the street.
It was 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Worst time of day to shoot. I pulled over and parked across the street. Grabbed my camera and was laying on the wet sidewalk and in the street itself.
A car came around the corner and almost hit the crazy guy laying in the street taking pictures of wet flowers. Honestly the color wheel was the last thing on my mind.
I snapped about a dozen images with a Nikon D300 and 50 mm lens. Then next car almost brushed the back of my shirt.
Why they couldn’t see a 220 lbs. beached whale in the street is beyond me. So I took what I could has fast as I could and headed on the the audiologist.
What the heck is a color wheel?
February 13th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
That is so funny! careful out there. A color wheel is made of card board, and is a guide to matching up colors that work together or for mixing certain colors in painting. They come in pocket sizes found in art supple stores. I have never thought of a color wheel when shooting perhaps I feel nature knows best, sometimes.
I think the colors are pretty together, but the orange color on the right competes with the yellow flower because it is stronger. My eyes tend to move towards it taking my focus off of the main subject. If I know I am going to photograph flowers I will sometimes carry along fabric or black card board with me to place behind the subject incase of a busy background.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
http://www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html
Here’s a link that explains most everything about the color wheel and color theory. Nature knows best, but when you’re putting toghther a still life, flowers products, etc. it is invaluable to use use the right colors for your image.
I realize now that this was a ‘grab shot’ and the photographer didn’t have a choice on what the landscape gardener chose to plant. But when you have a choice, color thoery is useful in one’s photographic composition.
Color thoery is also important when using photoshop to enhance your images, especially when creating ‘photoart’.