Flowers in Black & White

[julsoph]

All right...this is something a little different as far as flowers go...I was out on a walk today and took some pics of some teeny flowers. I converted it to b&w, and then boosted the shadows to get the black background.
I'm really unsure with this one though...lol.

[villenadecorte]

All right...this is something a little different as far as flowers go...I was out on a walk today and took some pics of some teeny flowers. I converted it to b&w, and then boosted the shadows to get the black background.
I'm really unsure with this one though...lol.

I really like this, however I would go with a bolder tighter horizontal crop. just my personal take on it. I think the contrast is great, and the image is intriguing.

[LeeIs]

I like it too.. I think it goes well with your can and water drops on the chair shots. They'll make a great series of mostly black photos IMO. Also, I agree with the crop idea. There seems to be a little too much white space, though I can't figure what a good crop would be.

[Seb]

The effect is really neat! It looks like these flowers comes out from nowhere. I like the textures too. I would tend to agree with Rebekah's crop suggestion although I think that it already works like it is.

Seb

[julsoph]

Thanks Rebekah, Liban & Seb...I really appreciate your feedback on this! Rebekah, I was wondering if someone might suggest a tighter crop...and I was trying to decide how it would look. I'll definitely experiment a bit with it.
Thanks again!
Emily

[readingr]

Emily,

This looks intriguing and I really like it - looks sort of alien beast with multiple heads.

My only critique is that there are a few stray pixels in the photo that I find distracting just around the outside of the flowers. Also on three of the petals there are black pixels that don't quite fit in.

Composition is excellent and I like the use of negative space.

Roger

[photophorous]

Emily,

I like this a lot. I think the framing/cropping is perfect. It has a very "artsy" look, which I like. If I wasn't used to seeing your digital shots, I would think this was done with film. It has a grainy look not typical of my expectations for digital.

Very nice!

Paul

[srobb]

Very nice, Emily. The contrast is well done and I love how the flowers seem to come out of nowhere. My first thing was to agree with the cropping, but now that I have looked at it a little longer I am no longer so sure about that. I like the way it is with the negative space it has. Very interesting how much of a grainy, film look the image has.

[julsoph]

Thanks Roger, Paul & Srobb! Roger...I tried to clean this up a bit in photoshop, the little pixelation you're talking about...there was actually a few other spots before I did that, but I'll go back and take a looksee again.
I'm really glad to hear back the opinions re: the cropping on this. If I do play with it a bit, I'll repost and see what you guys think.

Thanks again!
Emily

[villenadecorte]

All right...this is something a little different as far as flowers go...I was out on a walk today and took some pics of some teeny flowers. I converted it to b&w, and then boosted the shadows to get the black background.
I'm really unsure with this one though...lol.

A bold horizontal crop with negative black space to the right of the flowers is what I was thinking.... :0)

[stew]

I really like this a LOT. Great idea

Agree with the horiz crop, but i would not make it so tight. I always play with my crops a lot - tweaking here and there - to get it just so. IMHO, you could even leave the cropping where it is and get away with it. The black space is great.

[julsoph]

Thank you, Stew! I appreciate again the ideas on the cropping.

Emily

[julsoph]

Alrighty...I played with villenadecorte's ideas for cropping, and here are two different crops that I liked:

[villenadecorte]

Alrighty...I played with villenadecorte's ideas for cropping, and here are two different crops that I liked:

#2 #2 #2.... did i mention i like #2? So subtle from #1, but it works!
Love it!

[payn817]

The crops look great! Nice work, and a great idea.

[julsoph]

#2 #2 #2.... did i mention i like #2? So subtle from #1, but it works!
Love it!

Thanks! And thanks for the suggestion as well!

And payn, thank you too!

Emily

[readingr]

Emily,

I'm going to go against the majority here and think that the new crops are boring and make the flowers look like an after thought.

I find the square crop - the original much more interesting and concentrates the attention on the flowers not on the negative space. I personally would apply the same softer processing to the square crop and also get rid of the black spots which are still on the new versions.

Roger

[Chunk]

Alrighty...I played with villenadecorte's ideas for cropping, and here are two different crops that I liked:

I like the second crop. Excellent balance.

[dbutler]

I can't decide!! How's that for the coward's way out? Seriously, I think all three carry an incredible amount of impact. You wild woman!! Great great concept.

[julsoph]

Thanks D, Chunk & Roger for your thoughts and feedback! I really appreciate it.

Emily

[stew]

Alrighty...I played with villenadecorte's ideas for cropping, and here are two different crops that I liked:

I like the original version best now that I see the crops. The square format and the slightly off-center subject is really great - puts them at center-stage in an interesting way. The first crop is the second best - they still have some breathing room. The second crop feels way too cramped for me. You're loosing the intent of your photo.

Either way - you know I think it's great work! Keep it up.

[julsoph]

Thanks for your thoughts on the cropping, Stew! I appreciate it. Honestly, I'm keeping both crops...hehe, version 1 and version 2. I'm allowed to do that, right?

Emily

[stew]

of course!

version 1
version 2

he he

[OldSchool]

Hi Emily,
I like this. I like your other B&W flower series too. You are certainly developing a pleasing style in your work.
Cheers,
Tim

[julsoph]

Hi Emily,
I like this. I like your other B&W flower series too. You are certainly developing a pleasing style in your work.
Cheers,
Tim

Thanks Tim.