The Secret Life of Flowers

[julsoph]

My daughter and I took a walk today to pick some flowers, and these were her picks. I thought that in silhouette-ish, they looked like they were sharing secrets...if I can be so cheesy.

Emily

[poker]

Great idea. The picture is well thought out. Might as well go straight BW or SEPIA to get rid of the color between the blinds.

Really nice shot...thanks!!!

[julsoph]

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Manacsa... I tried this in sepia and definitely wasn't crazy about it...and I'm waffling over b&w...I'll play with it a little more though.

Thanks!
Emily

[Chunk]

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Manacsa... I tried this in sepia and definitely wasn't crazy about it...and I'm waffling over b&w...I'll play with it a little more though.

Thanks!
Emily

An elegant shot. Much better than any FTD arrangement.
If you'd like to play with the color rather than take the default sepia, you can take it to grayscale mode and then duotone mode. Even more fun than the duotone mode is to take it back to RGB mode and then play around in color balance.

[julsoph]

Thanks Chunk! I'll definitely fiddle with this some more.

Emily

[mpreslar]

This is beautiful! Great composition and I love the way the blinds look through the water.

[jar_e]

As mansca pointed out, the color between the blinds is the only thing that makes this from a totally great abstract and random shot IMO. I love the idea, the blinds is a great touch as it adds that extra element but the color leak is just too much for me. I think black and white would work, just because the plants are relatively dark already. I'd love to see a repost of it as black and white.

Jared

[Chunk]

I should have mentioned that I'm not all that bothered by the color beyond the blind. It's OK to have a hint of what the blinds are closing out to give us this cool, quiet, monochromatic setting. It heightens the effect, I think. I especially like the color in the distorted refraction of the blinds in the water.

[cyberlord]

I like the colors in the glass (from the blinds) so maybe change the DOF so the blinds are more blurred and not so distracting?

Then that might take away from the contrast between the blinds and the glass. I dunno. Best way is to shoot it several times at different settings and learn from it. At least thats what I do.

Tim

[julsoph]

Marty, Jared, Cyberlord & Chunk....I appreciate the thoughts and feedback on this. I did play a bit in photoshop last night, but I'm a bit more of a PS dummy than I like to let on...hehe. Jared, I'll post a b&w version too...although I still am partial to the color for the reflections in the glass and such.
Chunk, thanks for your further comments on this.

Emily

[julsoph]

K, here's the black & white version:

Emily

[readingr]

Emily,

Its the original for me. The lighting is spot om and the refractions through the glass are priceless.

Now for the really really really minor minor minor nit pick. the spot of dust by the base of the glass at 1 o'clock jumps out at me, along with his partner at the right edge of the picture.

Still excellent.

Roger

[GB1]

Emily - Very interesting. It's contempuary alright. Not sure I like the particular angle of the blinds and support though. The thing that pops into my mind is, Was that intentional, or was it a mistake? (I'll assume the better.) Excellant exposure, very sharp.

GB

[julsoph]

Roger and GB...thanks for your thoughts on this.

Roger...I see those specks you're talking about...I'm sure they're a pretty easy fix...thanks!
GB...the angle on this was tough...I was trying to take the picture in such a way so that I wouldn't get the cord of the blinds in it. I like the angle of the support, as you put it (my kitchen island), but the blinds were more of a struggle...since they're slightly "off" when cropping...if that makes sense.

Thanks again!
Emily