One Yellow Flower . . .flowerpower

[gahspidy]

How do you feel about this image?
thanks
Fuji Velvia 100

[Overbeyond]

I like this a lot gary. It's unusual and almost has a story of survival to it. The broken glass of the window frames the plant which stands out nicely from the black interior.
Tom

[Seb]

How do you feel about this image?
thanks
Fuji Velvia 100

Gary,

There is something toyish/cartoonish about your picture and I mean this in a positive way. I almost feel like this could be a plastic flower shot in a scenery yet there is a gloomy tension coming from the lighting/color cast. This new series of yours is different from the previous ones in such a way that every new pictures are somewhat disparate but they still works together very well so far.

keep them coming!

Seb

[Tuna]

Very nice, Gary. I'm also wondering if, in this case, the background - namely the sharp-edged glass - should be in focus to add some tension and contrast to your pretty flower...

Tuna

[mtbbrian]

It seems to me, that you are more or less doing the same stuff as you were with the can series, and it's not doing anything for me.
It's more or less the same treatment for a different subject matter.
It's like you aren't trying?
Do I make sense?
Brian

[PlantedTao]

Well, I got to disagree with mtb - to me your photography shows personalized style. If we continue to try different stuff we never develop this personalization and I don't think this a good. Your can series was different in the fact that it was B&W with color, right?
I never liked the canscapes that much and think these flower photos are much better and show off your style in a more dramatic way.

I like the set-up and the color on this...it helps to evoke feelings that many flower shots can not or do not bother to do.

I have to agree with Tuna and say that if the glass had more focus it would have added more tension...the delicate flower against the sharp edge of broken glass.
Also I would like to have scene the flower a little more off center, just a bit.
Nice job.
Cheers.

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the replies Tom, Seb, Tuna, Brian. Tuna, I agree with the dof. I would have preferred to have a bit sharper glass, but The wind was blowing the flower around so much I dropped myaperture for a quicker shutter speed. I had been waiting for the wind to give, but it was not giving up. Brian, I appreciate your true thoughts and I recall you were not a big fan of the Canscape series and therefore this may not work for you either as the comp are somewhat similiar (intentionally) It is just the way I like to do it. Although, the post editing with these do not involve removing color from the bg, I still am going for a surreal appearance and/or gloomy somehow troubling mood. Thats just my thing. I am most certainly trying my best and squeeze in every minute that I can devote from my normal 50 hour work week into doing these as my tired red eyes can tell. Thanks for the time and for your thoughts on this.

[gahspidy]

PlantedTao, much appreciate your time and in-depth reply. Trying new things is always good , but when we find something we like and that best brings what we are trying to deliver than it is good to stick with what works for ones particuliar style or taste. Glad to know your thoughts.
thanks

[mtbbrian]

I think in the end Gary, some of the Can Series photographs grew on me, but I thought the "From Within" series was far more compelling. Like I said above, I just think that this series is too much like the Can one.
If it works, then so be it!
Keep It Up!
I can sympathize with what you are going through with work, family and photo time. I am grateful that I can do it too. A lot of what I have been doing this year has been a result of bringing my camera along on family/wife outings.
Maybe it's time you should get a Holga to do something totally different!
;)
Brian

[Chunk]

Very nice control of the color Gary and a nice contrast between the organic flower and the broken glass. I don't think the centered composition is a strength and like it with just a sliver of glass on top and cropped almost to the pot on the right and bottom.
I think this style of shot whispers loudly in this day of over saturated color that we see in a lot of peoples work.
Nice work.

[gahspidy]

Brian, yeah, I've tried bringing my camera along to work, but just still does not seem to allow me any time to make it worht while. Holga huh? Your good Holga work does have me inspired.

Chunk, I like the crop suggestion you made and it looks good to me. I think I will print both versions and get some feedback and see for myself which will I go with. Thanks for the input.

[villenadecorte]

I think the soft muted color of the pot works well, and doesnt steal the show from the yellow flower.
Clean composition- I like the broken glass framing here, and thinks it implies a story, however I would have liked to see a little more off-centeredness here- I almost feel like the flower is smack in the middle.
I have to disagree with Brians take on this as same thing, different subject. Maybe you're just finding your style?

[mtbbrian]

Brian, yeah, I've tried bringing my camera along to work, but just still does not seem to allow me any time to make it worht while. Holga huh? Your good Holga work does have me inspired.

If you remember the "Sprocket Hole Swimmer" photograph I posted a bit ago, I did that one at work. It was by far the most successful photograph I did at work.

Yes A Holga!! It will fun the fun back into your photography!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;)
Bekkah maybe on the right track? And I am off? Maybe you are at a point where you are "finding your style, vision".
But if it is working for you, then keep it up! I am sure if you feel it isn't you'll change it accordingly.
I know you know this, but I feel you are a good photographer. You'll get to where you want to go with your photography soon enough. I am glad we can be apart of that journey.
Brian

[mdmc]

I've held off on posting on this one because I didn't like it, but i can at least agree with others on ways to improve it.
I don't think that it can work without the glass being sharp. Get the flower at least a little from the center. Add some contrast to get more overall saturation and add some shadow detail to the pot.
Do a little color burning on the flower to add some color to the petals and reduce the white areas.
The bg element ( something needs to be there ) Is to prominent in the comp, reduce it's prominance by adjusting contrast and or sharpness.
If I don't make sense, let me know,
Mark.

[payn817]

I like where your "style" is going or what your style is. I agree about the centered part. However, I also love the contrasts of beauty with the "end of the world" bg's. It is refreshing to see something not so typical. I would never hang a print of just a beautiful flower, or animal in my home, but many of your photos I would gladly hang.

If you are trying to "find your style", I understand how frustrating it can be, but must be even worse for someone with such talent and experience. I know it is frustrating for me to express my true self, and it has only been three months. You are one of my favorite photographers and I am sure wherever you go with your work, it will be great.

[gahspidy]

Thanks all for your great insight and thoughts on this image as well as where I'm trying to go with my pics. I've edited this taking Chunks crop into consideration and opinions concerning the sharpness of the glass. I am definetly more pleased with this edit and do you feel it has improved?

[Seb]

Thanks all for your great insight and thoughts on this image as well as where I'm trying to go with my pics. I've edited this taking Chunks crop into consideration and opinions concerning the sharpness of the glass. I am definetly more pleased with this edit and do you feel it has improved?

Quite frankly Gary, I liked the original version straight like it was and I also enjoy this alternative take. Personally, I can't say if either of these is superior to the other. To me they are just different. I am sorry if this comment isn't useful in any way lol.

Seb

[Seb]

Quite frankly Gary, I liked the original version straight like it was and I also enjoy this alternative take. Personally, I can't really say if either of these is superior to the other. To me they are just different. The first one had a more analog feel to is so to speak while the additional sharpening of the second version make it feels more digital. I guess that the new crop enhance the composition but then again, the first version feel just right to me. I am sorry if this comment isn't useful in any way lol.

[gahspidy]

Seb, your right. . .does not help me much lol BUT, I am pleased to know your take on the edit. I too, like the original and felt the center crop was fine in this case. When Chunk suggested the crop, I thought about it, tried it and felt I agreed with the result. Personally i feel the edit is an improvement over the original, but am glad to know your feeling on it and hope to hear from others. Thanks Seb.
Mark, I like some of your suggestions and touched on a few of them a bit, but the dark prominent bg is just to my liking for this. Thanks for your good points and thoughts.
Payn817, I appreciate your comments and your encouraging words. Thanks for your time. . .