5 and a half pictures from last days of Floriade. DL Warning

[Willy wombat]

OK so Floriade is now over again for another year. For all those who didnt make it down i hope that you enjoy my lastest effort.

Black hearts
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{218B8A69-2DF1-4A44-A83E-3DB83697FDC4}/picture.JPG[/img]

Delicious strawberries and cream
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{FF8B9EED-E014-4A8D-B633-26A82C8E684A}/picture.JPG[/img]

A different take on that image (the half image)
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{377A572B-E3E0-4B19-80FC-B21257BC67A2}/picture.JPG[/img]

Pano
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{5E445817-7127-4EB3-97F5-D6DA34F47390}/picture.JPG[/img]

Interesting structures
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{32964920-890A-4986-BBC1-6307AE67A2CC}/picture.JPG[/img]

Cola cups
[img]http://www.fototime.com/{CA34FB44-019A-4530-88B0-D30FE2156F9F}/picture.JPG[/img]

[Willy wombat]

So these ones failed to tickle anyone's fancy?

Feel free to comment on why they didnt work for you.

Cheers

[marcotrov]

On the contrary William Wombat. Generally this series is very much to my liking. There is so much to like including perspective, colour, post processing, technique you used, sharpness etc.
I really like
#1, for its pattern and boldness (perhaps a tad of reflected light on the flowers themselves, tweak up the saturation (or polarizer?)
#3 for its creative impressionistic appeal its a real piece of art and as such should be framed
#6 Ditto as for #3 they are both 'wall hangers'
As for general comment for the rest that are also good but could do with adjustments to the distracting backgrounds. #2 certainly clone out the spot light in topleft corner and reduce visual distraction of background treeline.
Other than that I just wish they were my images
cheers
marco

[stubbsy]

Shaun

I'll start with the bad

#1 - if you're going for this effect (black flowers) I'd do the stems the same. It just looks weird with the colour burnt out of the flower, but not the stem. Shot doesn't work for me

#4 - the pano. Ditch the pink frame. It REALLY distracts from the flowers

#6 - nope. Too weird looking.


Now the good

#2 & #3 - the PP on #3 version looks good and has more appeal for me than the original. A keeper

#4 - this is a really good capture and I like the PP


Odd one out for me is #5 - can't put my finger on why, but this looks really strange like the flowers are somehow disconnected from their stems. Like I'm looking at two half pictures joined in the middle.

Sorry for not being more enthusiastic, but they really don't pop.

[kinetic]

I really really really like the first image. Did you tweak this image much? or are the flowers really that deep blackish-red colour?
I'm not a big fan of the images with the "painted" effects (sorry, don't know the correct terminology) - but anyway, that's just a personal taste thing, you've certainly done a great job with all of the pics.

[christiand]

Hi WW,

I like 2 and 4 the best.
2 is my favourite, I like the composition, the colours,
the contrast; it is very cool.

Cheers,
CD

[Dug]

I like 1 and 5 I went to floriade but have not processed the photos as yet I found it a bit boring Sorry but too many tulips


Finding different ways to photograph them is a real challenge.

Well done a good effort overall in a strangely difficult subject.

[Willy wombat]

On the contrary William Wombat. Generally this series is very much to my liking. There is so much to like including perspective, colour, post processing, technique you used, sharpness etc.
I really like
#1, for its pattern and boldness (perhaps a tad of reflected light on the flowers themselves, tweak up the saturation (or polarizer?)
#3 for its creative impressionistic appeal its a real piece of art and as such should be framed
#6 Ditto as for #3 they are both 'wall hangers'
As for general comment for the rest that are also good but could do with adjustments to the distracting backgrounds. #2 certainly clone out the spot light in topleft corner and reduce visual distraction of background treeline.
Other than that I just wish they were my images
cheers
marco

Cheers Macro for taking the time to make a comment on my post. Your comments were very helpful. I guess at the end of spring everyone is flowered out. I should have got in earlier!

[Willy wombat]

#1 - if you're going for this effect (black flowers) I'd do the stems the same. It just looks weird with the colour burnt out of the flower, but not the stem. Shot doesn't work for me

#4 - the pano. Ditch the pink frame. It REALLY distracts from the flowers

Sorry for not being more enthusiastic, but they really don't pop.

Hi Stubbsy - Its Steve, not Shaun, but that is cool.

#1 is actually a picture of black (well dark purple) tulips so i didnt actually convert them or do a treatment - they were just dark flowers. But thanks for your valid comments.

#4 Pink frame - I think you could be right there, but i was in an experimenting kind of mood.

Thanks for all your honest feedback - I DO appreciate it. Sometimes i need to hear if the images are not quite there as i tend to build them up in my mind when i am processing them and sometimes i need to be slapped down.

[Willy wombat]

Well done a good effort overall in a strangely difficult subject.

I agree Dug - It is very difficult to be different with this subject.

[stubbsy]

#1 - if you're going for this effect (black flowers) I'd do the stems the same. It just looks weird with the colour burnt out of the flower, but not the stem. Shot doesn't work for me

#4 - the pano. Ditch the pink frame. It REALLY distracts from the flowers

Sorry for not being more enthusiastic, but they really don't pop.

Hi Stubbsy - Its Steve, not Shaun, but that is cool.

#1 is actually a picture of black (well dark purple) tulips so i didnt actually convert them or do a treatment - they were just dark flowers. But thanks for your valid comments.

#4 Pink frame - I think you could be right there, but i was in an experimenting kind of mood.

Thanks for all your honest feedback - I DO appreciate it. Sometimes i need to hear if the images are not quite there as i tend to build them up in my mind when i am processing them and sometimes i need to be slapped down.

Steve I'm usually good with names, my apologies.

#1 - OK makes more sense now. Never seen flowers that "black"

[johnd]

Steve, with images #1 and #5, you may be able to get a bit more definition and contrast into both the petals and stems by bumping the mid tones in shadows/highlights (I assume you're using Photshop). For my flower images, I have found that bumping mid tones really brings out the texture of the flowers, making them almost leap out at you. When bumping mid tone contrast, you need to compensate with both shadows and highlights as you adjust the mid tones. Give it a go and see what you reckon with the results.

On the pink frame issue, I've played around with different coloured frames, using complimentary colours from the image etc, and like Stubbsy says, it tends to detract from the image. I find the black framing effect works best for me (like you did in the other images).

[drifter]

#1 #2 and #5 are standouts . Beautiful . The view in the first one makes them appear huge .Nicely done . Really like the symetry of #5 .
As mentioned by a few others i'm not real keen on the pink frame .