Nature A lonely flower

juu · 12-25-2009, 11:39 PM

The flower is lonely, but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

Link to full resolution version: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4199652464_2db8d8945c_o.jpg

Does this:
a) work as is?
b) might work after the background on the left is desaturated/otherwise de-emphasized?
c) might work if I reshoot it otherwise?
d) would never work?

Any other suggestions?

Last edited by juu; 12-27-2009 at 12:45 AM.

**Ash** · 12-26-2009, 12:13 AM

Mate, my response is (e) works with a crop.
It's a fine shot, the touch of light on the flower highlights it beautifully in the subdued image.
Yes, the end of the tunnel is too bright, and can be burnt (not desaturated - that wouldn't do anything for the distracting highlights), but the greatest improvement IMO is a crop above and below the flower to form a more landscape-type orientation, and a focus on the flower.

It's well framed as it is, and with the crop would remain an effective composition.

juu · 12-26-2009, 04:27 PM

Ash, thanks for your response. Is this what you had in mind, at least crop-wise?

I tried to lower the exposure of just the tunnel portion but in the end it just never looked good as it merges together with the wall and I couldn't figure out how to select it right.

I think I need to become better with Gimp/Photoshop before I can fix this picture.

For now I just played around with the tone curves and luminance values to make the tunnel less bright.

**Ash** · 12-26-2009, 10:23 PM

Try selective colouring and reducing the intensity of whites.

The crop works - an improvement, but it doesn't look quite as striking as I'd hoped - there is loss of contrast and sharpness in the flower here.

The vertical version works also - just looks like a different perspective. If you like that orientation, I'd suggest a crop from above to get a 4:3 format.

juu · 12-27-2009, 12:48 AM

I think I managed to reduce the intensity of the tunnel, so two attempts differing just in the crop:

a) vertical

Full version:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/4217633047_0e8dca3bf7_o.jpg

b) landscape

Full version:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4217649921_99886e8083_o.jpg

Perhaps the vertical perspective conveys the loneliness of the flower better?

**Ash** · 12-27-2009, 02:07 AM

I like them both - the landscape format impresses me more, though - it shows the subject more prominently in the frame, but I appreciate the sense of solitude you're trying to project in the vertical orientation.

juu · 12-27-2009, 02:54 AM

Thanks, Ash, you've been great help, as always.

12-25-2009, 11:39 PM	#1
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	A lonely flower Lens: 33mm Camera: K100D + 18-55mm DA ISO: 200 Shutter Speed: 1/350s Aperture: F4 The flower is lonely, but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Link to full resolution version: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4199652464_2db8d8945c_o.jpg Does this: a) work as is? b) might work after the background on the left is desaturated/otherwise de-emphasized? c) might work if I reshoot it otherwise? d) would never work? Any other suggestions? Last edited by juu; 12-27-2009 at 12:45 AM.

12-26-2009, 04:27 PM	#3
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680 Original Poster	Ash, thanks for your response. Is this what you had in mind, at least crop-wise? I tried to lower the exposure of just the tunnel portion but in the end it just never looked good as it merges together with the wall and I couldn't figure out how to select it right. I think I need to become better with Gimp/Photoshop before I can fix this picture. For now I just played around with the tone curves and luminance values to make the tunnel less bright. Last edited by juu; 12-27-2009 at 12:46 AM.

12-27-2009, 12:48 AM	#5
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680 Original Poster	I think I managed to reduce the intensity of the tunnel, so two attempts differing just in the crop: a) vertical Full version: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/4217633047_0e8dca3bf7_o.jpg b) landscape Full version: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4217649921_99886e8083_o.jpg Perhaps the vertical perspective conveys the loneliness of the flower better? Last edited by juu; 12-27-2009 at 01:01 AM.

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12-26-2009, 12:13 AM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Mate, my response is (e) works with a crop. It's a fine shot, the touch of light on the flower highlights it beautifully in the subdued image. Yes, the end of the tunnel is too bright, and can be burnt (not desaturated - that wouldn't do anything for the distracting highlights), but the greatest improvement IMO is a crop above and below the flower to form a more landscape-type orientation, and a focus on the flower. It's well framed as it is, and with the crop would remain an effective composition.

12-26-2009, 10:23 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Try selective colouring and reducing the intensity of whites. The crop works - an improvement, but it doesn't look quite as striking as I'd hoped - there is loss of contrast and sharpness in the flower here. The vertical version works also - just looks like a different perspective. If you like that orientation, I'd suggest a crop from above to get a 4:3 format.

12-27-2009, 02:07 AM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	I like them both - the landscape format impresses me more, though - it shows the subject more prominently in the frame, but I appreciate the sense of solitude you're trying to project in the vertical orientation.

12-27-2009, 02:54 AM	#7
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680 Original Poster	Thanks, Ash, you've been great help, as always.