We have an abundance of crocuses right now. After taking all the pictures I want to take of crocuses this spring, I tried the ITR/layering effect with a few of the photos for fun.
The images were taken while walking halfway around the subject - about 5 altogether. In post processing, I masked the center to allow an in-focus stamen/pistil. Do you all think it's too in-focus maybe? I do like the effect of the petals dreamily dancing around that center. I also wonder what you all think about the background - should it be as dark as it is or brighter? I tried brighter, but it felt like the flower faded into the brightness losing the details of the very lightest petals.
Hope your spring is going well in your parts of the world!
I like how you managed to keep the stamen tight, Jennifer. I have a tendency to love flowers.
I have learned a lot about plants and trees from listening and assisting my wife with her plant procurement for her business of 30 years and not I know a lot about the real estate process!
It is amazing how much you can learn just from listening.
Lol! It is amazing how much you can pick up from your spouse after all those years. My husband is a bird lover. I was never really interested in them until I met him. He's certainly given me a greater appreciation for all things nature.
I really like the effect with the sharp stamen and the dreamy petals, nice work !
Should I have one small point of critique, it would be that the background is a bit too busy for my taste. If brighter didn't work out, you might try to make the background (almost) black ? I think that the colors of the crocus will come out even more then.
I think you're right, Ian. I actually did a quick edit of your idea, and it looks so much better ...
I too, agree with Ian. Or you could crop a bit of the left, top and right side. Great effect! Looks cool.
Thanks, Charles. I did a quick edit of just darkening, and I think you and Ian are right about the busyness (above).
[quote]Hope your spring is going well in your parts of the world![/quote]
Oh and concerning spring ... is a bit wet on this side of the globe (Belgium).
It is here as well. Also the mildest winter we've had in a long time (Pennsylvania Dutch Country).
I hear in Belgium it only rains twice a year - January to July and September to January... :-)
OK, this was an England joke but you're close enough.....
(not) funny cause it's true :-D
"Hope your spring is going well in your parts of the world!"
Around here snow season lasts 2.5 months, from November 30 to February 16. It snowed last night.
We supposedly get up to 30 inches spread out between Octoberish-Marchish. This year all we had was mostly flurries here and there. It seemed like spring started back in January! Hope you're enjoying your very late season snow!
I think you did a great job with this Jennifer, and do like that you kept the stamen intact. I think it advantageous at times to maintain a level of integrity to highlight key elements..
If there is one thing I might suggest you address it would be to mask out the two errant petals on the left. I am being picky here, but I think they throw off the balance a little. after doing so I would consider a tighter, square crop to really highlight the flower and minimize the background (again, just something to consider/try).
All in all a lovely image. Well done!
Looking forward to Spring here (Vermont). We've lost most of the snow now other than in the mountains.
I'm still debating about the left petals. I feel there's something off about them too - throwing off the balance as you said, but I'd still like to have the feeling of them flowing around the center. I'm thinking what I should've done was pulled them towards the center more bringing them more in line with the side of the flower.