I am entering a local competition with a macro flower theme. i know that there will be MANY petals with water drops and super soft focus petals. I'd like to do something more vibrant and interesting. Here are the images i am considering. I'd love your thoughts!
They are all cactus flower plus an artichoke thistle.
Woahhh I love all of these!
I think I like the 2 and 3 the most though. 1 is great but the color variety of 2 and 3 is great. 4 is cool but I like the symmetry of the earlier ones. 5 is just a little soft and lacks the interest of the first three. And 6 I really like but it's a bit more abstract and I think the earlier ones still feel very much like flower photography.
They're all great though!
Thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
According to me, the fourth is best, in difficult competition.
Thank you Radisa! This is a night blooming cactus with a carefully aimed flashlight. Sometimes low tech gets high results!
Although I doubted about the last one of these series, the others are a little over saturated, one is out of focus. If this has helped, everything is subjective, like the jury :)
Interestingly, cacti have rediculously vibrant flowers and while, yes these have some juice ;) they are not as much as you might think. The last one is cropped out of this which isn't juiced at all. I do think I'll touch back whichever I go with though because i don't want to blow someone eyes out! LOL Thanks Radisa!
Hi Again,. I'm glad you let me know that these look too saturated to you. I don't usually use my phone when on this site but I'm away and thought I'd check in. On this screen, these are way too saturated. It is tricky when you want intense color but also know that everyone's monitors are set differently. It would be hard for me to believe the photo above has not been juiced if just looking at it on my phone. I've read about adjusting your monitor for photography. Do you do this? If so, I'd love to hear how. Thanks Radisa!
There are many ways how to calibrate your monitor Ruth! My friend calibrated mine with some device.
3 just because. Good Luck!
Thanks Scott!!
They're all GREAT!! Here's my humble opinion. 1 is great. I love the colors, the way the yellow creeps up the wall of the pink. 2 is better then 1. I love how the center twists, almost like a group of dancers twisted up and holding up the new baby queen fairy that's hiding in the green on top (like something out of Fantasia 3 - if there were one. 2's better then 3 - and I seriously would like to know how you took 3! That is a seriously cool shot but I still like 2 better. 4 and 5 are beautiful and vibrant. I love 6's DOF and sharpness. It's almost like you could fall through it - and maybe find a new way in to Wonderland ;). IDK on a fantasy kick tonight. So 2 and 6 are my favorites. If I had to pick between the two - and it's close, I still think #2. Even though the focus isn't as sharp as 6, it's soft, beautiful and vivid. There's just something about the colors in 2. Sorry my answer is so long. Just tried to look at them like I was judging them. Good Luck in your competition.
Elizabeth you are a joy! Thanks for your thoughts!
#6 is my favorite with #2 the runner up. Nice work!
Thanks David!
Love them all in different ways, Ruth. Cactus flowers are striking,beautiful things, they way they explode out of nowhere, always amazing me. All images are well composed, with graphic and colour interest. And what colour! I'm no use in helping you choose one. Sorry!
Thanks Chris for sharing your thoughts! It's nice to get some good feedback. Particularly from the great folks in this group.
4 is my favorite. I love all of the colors in the other pictures, but my eyes seem to only land on part of the picture. But with 4, I find my eyes exploring different parts of the scene and finding little details. Great pictures all of them! Good luck with which ever one you pick.
Thank a bunch Shawn. I appreciate the help!!
Wonderful images. But, you are entering a composition and keep in mind what judges look for. Do you have areas in sharp focus? Something unique? A clean background? Clean, non-distracting edges? I like #1 or #2. But in #1 I would crop down to keep out those bright washed out areas. In #2 I like the symmetry of the background and the twist of the area holding up the flower bud. But watch out for the upper two dark corners, clone them out with color. Watch out for the flare area in the lower left, clone in the neighboring yellow. Just above that is a dark slash in the space between the petals. It is a bit distracting. Note how the other side blends in better.
Note in these wonderful images how there is almost always an area of sharpness.
http://kathleenclemonsphotography.com/flowers/
You are so right on! Thank you so much for your time and feedback! I also try and remember that the images will be looked at on a table of screen right next to the other images - hence the intense colors to make it stand out. two thumbs up for the help!