Junior and Senior I

Gallery: FloraPosted March 30, 2010120 views9 comments

One of two images selected from my last session with these beauties before they were retired.

Studio - dining room table; Backdrop - black fabric;
Lighting - natural, north light, bay window

5DMII, 100mm F/2.8 Macro L IS, RAW, ISO 50, manually metered - 1 stop under meter reading and maually focused, mirror locked up, tripod w/remote release

Lightroom - tweak black, clarity, vibrance and saturation, green, blue, purple

CS3 - Nik Color Efex 3.0 Midnight, Skylight, Darken/Lighten, Brilliance/Warmth, Polarization; Photokit Shapener; Bokeh

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 30, 2010 at 12:22 PM

The colors are great, and the black bg certainly brings the bloom out. Not certain I care for the dying blooms, although the title certainly leads one to expect it.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on March 30, 2010 at 1:33 PM

I love the vibrance to those purple petals Steven. The generations are very nicely shown.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on March 30, 2010 at 2:21 PM

Nice work.
lstván

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on March 30, 2010 at 3:55 PM

Very painterly. It's an interesting concept that you've chosen here and I like your execution of it. It's not as "pretty" as a straight-up shot at peak bloom (stating the obvious), but it leaves a much more lasting impression.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on March 30, 2010 at 6:02 PM

Superb composition and processing Steven. Love the rich color contrasted with fading petals. Beautiful work.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 31, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Hi Stephan

Marvelous detail , light and color. The distinction between the junior & senior blooms is so graphic and telling.

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on April 1, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Wonderful work (again) Steven. I really like what you have done in this series, well taken and displayed.

Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 3, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Steven: The striking color makes all of these shots for me. The past prime blooms are growing on me since you've started this series. I'm liking the unconvention. Well done.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Steven M Kahn on April 8, 2010 at 8:25 PM

Thank you everyone. I just received a 16"x20" Black Stand Out Mount print of this image to hang in our home ("gallery"), and it is gorgeous.

Phil, this is the second purchase of these type of Irises, and I just picked up a third one, and each has been different. In this particular case, the irises had a second blossom that bloomed a couple of days after the first blossom. An unexpected bonus. I was attracted to the colors, curves, folds and forms of the two blossoms, each at a different stage in their life. I could see calling this "Parent and Child", or "Mother and Daughter". I have been attracted to capturing iris blossoms past their prime for a couple of years now. There is an iridescent quality to the blooms past prime.

Phil, it may not be as "pretty" as a stratight up shot at peak bloom, but at this stage there are colors not present at peak, and that is why I kept these past their prime. They age so gracefully and present an opportunity for a session if you are open to it. The 16"x20" print tells me it was worth it.

Bill, thank you. I am hooked. Just bought another stem yesterday and it has its own personality.

Registered on July 20, 2009, 140 Posts, 1198 Comments