A Subtle Acquaintance

Well Michael, I like this very much. The repeating pattern is very interesting and keeps my attention, not to mention the color contrasts here. Really nice.

I like both, but I like the other image best. Less for the eye to be puzzled by.

This is great, Michael! I love the patterns and color contrasts. Can you only submit one? Might as well submit both if you can - having a vertical and horizontal is always a good thing.

Nice pattern and colors. I prefer this one for the submission, if I had to choose one. I find this one the more "artistic" of the two images.

Both are fabulous, Michael. Very nice. I can't help with the decision as I like them both. Can you submit both?

Very cool. If I had to choose just one it would be this one. I feel the color and patterns displayed here are more interestingly unusual than the other image.

Both are strong images Michael, beautiful patterns, textures, and colors. If I had to choose one though, your Season of Growth image would be my choice as it has such a wonderful luminance. Outstanding work.

Incredible shot Michael. All the detail is superb. An image you can really get involved in while viewing. Pretty hard to choose which image. Maybe you can get a full 2 page spread with the horizontal. Good Luck!

I think both images are great - but for the purpose of AZ highways (which i love) I think this one has more impact as typical of Arizona. The greens and yellows are excellent, but wonder if a bit more saturation would improve it further?
Sandy r

I like the repetitive pattern of this photo. The colors complement each other very well.

Jim

This is great, Michael. Wonderful colors and really well done. I would sure go for both images if you can. If I had to pick one it would be (Season of Growth). That one is very special indeed.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

I can appreciate the sharp DOF and color patterns with the larger image, glad you added it

Pretty hard to beat an image like this with the beautiful repeating patterns and awesome colors and textures.

Thanks everybody for the feedback. So far, sounds like slight overall vote for this one, but several members here prefer the Season of Growth shot better. AZ Highways said to submit up to four images, one for each season (these are both Spring), and they said they would prefer more traditional landscape shots instead of macro type images - although all styles are welcome. With that being said, I thought these were very much in the same genre to submit them both. I agree with Vance about the luminance of the other image; on the other hand, the flowers here seem to have some appeal as well.

Well, I can say I absolutely love this but the other image seems to pick up the more intricate details a little crisper. Maybe a tighter view would work a little better. They both have a garden type of feel though since they are so dissconnected from their surroundings. Good luck.

I saw some purple cacti in Sedona (parking lot), do you know if any of that actually grows in the wild out there? I'm pretty sure it does I just haven't seen out there in the wild.

This looks great, Michael. Real AZ HWYS material, I think. What wonderful colors.

spectacular colours and patterns to this. compositionally, IMO, this works better than the other but the other has better light. I'd choose this one. the plant looks like a Euphorbia spp - not sure where you see it but if it is in a botanical garden it is almost certainly one and probably from Africa!

Lovely and amazing details !

If I were forced to pick one I would go the previous one but I think it's a case of comparing apples and oranges. One's a detail shot the other a pattern shot. I really like both of these.

Both are fantastic Michael. For me, I like your first post. But, You never know what an editor is going to like. good luck.

Definitely a unique image, Michael...it's a tough call. Both are appealing to the eye for different reasons.

Very interesting capture here. It has a very festive feel -- as though the cactus is dressed for the occasion.

On the note of the other shot you linked to, it too is a cool shot. Maybe it's just my overactive imagination, but the gray areas look like skulls with spikes sticking out of them, and the green buds look like some sort of alien heads. Yes, I'm strange. Nice work!

I understand your doubt here. Both are great, solid work Michael. If I had to choose I´d stick with the second... Just a feeling.

Beautiful shot Michael. Of the two I think I prefer this one for submission, but it's a pretty close decision. The extra color in this one appeals to me, also the "Where's Waldo" effect caused by the numerous cactii.

Well, I decided to submit this image instead. I did immediately here back from the editor wanting to know where it was taken, which was basically in my neighborhood. I thought about plugging the other shot at that time, but didn't. Anyways, we'll see what happens and I'll keep everybody posted....

I love this!

These cacti are both remarkable and visually stunning. Your intimate/group rendition of them is spot on. Nicely done.

Wall to wall beauty! Just an outstanding photograph!

Congrats on the EP!
Sandy r