Black & White Lilium + REPOST

Gallery: FloraPosted August 10, 201068 views16 comments

My lilies are close to calling it a day and I still have ideas.

With this image, I'm going to call on you folks to ask for opinions.

I shot this image this morning with a Leica D-Lux 4 Point and Shoot.
f/2.8
1/5 s
North light from a window
1:1 ratio that I probably won't use again but I wondered what it would accomplish.
ISO 200
Tripod w timer

I was so busy experimenting and relearning how to use the lil Leica that lo', I clipped the Stigma. Oh, woe is me. I did everything I could in PS from overlays to content-aware fill and nothing really did the job. So I finally settled on using an overlay to partially darken the stem of the Stigma. Then I turned it into B/W using the green filter because the green channel of the image was the most pleasant to view. My rational for using B/W was hoping that the clipped background flower, leaves, and Stigma would be less obvious.

As an incidental note, the first step in processing was to use N/R because at ISO 200, the image was to my mind's eye too noisy.

So, I'm looking for opinions and suggestions. Do the clipped objects bother you? Do any of you have additional ideas for improving the image. I think it's worth saving and the only thing I can think of is to add canvas to the top of the image and use my talents as an artist and content-aware fill to add to the image, but a lot of work, and I'm feeling lazy today.

Thanks for your input.

Carol

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on August 10, 2010 at 8:09 PM

Carol:
I can see why you suggested a B&W conversion on my lotus pod. This B&W conversion is really striking. The highlights does not bother me at all, in fact I think it is a plus as it makes the center of the flower 'glow'. I think you are right about adding more canvas up the top and it would be nice to see the entire pistil and stamen.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 10, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Carol,

I've looked at this for a while now and I'm not coming up with anything more than you've already done. I suppose you could do a strong tight vignette around the star in the center. Sort of make it look like you planned to crop everything around the circumference out. I'll be interested in the other's suggestions.

Pat

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 10, 2010 at 11:21 PM

Your conversion is outstanding with a great range of tones. I like the comp as is and the background minimizes the "in your face" flower and gives it a sense of place. Very artistic!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Dethan Punalur on August 10, 2010 at 11:44 PM

Hi Carol,
Nice work...interesting image.. well done !

Dethan Punalur,
Coonoor, India

Registered on October 12, 2006, 410 Posts, 562 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on August 11, 2010 at 12:07 AM

Very nice in B&W! When I opened this the first thing I noticed was the clipped pistil/stigma. I think your idea of adding canvas and bringing in the clipped portions is a good one....please repost if you end up going that way.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on August 11, 2010 at 12:37 AM

The clipped stigma bothers me a little, otherwise a very good image. I like your idea of B&W conversion.

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on August 11, 2010 at 9:28 AM

very nice detail and different in b&w. Too bad about the pistil

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on August 11, 2010 at 4:32 PM

Looks great in B&W Carol, and processed very well. As far as the digital dark room goes, I just use it in a basic way, so I cant help you there.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on August 11, 2010 at 5:02 PM

Love the conversion, Carol, and, with the lighting you've got, I don't find the clipping of the stigma a problem at all. I also love the angle on the flower with the glass in view and the fg leaf. My only query would be the bg flower oof - it looks like a separate stem and, if so, I would prefer it not there. All very interesting, whatever.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by jamie pringle on August 11, 2010 at 6:04 PM

I like your bw conversion Carol, but I can't tell much about the exposure since I am on my laptop. My only suggestion would be to shoot a solitary blossom. As far as the stigma goes, the floral parts of lilies are all over the place and its hard to get every part in focus, but your set up looks to be up to it

Registered on August 10, 2005, 323 Posts, 1216 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 11, 2010 at 8:33 PM

This is luminous, Carol. Very obvious in B/W as are the pointy deals on the petals. I haven't ever noticed them before. Hmmm, opinion... Well, if you want this really neat and tidy then take away the oof flowers but leave in the glass and clipped stigma. If you want the whole arrangement in there, oh, woe is you, lots more work-- put in the stigma and the top of the clipped flower at the upper edge. Seems like the comp would need that anyway if you decided to complete the stigma. Or you could go radical and crop down to the lower stamens and leave everyone wondering about the jack-knifed petal on the left. Hope you repost whatever you decide to do. It's a good shot in B/W.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 11, 2010 at 10:55 PM

Beautiful image and very nice conversion. This is very minor, but you might consider throwing a little more blur down in the vase area, making it a little more abstract. Like I said, very minor suggestion. I shoot LF, sometimes with antique soft focus lenses, so I probably pay more attention to blur than most would. Fine image!!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on August 12, 2010 at 11:40 PM

I hate to 'fess up to how many trials and tribulations I went through reworking this image. If the truth be told, I think the best bet is to buy another batch of Stargazer Lilies and reshoot, reshoot, reshoot with all I've learned from this project.
That said, here's another version in which some leaves were modified, the background was partially blurred, and a so-so stigma was added; I don't remember what else was done. Oh, yes, canvas was added and then the image was reframed. It's tight but I can live with it.
I did try several iterations of an overlay with black and/or white and several variations of ovals and circles. None worked well, but it was a valiant effort

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 13, 2010 at 3:28 AM

Valiant indeed. Well done! Worth the time.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on August 13, 2010 at 10:18 PM

Carol: The repost is OK but I like the overall comp of the original. I think the simplest solution to the clipped stigma is to simply clone it away. I would think that a much easier task than what you ended up with in the repost and I doubt anyone would even know or comment. Terrific conversion BTW. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 13, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Carol,

Great job on the rework. I like it very much. The composition looks good to me and your cloning work is just outstanding. I'm really impressed with what you accomplished.

Pat

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