Sunflower and Friend

Gallery: FloraPosted October 10, 201071 views20 comments

This was taken long ago in Portland, Oregon. One storefront was surrounded with raised beds of sunflowers and I thought it was so attractive.

D200, 60mm lens, handheld, f/5, 1/90s, -1EV, ISO 100

Processing was done with NIK Silver EFFX software.

I was amazed to discover the visiting bee had wings when I opened up the shadows in that area

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Carol

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on October 10, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Very lovely shot!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on October 10, 2010 at 11:47 PM

And of course, I have to have a colored version too.

This too was processed with NIK software, primarily making use of control points to even out the color.

Thanks for looking.

Carol

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

Comment posted by Mark Windom on October 10, 2010 at 11:58 PM

Terrific subject for B&W.....amazing detail. The visitor is a bonus but definitely not needed. What do you think about making the blacks a little blacker?

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 11, 2010 at 12:42 AM

Both versions are great, Carol. Very intricate and interesting pattern, and the bee is a nice part of the whole.

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

Comment posted by Mark Stahlke on October 11, 2010 at 1:37 AM

Exquisite image - both of them. The B&W conversion was impeccably done. The tones, detail, and sharpness are perfect.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 97 Posts, 782 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on October 11, 2010 at 4:29 AM

Carol:
The B&W is really over the top. The clarity and details are astounding. Great capture and processing.

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

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on October 11, 2010 at 9:02 AM

Great image and conversion Carol. Great comp and I love the bee. The color version is nice but my vote goes for the BW.

Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 11, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Excellent composition and very fine detail Carol. I like both images but I think the conversion is just exceptionally well done.

Pat

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 11, 2010 at 10:42 AM

Excellent composition and very fine detail Carol. I like both images but I think the conversion is just exceptionally well done.

Pat

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

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on October 11, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Great details Carol. For me you could take or leave the bee - for me I am not sure that it is that crucial of an element for the shot. I do like the comp on the sunflower.

Nathan

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 11, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Put me in the minority - I like both the color and the bee!

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on October 11, 2010 at 2:05 PM

Hi Carol,

I like both versions a lot and I like the bee even though I am deathly allergic to them.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on October 11, 2010 at 8:10 PM

I am a wee bit partial to the color version..not sure why - perhaps the contrast is less in the B&W version

.

Nevertheless, I love the super details and the Bee adds to the photo in the color version.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Elisabeth Czwikla on October 11, 2010 at 8:19 PM

when I see sunflowers, I think sunny , warm and yellow. So for me I prefer the colour version. With the bee of course!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 145 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on October 11, 2010 at 8:48 PM

Hi Carol :wavey : I can't decide which one i like better

I like the bee better in the B&W version. And i love the vibrant color in the second version. Both have great detail and form, very nice work

Albert Darmo. Canada

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

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on October 12, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Love both of these, Carol - the coloured version maybe slightly more because the bee comes out more strongly and the colour is just luscious. Like Mark I wonder if the blacks might go darker in the first version - but that's a small point.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 12, 2010 at 4:51 PM

Very neat shot Carol. Really like the comp, and the addition of the bee. Definitely like the B&W best, but both are nice.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on October 13, 2010 at 6:17 AM

Carol: The B&W is OK but the bee is almost invisible while on the color it pops right out. I think it is a plus on the color and insignificant on the conversion. The comp is terrific. I might also like a bit more brightness and contrast on the conversion. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on October 14, 2010 at 11:47 AM

Carol, I think that you have done a clever work converting the image m B&W. In a macro of a sunflower all is yellow. The grey light tones are much more interesting and also the details are clearer. I like the work, Carol.
Cheers.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 14, 2010 at 8:53 PM

Wonderful comp and mood. Your conversion has brought out just about every nuance of tone.

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