Fried Egg + Repost

Gallery: FloraPosted January 9, 2011206 views22 comments

The last time I went for a bush walk was over 2 months ago. Got the opportunity to do it again today, walking section 2 of the Wilson trail from Parkville to Mt Parker. The Gordonia (Polyspora axillaris) AKA fried egg for its crinkled petal egde, is a relatively common wildflower in Hong Kong, is out in bloom. Although there are many blooms, it is difficult to find a perfect specimen as the white petals are easily damaged or stained. Saw this almost perfect one near the side of the trial and away from most vegetation. I wanted to show the fragile crinkled and translucent white petals and decided to shoot against the bright sky in the background.

D90 105mm F13 1/125sec EV+2.0 tripod cable release. Viveza 2 to brighten up the center, CS5 curves using TK luminosity masks, USM. Healing brush to petal edge to remove some stained spots. Cropped about 20% to exclude some branches and leaves at the edge. Thanks for looking and C&C appreciated.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Lori Kincaid on January 9, 2011 at 10:40 AM

The white, bright sky background is a perfect backdrop for the delicate textures in the petal and glowing center. Excellent exposure and post-processing!

Lori

Registered on November 15, 2003, 90 Posts, 2033 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 9, 2011 at 12:09 PM

I like this very much. Great details on the subject (the central part is stunning). I think that the choiche of the white BG works very well here.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 9, 2011 at 1:05 PM

Gary, I like the white against white and I think you succeeded in showing the fragile crooked edges and translucent petals.

Not crazy about the yellowish spots. Not sure if you shot them or acquired them in processing. I think they distract the eye from the beauty of this specimen.

Cheers,

Carol

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on January 9, 2011 at 2:08 PM

This has a very artistic look and almost the feeling of a painting. I guess that sometimes I don't know when something should be considered photo art.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 9, 2011 at 2:24 PM

Excellent high-key image! Can't get much better than this.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on January 9, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Gary, this is beautiful! I like the light in the center and you showcased the frilly edges very well. My minor nit is on the oof stem. I like the inclusion in general, but would suggest a crop to just above the cutoff part. It would make the image more square and stronger IMO. One of my favorite parts is that I can see the petals overlapping. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 9, 2011 at 6:19 PM

Just superb Gary. Exceptionally well done.

pat

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

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 9, 2011 at 9:18 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments.
@Richard - I am trying to move away from documentary images to more artsy images to showcase the beauty of flowers and your comment about this looking like art tells me I am moving in the right direction (smile). I don't consider this photo art as the post processing is mostly curves, adjustment of brightness and USM.
@Anne - I did consider cropping just above the 'y' of the stem but like the look of the branching stem which seems to give the image more balance (whatever that is).
@Carol - not sure what you mean by yellow spots. The sepals of this flower is pale yellow and has seep through the translucent petals.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 9, 2011 at 9:37 PM

Hi Gary

You captured this lovely flower perfectly. The Hi-key B.G. works very well. Beautiful work done with artistry

Albert Darmo. Canada

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

Comment posted by Mike Moats on January 9, 2011 at 10:44 PM

Nice details and light Gary.

Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments

Comment posted by beth summer on January 10, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Gary...excellent shot. Love the translucency of the petals, the fried egg center, the fragile petals feel..I would even go so far as to clone out the stem completely so the flower looks like it is floating in mid air. I think it would add an "artsy fartsy" feel to it and give it a different mood entirely.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 437 Posts, 5220 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 10, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Great title and amazing image! Pure art!

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 10, 2011 at 12:59 PM

Gary: Superb capture of the flower and really good exposure management. My first impression was to make the stem go away completely and I think I'm sticking to it. For me it doesn't add anything positive to the comp and distracts a bit. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 10, 2011 at 7:15 PM

Here is the version without the stem. Hue looks slightly different as this was done using PS elements 5 on a different comp.

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 10, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Gary: 2+ thumbs up on the repost. Striking shot.>=))>

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 10, 2011 at 11:45 PM

This is lovely ,Great idea to shoot it against the sky, the white background really makes it stand out!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by beth summer on January 11, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Gary...the repost truly "elevates" the image into an AWESOME shot! Absolutely love the repost and wish it were mine!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 437 Posts, 5220 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 11, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Loved the original version Gary but the repost is even better as far as I'm concerned. Superb work.

pat

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 12, 2011 at 4:21 AM

Superb work, Gary

Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on January 13, 2011 at 2:38 AM

Beautifully Exposed Gary, the Whites are spot on very nice thinking on the sky BG

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on January 13, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Love the repost. Just fine work and presentation.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 3, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Gary, wow, I'm sorry I missed this when first posted. Found it now through a link on the discussion forum. Yikes, this is about as perfect as it gets. Love the high key treatment, which was very successful in showing off the delicacy of the flower. Personally, I like the one with the stem better- clearly a factor of personal taste, as I find "floating" flowers to be a little peculiar most of the time. Of course, the stemless version, abstracts the flower nicely, especially since the flower dissolves into the bg.

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