Morning (Repost)

Gallery: FloraPosted July 7, 2011154 views22 comments

Hi all,

This is a shot of two Brown-Eyed Susans from late last Summer. These are one of those flowers that have an interesting petal system before they bloom, in my opinion. I found these two nicely situated aside each other one morning and the humidity added some slight mist to the air. I wanted to illustrate the atmosphere by keeping the background more earthy, in combination with the morning light. I also wanted to keep some of the tips of the petals oof to blend in with the air.

D90
180mm
f9
Cloned out some small burnt patches
Manual blend of 2 images for detail in the center of the flower.

C&C appreciated and thanks for viewing.

- Morgan

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on July 7, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Morgan: Beautiful portrait of the main subject. I do like the bud in the BG but think I like this more without it. The overall BG is fantastic. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Todd Bielby on July 7, 2011 at 3:14 PM

Great shot Morgan. Love the comp and dof.

Registered on March 10, 2011, 169 Posts, 392 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on July 7, 2011 at 4:22 PM

Morgan : Great front to back DOF for the flower and an excellent call on blending two shots

. Leaves at the bottom anchor the shot very well. The bud in the background is not distracting but I would not mind it not being there either. Not a deal breaker because subject matter is incredibly well captured.

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

Comment posted by Morgan Casey on July 7, 2011 at 4:37 PM

For those interested to see what it looks like without the second bud in the bg, I've attached another version where it's cloned out. I'm Interested to hear any thoughts if people think it works better, or not. Thanks

Registered on November 16, 2010, 22 Posts, 269 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on July 7, 2011 at 5:38 PM

Morgan, I like the original post. The comp is great featuring the full bloom with great detail and the bud behind on the same diagonal as the main bloom. The BG is perfect for this image. The colour palette is fabulous.
The image with the back bud cropped out would also need to have the stem and its associated leaves cropped as well. The stem and leaves as is in the crop don't work for me because of the distraction they cause looking for the missing bud.

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Derek Yow on July 7, 2011 at 5:42 PM

Morgan - Really nice shot, I think I prefer the original post. IMO the unopened bud adds some interest that the repost just doesnt have.

Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments

Comment posted by Morgan Casey on July 7, 2011 at 5:58 PM

Bob - I agree. I really like the lower portion of the stem because of the mist and I wouldn't want to clone that out. I thought I would just post this version though, so both versions could be visualized.

Thanks for the comments everyone, as always, much appreciated.

Registered on November 16, 2010, 22 Posts, 269 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 7, 2011 at 6:53 PM

That's about as fine a Rudbeckia image as I can recall seeing. Splendid work!

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 7, 2011 at 7:40 PM

Morgan,

I usually don't like anything going on in the bg but in this case I prefer the bud. The mood of the image feels different without it, cleaner but not as interesting to me. Seems like the bud makes a nice middle ground transition area like the layering in a landscape. Maybe this comes down in some sense as to whether we're seeing it as image with a subject supported by all the other image elements or as a more of landscape where there's less emphasis on subject per se. I guess I'm seeing it in the second way. It's a beautiful image.

pat

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

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on July 7, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Morgan:
Seeing both images, I think I do miss the bud and so would prefer the original. Nice composition.

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 7, 2011 at 9:57 PM

Beautiful image. I do prefer the original. The bud adds interest, plus I have a little problem with the "stem to nowhere."

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 7, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Hi Morgan

Each post has its attributes

like the first one better, would have prefered the bud to be more softer. but without it, the second post takes on a documentary feeling. The color and BG are marvelous

Albert Darmo

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

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 7, 2011 at 10:27 PM

I like the bud in the bg because it adds to the nature of the shot versus a straight portrait. These groupings are hard to come by, especially where you can still get the bg so nicely blurred out. What I think is distracting to me in the original image is the bright lower leaf. I don't think it needs to be toned down by much, but a fraction would keep the focus more on the open blossom and really force the second to stay as a bg element. Excellent capture!

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on July 8, 2011 at 12:36 AM

Morgan: Thanks for the repost. After seeing it I do prefer the original and agree with the others regarding the stem to nowhere. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Sarah Clarehart on July 8, 2011 at 12:59 AM

This is wonderful. Great composition. I like the original post as well.

Registered on April 22, 2011, 5 Posts, 30 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Nobel on July 8, 2011 at 9:39 AM

Love this! The original version works for me hands down!!!!

Registered on June 16, 2010, 57 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 8, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Morgan, this is an excellent image. I much prefer the original, but it is nice to see both so that you can see what it would look like without the bud.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on July 8, 2011 at 5:15 PM

I think I prefer the first- but hard to put into words as to why !. Both nice anyway.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on July 8, 2011 at 7:24 PM

Very beautiful, Morgan !! Love the leaves and the bg bud as complements to the main flower, which is perfectly placed and rendered. I prefer the original - that bud is a winner for me !

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 9, 2011 at 6:07 AM

I like the staggered comp very much Morgan, excellent.
Love the BG, wouldn't change a thing..No nits - Sweet image!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Tate on July 9, 2011 at 11:10 AM

I like the original the best Morgan, fantastic shot!!

Registered on December 11, 2004, 150 Posts, 1667 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on July 12, 2011 at 1:01 AM

Very well taken image Morgan,
i like both the versions for different reasons
the first one has a kind of story attached to it & the second is nice portrait :)

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