Under a starry sky

Gallery: FloraPosted August 4, 2011567 views29 comments

It's time of succulent plants here. At dawn the flower of the Mammillaria was very well lit while the thorns were in a stark shade, underexposed. The shade has been darkened even more in PS.

D700, Nikkor 200mm. macro - f/22 and ISO 200 - Two shots manually blended for the needed depth of field.

Always very glad for your opinions and advices.

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on August 4, 2011 at 6:57 PM

Wonderful juxtaposition of the thorns and the bloom Gigi. Excellent comp and a wonderful result. This is a beautiful shot. Good idea on darkening of the shade.

Nathan

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 4, 2011 at 7:10 PM

Gigi - just exquisite! Beautiful boom with sharp center, against a darkened mass of cactus spines -

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on August 4, 2011 at 7:56 PM

Gigi:
Your signature F/22 sharpness. Lovely contrast of the flower and bg. Exquisite details in the bloom.

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

Comment posted by David Spindle on August 4, 2011 at 8:29 PM

The dark background really emphasizes the wonderful color, and the details are amazing. Very well done!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 16 Posts, 45 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 4, 2011 at 8:49 PM

Quite an artistic vision and what's to say about the image. Marvelous!

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

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on August 4, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Very beautiful. I love the dark cactus with the contrasting needles and the flower.

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 4, 2011 at 8:56 PM

...pulchritudo tam antiqua et tam nova... Another masterpiece Gigi.

pat

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 4, 2011 at 9:10 PM

Remarkable image. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on August 4, 2011 at 9:50 PM

Lovely processing, Gigi. The darkish background magnifies the beauty of the pink bloom multifold

. The spikes make the flower look even more delicate.

Great Work as always

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 4, 2011 at 9:57 PM

I really like this image. The colors of the bloom are great and the comp and dof are really good.

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

Comment posted by Bruce King on August 4, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Awesome. The bg is one of the most interesting I've seen lately. Beautiful work.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on August 4, 2011 at 10:53 PM

Superb! Great eye finding a single perfect bloom. The rows of spikes are make a great background and the flower is amazingly sharp.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on August 5, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Love the overall colour palette Gigi. Very strong comp and processing.

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

Comment posted by Miro Susta on August 5, 2011 at 3:59 PM

Great photo. Il\ like the marvelous colors and especially the small details in the BG. Well done Gigi.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on August 5, 2011 at 4:19 PM

I like the comp, and how it plays beauty against danger. Wonderful concept, and well done, Giuseppe.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on August 6, 2011 at 10:46 PM

Hi GIgi

Beautifully crafted and composed! Spectacular patterns and detail. as always masterful work

Albert Darmo

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on August 7, 2011 at 9:04 AM

Gigi: This is just fantastic! Great comp, processing and subject. Superb shot. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on August 8, 2011 at 6:17 AM

Just beautiful, Gigi !! The darkening, especially in the lower R corner, sets the starry spikes off superbly. Wonderful imagination and craftsmanship.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 9, 2011 at 10:10 PM

Gigi, congrats on the WP!
Love it even more when I see it again now!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on August 9, 2011 at 11:42 PM

Wow! Wooda missed this had I not clicked on WP! Rolls Royce of a photo...super. Congrats on well deserved WP.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 10, 2011 at 12:04 AM

Gigi, so beautiful, wonderful capture and processing. Congratulations on the WP!

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Kennedy on August 10, 2011 at 12:48 AM

Beautiful image Gigi! I love the comp, colors and how you handled the thorns. The title is fitting too. Congratulations on the WP.

Registered on March 9, 2009, 79 Posts, 676 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Jackson on August 10, 2011 at 2:03 PM

Gigi,

Great Shot!! Love the soft muted light, and the textures you have captured here. Well Done!

Chrisie Jackson
Denver, Colorado

Registered on September 19, 2010, 20 Posts, 244 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 10, 2011 at 2:12 PM

Congrats on the WP. Well deserved.

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 10, 2011 at 2:15 PM

Magnificent!! This image is a wonder. Love the contrasting patterns of the the thorns and the bloom. Congrats, Gigi.

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

Comment posted by Chris Grabski on August 10, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Gigi congratulations on WP. Beautiful shot.

Registered on April 29, 2011, 122 Posts, 431 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on August 10, 2011 at 9:35 PM

Hi Gigi Congrats on winning the WP

Even the title is a winner