Nemesis

Gallery: FloraPosted November 12, 2011191 views13 comments

Sony A700
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 200, 1/5 @ f32

Nemesis: something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc.
OK, a rather ominous title but this cleome is one tough customer. We have a bunch of them in our garden and no matter how much Chrissy trims them back when they get out of hand they always bounce back. That's a good thing IMO but where they frustrate me is in getting a good composition. I think I may have gained a small victory with this one. All comments welcome. >=))>

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 12, 2011 at 3:45 PM

Bill,
I really like your compositional choice of flowers blooming in the foreground and those still closed behind. Beautiful vivid colors too. Just exquisite.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on November 12, 2011 at 4:43 PM

Bill, I think you're elected to choose a very difficult and challenging photography assignment. The color and exposure are great but I can see that the challenge lies in finding a great approach. Two thoughts come to mind--one might be to select only the buds. That might be really intriguing. And the other might be to select the perfect bloom and close in for a macro.
Have fun.
Regards,

Carol

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on November 12, 2011 at 4:46 PM

Well you got it this time Bill. Overall a very pleasing composition and who couldn't love the colors?

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on November 12, 2011 at 6:17 PM

Bill, I too have a bunch of these cleome; they are a tough plant always reseeding somewhere in my gardens. I've always liked the uniqueness of their flower but have also struggled with finding a pleasing composition for these. I have tried taking many photos of cleomes but am never very pleased with what I get. I agree you have gained a victory with this one. Nice comp and good detail on the flowers but still having an unobtrusive background which is a good accomplishment at F/32.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 12, 2011 at 8:49 PM

Real purty, Bill!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on November 13, 2011 at 6:26 AM

I really like the composition with the full blooms in foreground and the pending blooms behind. A beautiflu composition in my opinion, and well handled.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on November 13, 2011 at 6:47 AM

A determined and brave man at work.

You like to pick the difficult ones eh Bill. I agree with your assessment about a small victory. I like the light and pastel colours.

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on November 13, 2011 at 9:39 AM

I like the composition Bill. I think you won this one. It's the light though that really appeals to me in this.

pat

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

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on November 13, 2011 at 10:49 AM

This works for me, Bill. The open flowers, especially those with the stamens visible at bottom R, seem to frame the play of buds, and there's a joyous mood about the image. i like this very much !!

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

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on November 13, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Surely a challenging model, Bill, very difficult to grasp. In the RBC I see a nice yellow anther in front of nice violet petals: a micro, laying on the floor ...?
Cheers.

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

Comment posted by Philip Southard on November 13, 2011 at 9:40 PM

Bill, looks great to me. Color, comp, and lighting all create a harmonius image. And kudos for taking the cleome on; it is one tough photographic subject.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 258 Posts, 3892 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on November 13, 2011 at 10:06 PM

Bill:
You are certainly victorious here. You have simplify a chaotic scene and make it look serene and orderly. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on November 14, 2011 at 10:13 PM

This is a good comp Bill. I tend to agree with you about getting a good shot of a cleome. One way that I have tried shooting them is with shallow DOF and cramming. The profusion of blooms and petals helps with that.

Nathan

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