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July 2014 GOTM

Gallery: Gallery of the MonthPosted June 20, 20141,767 views12 comments

Icelandic Poppy

Don't think I've done a flower indoors in a couple of years now. I'm on a black and white kick so I thought I'd try that. I didn't clean up the flower before shooting and maybe should have but decided I liked it kind of messy with the pot.

Also I deliberately frame near the subject. After looking at a lot of classic floral images, I tried to copy the style and almost all of them put the subject up next to the frame. I got used to it and now it bothers me if it's not tight.

I've also quit stacking and probably won't take it up again unless I feel like I have to, to get the image to work.

Nikon D800
Zeiss 100mm macro
early morning light
LR, CC, NIK Silver Efex, TK's masks

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 20, 2014 at 3:33 PM

I like the B&W contrast and detail in the flower. I think this would make for an interesting B&W composition of just the flower and stem if possible.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 20, 2014 at 4:19 PM

Good B/W rendition. I like the diagonal comp and the fine detail.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on June 20, 2014 at 4:37 PM

Beautiful B&W work Pat !

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on June 20, 2014 at 8:35 PM

I love the look here however obtained, Pat. Very well done B&W conversion or shot too.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on June 20, 2014 at 8:52 PM

The flower and the pot make an appeal contrast, Pat. I especially like the curve in the stem of the flower.

Cheers,
Carol

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 20, 2014 at 9:23 PM

Pat - Poppies are very photogenic flowers and your photo shows it pretty well. The curve in the stem makes the composition more interesting and I think for my tastes, a bit more space on the left would be more like it.

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on June 20, 2014 at 10:15 PM

Excellent subject for this B&W presentation, Pat. I love the look of the poppy. Like Ram, I'd prefer this with a bit more room on the left, but very well done.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on June 21, 2014 at 10:05 PM

Hi Pat

A fine B&W composition, except for the tight canvas on thr left side... perhaps this was intentional.? . excellent detail and light on the poppy...... and the curve on the stem along with the pot adds an element of mood to the image.. very well done..

Albert Darmo
Canada

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on June 22, 2014 at 10:56 PM

Pat: Brilliant conversion and a superb comp and subject. Before reading your comments my first impression was to want a bit more room for the flower. I really like how you handled the vase. Most excellent.>=))>

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 22, 2014 at 11:07 PM

Thank you all for the comments. I appreciate them.

Bill,

In looking at Mapplethorpe's florals, I realized he chops everything up, especially his vases.

pat

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

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on June 23, 2014 at 6:15 PM

The tonality is superb, Pat - the pot with its high contrast tones and the flower with its shadowy petals of a lighter hue. Love the composition and the contrast between the taut patterns of the ceramic and the explosive force of the flower centre. Most striking !!!

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 9, 2014 at 12:11 PM

Jim,

Thanks very much for the selection. Huge surprise. I'm very pleased that you liked the image.

pat

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