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Cramflict
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Cramflict

by Bill Fach

Gallery: FloraPosted February 11, 2015197 views9 comments
Sony A77
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 200, 1/15 @ f5.6

This is a comp that intrigued me on a couple of levels. It is not a pure cram since half or so of the frame is sharp and there is little overlapping color wash but I wanted to emphasize the conflict between very OOF elements and very sharp ones with softer colors conflicting with bolder lines. I also elected to flip the orientation from the original (see first comment for original capture) since we naturally view things left to right in our culture and it seemed more comfortable to have the sharpness progress from OOF to sharp left to right. Your comments and observations most welcome. >=))>

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 11, 2015 at 11:23 PM
Here is the original capture orientation.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on February 12, 2015 at 7:29 AM
Maybe I prejudged in response to your comments, but I see what you mean about the orientation. Interesting. I also like the contrasting colors of your photograph.
Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on February 12, 2015 at 1:27 PM
I never thought that orientation could make such a difference - it is hard to realize that it is the same image! In the original (bottom) I find the out of focus area really intrusive, but I find it acceptable in the other one. Ohh - and I do like the colors and composition! :toast:
Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments
Comment posted by Nathan Buck on February 12, 2015 at 5:22 PM
Definitely the first one posted, Bill! Great color and nice focus on the main bloom. I could see cropping off just a tad of the OOF bloom so that it is not quite as strong in the frame.

Nathan
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 12, 2015 at 7:16 PM
Hi Bill,

My data clerk and I always talk about your flower close-ups. He's into abstract art he enjoys your compositions! The flip orientation does work here as the flow of the stem seems to track better in the flipped version. Wonderful colors and details.............................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 12, 2015 at 9:16 PM
I like it either way, Bill. I think tension is a better word here than conflict. Conflict implies two differing viewpoints or competing objects/actions/flows. Tension is two aspects of the same object. :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on February 14, 2015 at 7:18 AM
This works for me, Bill ! Agree about the movement from L to R ,and I like the way the in focus flower seems to be peeking out from behind a cloud of colour. Nice to see such an original take on cramming.
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 14, 2015 at 5:36 PM
I guess I'm going to be the lone voice for liking the original image better. I find the tension between the sharp details and oof parts more pronounced in the original and that adds to the excitement of the piece. Both are beautiful and the colors are wonderful.
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 14, 2015 at 8:07 PM
I'd say mission accomplished, Bill! I liked reading about your thought process and goals for the image.
This is probably just me, but I like the original better, because my eye just pins itself to near the base of the in-focus flower. Then what about a squarish crop from the right, as a thought.
On the flipped image I notice that my eye fixes on the bright yellow stripe toward the top of the in-focus flower. Interesting...
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments