The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was taken this morning. It is October 30. (I checked my iPhone to be sure.) It is well into fall here, at 38.4 N latitude. The Hydrangea blooms have faded and their leaves are starting to fall off. But this one plant seems to think it is spring. Maybe I will have flowers to shoot all winter?
Not a serious image – just having some fun after working way too hard and long for a big party here last Saturday – a surprise party with 30 guests for my husband to be presented with an aviation award. Older daughter Annie (also a pilot) steered the paperwork to document his experience (massive) after a nomination by one of his antique airplane friends, and I had to clean up the house and round up and edit 25 pictures to summarize 66 years of flying, for a PowerPoint presentation on the TV. Fortunately, his one choice in decorating was a huge TV, to enjoy his collection of old airplane movies (uniquely awful) and historic documentaries. In addition, back pain is still evading a workable diagnosis, so I may not be contributing much for a while.
Specific Feedback
Any comments welcome! This is just for fun!
Technical Details
Basic tonal tweaks in LR; into PS to darken the BG. Minor crop from both sides.
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Nicely done, particularly the first, Diane. Sorry to hear about the back pain. Definitely no fun. Sounds like the party came off just fine, despite the work involved.
Hydrangeas are a plant I have never attempted to grow. Way out of my league. I love the colour and shapes in both images, but number one is my favourite. I’m sure this hydrangea will get a good going over through autumn andy maybe winter.
Holy cow! A surprise party for 30. (Also out of my league) What an achievement for Ted, Annie and yourself!
I’m sorry to hear about your ongoing back trouble. I reckon you could set your chair next to bird feeder.
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank and @glennie! Waiting to hear from others about how crazy this Hydrangea is! They seem suited to our climate, where our “winters” would make most people break ribs laughing. But, really, they ARE deciduous here, even if briefly. Glennie – I have them because they are SOOOO easy!
And huge credit to two super-capable daughters and sons-in-law for the heavy lifting for the party. I would never have imagined attempting it either. But it was a big success.
I do have a chair next to a bird feeder – need to go to the trouble to refill it. But this isn’t high season. The birdbath is getting some good traffic though. I think I finally figured out that when the Western Bluebirds come to the windows when they see me and have a fit it means the water drip has shut off and the water is messy! Truly! Is that possible?? Scientific study is underway. Annie says her chickens are that smart, but they are domesticated, not that far below dogs and cats. But Bluebirds? They don’t even come to the feeders – purely bug and wild berry eaters. I could try live mealworms, though. Dried ones don’t work.
We have magpies that sit on our front railing and warble to wake us up and butcher birds tap on the kitchen window. We fill their dishes with fresh, clean water every day. Live mealworms are expensive and hard to propagate. I do have very healthy colonies of wood cockroaches and slaters down in the shed. They are more active than mealworms and attract the attention of birds very quickly.
The Mamas and the Papas I remember that song and your image is beautiful. Never seen anything like this plant. Beautiful composition and a very unique plant. Very Cool. Love the lines in the leafs and just the whole package. Hope your back pain eases up and you can keep shooting.
Thanks @Gill_Vanderlip! Hydrangeas come in a variety of flower forms, and this one is somewhat unusual with the large individual florets in the head. It is also marred with brown spots that I don’t think should be there. (Only got it late in the summer.) I need to spray what is left of it and watch it when it comes out in the spring.
Diane: So good on you for the efforts you and your family put together for your husband. Flying 66 years ! Did he go directly from the cradle to the cockpit? I’ve been practicing 52 years and that seems like forever but 66? A major tip of the cap to you sir .
As for the image, I think you did well. We have had hydrangea on occasion but not for a few years. Might have to revisit them in the spring. Get that back better soon. Can’t picture you doing the couch potato or injured list thing. >=))>
Thanks, @Bill_Fach! He almost did… He grew up with his dad’s small planes, was an airline pilot from the age of 21 till retirement at 60, and is now delighted at having so much more free time to fly. (He’s out right now with a friend heading up the coast to a secret mushroom hunting ground.) No couch potatoes here, but maybe one notch lower gear.
That silly flower is still opening! We’re a little late this year on the first frost and have had perfect weather for some new plantings. (With the smaller shovel…)
! Did he go directly from the cradle to the cockpit? I’ve been practicing 52 years and that seems like forever but 66? A major tip of the cap to you sir 
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