I was struck by this thorny shrub at Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden, and so I decided to play with it a bit, try a kind of high key approach, and then it kind of turned into a crown of thorns or a peace sign when I added a vignette.
Feedback Requests
I guess being raised ex-Catholic made this one feel like holiday-adjacent, but it’s pretty abstract and symbolically so. At least it’s nature, unlike my Santa ornament on an artificial tree with a oof pickle in the bg.
I’m always open to any and all feedback, including a big ho-hum of disinterest or “what were you thinking.” In particular, I’ wondring if the vignette is too strong or the darks too dark. Any suggests on tonality and vignette or removal of distractions would be welcome. Otherwise, just trying the Weekly Challenges to keep limber.
Pertinent Technical Details
Canon R6Mkii with 15-35mm at 35mm
Cropped by about 50%
ISO 200, f/18, 1/25sec
I like the different focal planes created by the vignette, so that seems good to me. But I guess I’m not a good Catholic – it feels more thorny to me than welcoming, peaceful ,or holiday-y, even in an anti-Santa kinda way
Marylynne: I actually see a stick figure running to the left but whatever I find this intriguing and interesting. I like your artistic decisions as well. I don’t get a particularly holiday feel from it but as an abstract I give it >=))>
Thanks folks. I think I’ll keep posting in the weekly challenge to see which category I should choose . Clearly struggling with the holiday vibe in rainy Portland. I suppose I should get out of town more often.
It does snow there occasionally, Marylynne, and Portland is known for ice storms which can create a real wintery vibe, or you could always take a day and head for the mountains.
I like this image as an abstract, but as others have noted, not much of a traditional Christmas feel to it. As to your question about the vignette, I do find it a bit much, though I see where you were headed with it.
@Dennis_Plank : Yeah, it’s been warm and rainy in town lately, so I’ll have to hit the mountains. I was hoping for some frost in town in the next week. Planning to set out some glass or a mirror to see what might form if it does get cold enough.
I’ll move the image to a more appropriate category (again ). I’ll play with the vignette a bit more when I do that.
ML
I meant to comment here earlier but got sidetracked. I don’t get any sort of seasonal vibe from it but I do think it is a very intriguing look at a very interesting plant – what ever it is. I love the vignette, which works because of the white BG, and which for me focuses the composition on the center. I’d love to see a little more canvas all around, if you have it, especially on the left, and just a bit more vignette at the edges. I think it is an excellent abstract!
Thanks, everyone. I posted two more versions at the top:
One along the lines of @Diane_Miller suggestions. And another that’s not cropped or vignetted to show what I was working with. As shot, it was a bit dark and very blue (second frame taken with a rental camera set at a static 3100 color temp!! and I didn’t notice until later. Just thought it was the LCD or something).
This was taken at the same location as the bamboo with white wall image posted last week.
. Clearly struggling with the holiday vibe in rainy Portland. I suppose I should get out of town more often.
). I’ll play with the vignette a bit more when I do that.