The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The earliest method of surgically correcting myopia (near-sightedness) was a procedure called Radial Keratotomy. Spurred by an accidental injury that produce a change in corneal curvature, RK involved making shallow radial cuts on the corneal surface that flattened the cornea. It was moderately successful but results could be inconsistent and it was hard to know exactly how much to cut to get the desired result. I’m seeing patients even now 30 years later whose corneas continued to flatten and distort and are now as hyperopic as they were myopic before the procedure. RK has been supplanted by LASIK and other refractive surgeries and is a thing of the past. As soon as I spotted this leaf the image and title popped into my head. >=))>
Specific Feedback
I had this image teed up before Mike Friel posted his water soaked lotus leaf but thought I would go ahead and post it to provide a complementary take on another lotus leaf.
Technical Details
Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II @ 200mm
ISO 400, 1/30 @ f16
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
This leaf shot shows great symmetry, Bill. You did a good job of getting directly above the leaf, which I haven’t been able to do at our pond! I love the contrast of shade and bright sectors too. I’m just not quite sure why this leaf prompted you to think of RK. I’d welcome a simple professional explanation!
Does the leaf show what a patient might see abnormally? Or does it look like a cornea might appear to you? Or something else. All fascinating information. Thanks, Mike.
Ok, you’ve made me bust out my travel keyboard for the iPad with this one, Bill. Everything about it works. I haven’t seen Mike’s leaf shot, but will go find it shortly. The decision to go square was a good one as it adds tension and highlights the symmetry. Excellent detail and I like the different light values across in a diagonal. Simply super.
Mike: This would be the doctor’s eye view. A standard RK would typically have 8 radial incisions symmetrically placed extending from the periphery to within about 2mm from the central cornea. The scars look like faint bicycle spokes. Some patients who needed a real strong correction may have had 16 incisions and I’ve had the rare patient who had 24. A normal cornea is just slightly thicker than 1/2 mm so the depth of the cuts had to be very carefully controlled so that the cornea would not be perforated. Pretty intricate stuff that was very surgeon dependent. LASIK now is almost hands off.
Bill, this is a neat look at this lotus leaf and your title does fit well. The radial lines stand out well, with the central bit making a good focal point. I especially like how the luminosity and colors change across the fram
Thanks for the explanation, Bill. I can imagine better what you saw now! Your knowledge of vision is also reflected in your photographs. One of my favorite quotes, by Don Blanding:
“I am rich with the wealth of sight, the coin of the realm of dreams”.
Anything mildly describing eye surgery is an instant gut wrench for me. Go figure! Just as well, I don’t see anything eyelike in your image and I had no idea what a “RK” until now.
I like the image very much. The light and shade variation is very good. I think the image would OK if flipped vertically to show the darker side on the bottom?
How nice that you posted this story with the photo, Bill. I can relate to your thoughts 100%. The square format is well chosen, as is the fact that the bud is in the centre.
