The Hatchling

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Over the years we have had many Bird of Paradise. We still have the parent plant for this image although the freezes we’ve had over the past several winters have stunted its flowering. The freezes damage the leaves and my hypothesis is that the plant expends all its energy rebuilding them and doesn’t have anything left over for flowers. The same thing happened this winter and it is slowly regrowing the leaves so I don’t expect flowers this year either. However, on this particular occasion we had a good crop and I was able to observe the different stages of the bud as it developed. Once the bud starts to grow it takes several weeks before the flower matures and blooms. I’ve included a shot of the bud a day or two before it opened. For the main image I was actually watching as the petals popped free and sprang up. This was well before I had the capability of doing a time lapse so no way to share the experience but on a much smaller scale it was like observing the birth of a child. >=))>

Specific Feedback

These are not enhanced colors. The full spectrum of color is its greatest appeal to me. Perhaps more to come of the fully open bloom.

Technical Details

Sony A77
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 200, 1/6 @ f16


Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
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My grandfather’s favorite flower! I always think of him when I find
B of P.
Striking colours here, and unusual but compelling perspectives.
I’m really loving all the spring flower posts. Our flowers are lagging a bit behind, since we’ve had a horrid, stormy winter. The last ripping-everything-apart storm was only 10 days ago. Hoping a few things recover.
Sweet images!

Bill;

I like the second (more detailed) image. In my mind I titled it “Awakening”. Two thumbs up.

Cheers,
Franz