True blue

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

My wife put some iris from our yard in a vase in our living room. I liked the way they look with backlight and with a black leather sofa behind them.

The vase isn’t natural but when I cropped it out, I didn’t like the result.

Specific Feedback

Any comments would be welcome.

Technical Details

ISO 320, 100mm, f/8, .3 sec. Minimal processing.


Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
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Don: This is superb in so many ways. It reminds me of a flora master on NPN 1 named Pat Sampson. Pat used his wife’s collection of vases to complement his images and came up with some spectacular results. The flowers coming out of the vase give them some dynamism that I don’t think you get without it. The flowers themselves are wonderfully arranged and the lighting is terrific. My only suggestion for a minor improvement would be to take the BG to pure black. Some of the dark grey is a bit of a distraction for me and the pure black BG makes the flowers pop even more. Beautiful work. >=))>

Bill, thanks for the kind words. I think you’re right about the background. My eyes aren’t very reliable when it comes to subtle tonal gradients. Here’s a revision.

1 Like

I like your rework, Don. You added a bit of space at the bottom, which was going to be my only comment (besides beautiful!). I think showing just a bit more of the vase would be nice.

Wonderful, and the vase was made for these flowers! I love the second version with more of it showing. Perfect light! No suggestions except print and hang.

Bonnie and Diane, thank you.

Don I too like the second version. I also love choosing a cold color temperature that makes for me a calm, serene, peaceful atmosphere. Beautiful image.