It's alive!

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Terri! Hope you didn't lose too much money at the casinos while you were away.

[Bobobird]

Glad that I dropped back in to see what all the commotion is about.

Dang, those new ones are really great.

[Mike Buckley]

Always glad to have you stop by, Bobo.

[Mike Buckley]

Now that the fifth blossom is open, there are three blossoms in a row for the first time on the same side of the stem.

[Mike Buckley]

This photo is my favorite of the plant so far. I look forward to the challenge of trying to top it as more blossoms open up. By the way, the next to last bud (the smallest one) is new as of yesterday.

The background is light shining toward the camera through white acrylic. Another light with a diffuser sock on the reflector is shining directly on the plant from above, behind and to the left. A reflector positioned on the right side of the plant threw light onto the two blossoms facing the camera. The tabletop is white foam core.

[Mike Buckley]

Even though most of us, especially me, tend to think of displaying flowers in color, this photo works especially well in black-and-white for me. I got the idea because monochromes so nicely bring out interesting lines and shapes. Eliminating the "color" emphasizes the similarity for me between the overall shape of the stem and the large leaf. Similarly, the blossoms are interesting shapes themselves and they even display patterns within their overall shape that I think are enhanced in black-and-white. I love the shapes of the lower part of the stem and the buds.

This black-and-white rendition brings all of that together in a way that doesn't happen quite the same for me with the color one. That's not to say that it's better; instead, it's just different. Perhaps one reason I like the black-and-white version so much is that it's unusual to see flowers displayed this way.

Your thoughts?

[terrib]

I really like the last color photo too. I tend to like diagonals so I like it better than the horizontal image just before it. Another thing I really like about this one is that the composition gives you straight on shots of the flowers along with profiles. I'm really impressed!

As to the B&W, well, you know me - it takes a lot to get me over to the tonal side. It does seem like a nice B&W, but next to the color version, there's just no comparison for me. Color, please.

[Mike Buckley]

the composition gives you straight on shots of the flowers along with profiles. I'm really impressed!

Thanks, but that credit goes to the plant. The blossoms on one side of the stem grow at 90 degrees to the blossoms on the other side of the stem.

Color, please.

Yes ma'am.

[terrib]

Thanks, but that credit goes to the plant. The blossoms on one side of the stem grow at 90 degrees to the blossoms on the other side of the stem.

The "really impressed" part of the comment was about the whole execution of the image. You are right, the growth of the plant gave you the opportunity to show it the way I described, but you had many options of how to take the photo. You might have only honed in on one part. So, I still credit you for showing it in this way. The whole composition is very nice!

[Mike Buckley]

Now that the plant has seven fully opened blossoms, the series continues. Santa has brought me a background light stand, so I was able to use it to position a light underneath the tabletop made of white acrylic. That in turn made it possible for the first time to shoot the blossoms from above.

Considering that I've spent so much time photographing this plant, you would think that each photo would become easier and faster to make. It's a good thing that I enjoy doing this so much, because it's not getting any easier. Maybe some day.

[Mike Buckley]

This time the blossoms are isolated from the main part of the plant. For me, it's slightly brighter appearance with less contrast complements the light, airy feel of the white-on-white style. This photo is one of my two favorites of the plant so far.

[Mike Buckley]

Now that the eighth bud has begun to open, I made these photos. That became especially important to document because the first flower is just beginning to show signs of aging.