It's...reeeal

[chauncey]

Broke down an visited the local florist and bought a real flower...



Will be taking more on a daily basis as it opens more.

[Shadowman]

Nice effort.

[IzzieK]

Sounds like you're having the fun of your life???!!!! Keep the thought and upload more photos....

[Stagecoach]

Broke down an visited the local florist and bought a real flower...

Will be taking more on a daily basis as it opens more.

Only one Seriously, this is a great specimen so I look forward to seeing the progress William.

[chauncey]

Not to worry Grahame, the stem has three flowers on it, none are completely opened yet.
BTW, here's the same shot with the entire bloom in-focus...which is more better?



Now, all I gotta do is figure out how to pose them.

[wlou]

Chauncey you got the eye for beauty. Treat it like you would treat a star, decor, lighten, atmosphere…special candies and drinks? Well may be not the last two items.

[Daisy Mae]

I likethe 2nd one best. gorgeous background work too.

[Nancy Moran G]

Hmmm, good planning...buy a photo prop that you can give to someone when you are done with it
Very nice.
Nancy

[IzzieK]

What is a "photo prop" Nancy?

William, I too like the last one...that one is really great. I look forward to more of your flower shots...

[bnnrcn]

#2 is excellent Well focused, very nice colours , nice BG and a beautiful flower .

[Stagecoach]

Not to worry Grahame, the stem has three flowers on it, none are completely opened yet.
BTW, here's the same shot with the entire bloom in-focus...which is more better?

Which is better, well William for me there's no question that it's No 2. The reason I consider this 'better' is that No 1 looks unnatural in that the OOF area of the petals appears to be determined by it's radius from the flower centre rather than its depth.

Now, all I gotta do is figure out how to pose them.

This is always a question that has to be addressed and some say never shoot a flower from the top. What I would ask myself before considering how to pose it is what is my purpose of taking the picture, which may include;

a) Am I trying to produce an image to just show what sharp pictures my rig can take?
b) Am I trying to produce an image for a seed catalogue?
c) Am I trying to produce an image for the front of a chocolate box?
d) Am I trying to produce an image that can be hung on a wall?
e) Am I trying to produce an image that shows the exquisite detail and beauty of a part that is not normally seen?

Grahame

[emmerick]

i like the 2nd image for its detail, tack sharp and the background complements the flower, is that a stargazer? if it is, then you'll have a lot of time to pose it, for the bloom last long..keep shooting and keep em coming!

[Rita]

I would say that #2 is better. Just a bit too much OOF on the first one. If the first was a close up of the stamin the OOF on the petals would be great.

[FrankMi]

here's the same shot with the entire bloom in-focus...which is more better?

This one has more appeal for me as the entire subject is in focus and just the right amount of bokeh so that the background doesn't compete. Usually something this bright and particularly red in the background would grab your attention but in this case it is acting as a complement to the colors in the flower which sets it off very beautifully.

My wife thinks that it is a Rubrum Stargazer Lily. Is she right (again)?

[chauncey]

Thanks for the ego boosting guys...I'm affixing to shoot another couple as another bloom opened.