Orchids on Black

[chauncey]

They were shot against a black cloth...does it work?



Kinda big...41" wide @ 300ppi.

[PhotomanJohn]

It looks good to me. I like these kind of shots. You might modify the lighting angle and/or the exposure slightly so that the backs of the upper flowers are not so white. My eye seems to go to that area first then move around to the prettier part of the photo. Very pretty shot.

John

[Downrigger]

They were shot against a black cloth...does it work?

For me... absolutely.

[Geoff F]

Yes, looks good to me.

Possibly the upper flowers would have been better if they were facing slightly differently; although John's comment about fractionally toning down those brighter areas would overcome most of this.

[Mike Buckley]

It's a classic style, so it's no surprise that it works so well for me. My eye is initially drawn to the intense (not too intense) red tones and then progressively to the lighter and lighter tones. This is not how we typically see an image (we're usually drawn to the brightest tones first) but I think the black background makes that happen.

[DanK]

I agree with John. A very nice image, but the light from the left is somewhat too bright and harsh.

[terrib]

Works very well for me.

[deetheturk]

Works for me Chauncey

[Shadowman]

It works but I think the flower size makes the contrast too intense, perhaps a bit more space around the edges would tone down the intensity of the hot (in a good way) flowers.

[chauncey]

Thank you guys very much...got really busy after posting the image.
Can't conceive of hanging something that big with that much black.

[Shadowman]

Thank you guys very much...got really busy after posting the image.
Can't conceive of hanging something that big with that much black.

How about on a black wall?

[Mike Buckley]

Can't conceive of hanging something that big with that much black.

That's a decorating decision, not a photography decision.

[jcuknz]

I don't think that one needs to reduce the left light, just its effect. In editing with a quite large feather [ 63 ] I selected the left hand flowers and applied a daark grey and the reduced the strength of thee layer. Slight crop to redduce the bvlack and a border and I got this [ note second top flower got missed by the overlap so maybe as is ]

[IzzieK]

Works for me William....nicely done...

[AB26]

William,

I would add a tad more contrast to make the flowers stand out even more.

I took the liberty to do this:



Hope you don't mind.

Does it work? It pops against a dark BG.

[Marie Hass]

Chauncey, as much of a sucker for a classic black background anything for flowers, I really like this.

I would be in favor of a slight turn towards so one could appreciate the inner workings of the flowers, but then, I dunno, wouldn't that create all sorts of DoF issues?

Regardless, I love the staging and the "pose".

'Rie

[Brev00]

I might like to see the flowers somewhat warmer. There is a stark feeling here--a bit cold and clinical--which may be unavoidable with this style. A warmer take may relieve that. I would also darken the green stem to lessen its visual importance.

[chauncey]

There is a stark feeling here--a bit cold and clinical

Larry, that is something that I struggle with on a daily basis...thanks for the observation.