[HHRC]

Ok, so ive been messing about trying to get a descent image of a silhouetted flower with a warm/textured sky in background. I want to achieve the best results possible with this one so have decided to post the sort of thing im aiming for.

I would appreciate some feedback on this, both on a technical side, but also just peoples feel for the image so i can go off and do more work on it.

Do people like it/hate it?, does it need something more? is there enough in the frame to hold your attention?

Many thanks
Phil

[sweet_sac]

Firstly, I think you have done pretty well with the background, the colours are warm although maybe I want to see more of that orangey colour rather than just in the corner.

At first glance I thought the flower was some kind of bird, it looks like its got wings. Are there any more conventional flower shapes you have that you could try?

[fionaB]

hm ok im gonna be honest and say it doesnt do it for me, i do like the background and the way u have the colours but the flower itself just doesnt work...... its too much of a big black blob...... i think if you had it back lit maybe with a hint of colour it may acheive the effect u are looking to get.... however what do i know.having never tried what u are doing i am guessing! lol

Fi

[Rob Barron]

This isn't too bad HHRC, but for me the thing that struck me on first sight was the focusing. For an image to work like this, it needs to be sharp enough to make your eyes bleed or else it goes all soft and mushy, especially with the BG you have there.

I know it is probably entirely coincidental but the point that I don't like in the BG is at the bottom of the stem where it actually changes colour either side. This makes it look a bit artificial and I wonder whether you have been a bit heavy-handed with the burn tool as the yellow area of the sky looks a bit 'smudgy' (yes, it's a word, I'm an English teacher so I'm allowed to make them up )

Good attempt but set to work on getting that focusing tack sharp and don't give up.... I'm expecting to see further experiments
Cheers,
Rob

[skipper954]

I am going to ask a question that I don't want you to take the wrong way.

Why in the world would you want to take a silhouetted flower pic? There is so much form and color going on in a flower that it is a shame in my mind, at least, to lose all that in shadows.

skip

[slocookn]

On the right hand side of the stem you can see a reflection of the sun. This is a point of interest for me. It tells me that this might be a sunrise or sunset.

I agree with Sweet_Sac that a more recognizable flower would work better.

And if you use a better background like a crest of a hill, I think you would have a more interesting shot.

Looking forward to seeing more.

Steve

[nichpr]

Thank you Skip, that was the first thing I thought of - why in the world would you want to take one of God's most beautiful creations and remove all the color, texture and forever intriguing shapes from it?
There must be a reason.... Come on HHRC, what's up? Where ya goin' with this?

- Paul

[HHRC]

Thanks guys for taking the time to comment/offer advice. I'm amazed the amount of people that have looked at the post and have had no thought of what they have seen. I thought photography was one of the arts that created an emotion of some kind - good or bad!?

The reason for wanting the flower in silhouette and the warm sky is symbolic (ok, stop laughing now)!! its to do with over shadowed beauty, and is quite a challange.

I have a few more ideas, hopefully the feedback will help.
Rob, it wasnt so much over doing it with the burn tool, as the clone tool to remove a tree that was in the way, trying to ruin my composition.

[skipper954]

Well, hhrc, then you are going to have to work to get across your point. And challenging, of course.

So then, I can't wait to see how you handle this and if you can pull it off.

skip