[Dave]

OK, pretty happy with the Mono conversion of this shot, but I struggle to get my head round best composition for flowers Critique away



Converted with Channel Mixer Green at 100%, some USM & that was it.

[lolyton]

Flower shots aren't really my thing, however... I like the subtle tones and detail you've attained with this, and your processing has empaphised with it by you not doing anything too drastic. Also the extra detail with the waetr droplets helps give it a little more interest (did you spray them on yourself or were they just there?).
As for composition, as i say flowers aren't really my thing but i feel that this is too heavy at the bottom, and maybe a square look would suit it better. So maybe if you chop the bottom off to even it out with the top.
Also there looks to be a bug, or something a little leggy at the bottom left of the flower (if it's a clock the hour hand would point to it at 2030hrs)this could do with being quickly cloned out. Also the same goes for the flower bud at the top right of the flower, i think it's a little too distracting, the other one in with the petals is fine.... i reckon.
Again, i'm no expert in flowers!

[P-E]

Can't really offer any critique on the shot apart from maybe moving the slightly over lapping leaf on the left

Personally I am not a flower man but really like the water droplets on the flower

What I am more interested in is the choice of the conversion.......Green channel.....I hope you will be covering all the choices and why in your mono tutorial for a noob like me

[Dave]

Of course, it's call "Suck it & see" method

[P-E]

Originally Posted by Dave

Of course, it's call "Suck it & see" method

I use that method for almost everything

[Dave]

One quick way to check is to go to layers & click the "channels" tab. Now click on the Red, Green, & Blue channels seperately to see the impact it will have on your Mono conversion

[Rob Barron]

I can't agree that the buds should be clones out nor that it should be a square format. The lower portion gives a touch of balance as the flower would entirely dominate a squre picture and would be overly bright. The bud adds context to the picture and, indeed, is an integral part of this picture, not something that just happened to be there. After all, this rose was a bud once!

I think this is well done, the only two things I would say would be the left major petal is a tad bright, almost but not quite at the burnt out stage as is the top petal, but not overly distracting. The other thing is that when showing a full bloom, think of it as a face. If this was a portrait facing to the side like this bloom, you would want a touch of space for the face to 'look into' and the same applies here. An extra 0.5-1 cm would help to give the rose room to express itself and then would be an excellent shot.

I like it as it is though with the only proviso, as I know some will feel, why make a beautiful rose into a mono shot in the first place? I am happy enough but I know some will take that view.

Good work Dave.

Rob

[Markulous]

Whilst partially agreeing with Rob, I don't entirely agree!
But then I'm hopeless at still life and flaaaarrrrs!



Kept the buds but cropped in close to flower - B&W so all about detail and form, but wanted to concentrate on former. Burned back the BG so it didn't distract. Sharpened

Would've preferred more room on RHS, then maybe gone for portrait