b&w macro Awakening

This picture was taken in one of my favorite films, APX25, that is regretfully gone.

When dealing with macro shots in B&W, the colour boom often used to give impact to the macro approach isn't there anymore and you have to resort to composition and textures to make it work.

Does this one work?

Is it far enough from the classical "pretty flower with black background approach"?

Does the lighting match the soft nature of this flower that's just opening?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

Gerard, I think you achieved every one of your objectives with this shot. The composition works well, and the different textures of the petals and stamen show quite clearly in the light you have used. I see no points that could be improved. Great job!

Gerard,

 

You did well with the color v. b&W look. I think there's alot of punch in the lower portion of the photo which really makes it stand out! Very nice!

Very nice!!!! I think you've done an excellent job of composition with the way you fill the frame with the blossom. And, the contrasting stamens (?) in the bottom half of the image really add considerable interest. Overall the image is qute sharp, except what appears to be a slight softness in the center, though that may be my monitor. For this kind of image, a completely tack-sharp image seems to be almost a necessity. I also keep looking at the petal at the top of the image, wishing that would be entirely within the frame. The petal on the right doesn't bother me because you have radically cropped it. Not so with the petal at the top which is only missing its tip. I like it very much though! Good job.

Good job with the lighting. The even lighting gives the flower a soft appearance. I'm a little ambivalent about the composition. The main two petals are good - the diagonal orientations work well. You have the center of the flower bang on the horizontal and vertical thirds. The upper petals leave me wanting to see more. However I don't know if including the whole left petal alone (as Dick suggested) would work. I think it works better with both of them cropped - some balance. But would have liked to have seen them both included - but that would mean recomposing the whole shot.

Hi Gerard...I'll answer your questions about your photo.

 

Does this one work?

Absolutely! I'm a fan of technically correct, full frame, exquisitely presented images that are suitable for framing.

 

Is it far enough from the classical "pretty flower with the black background approach"?

 

Few that I've ever seen in 35mm format can top this one. I especially like the delicacy,tonality and three-dimensionality.

 

Hard work and good planning pays off!