portfolio sample Late Fall Milkweed - late afternoon

Some server errors caused multiple responses from me based on a single response. If admin could delete this message it would be appreciated.

Firstly, let me thanks the elves and all of the people who have visited, commented and rated this image.
Many of you have pointed the things you like and some have pointed out things to the contrary. This is all good and having the image selected as photograph of the week results in significantly increased comments and I could not ask for more.
I will be the first to admit that I find Flower Photography most challenging because if you capture images of well known flowers (roses, sun flower, milkweed, etc) it is very difficult to bring something unique from the millions of photographers who capture flowers. You have a main subject that usually varies little from its genetic code. You can go with a wide-angle, regular lens, macro or a telephoto but the flower really has not changed. You can change the time of day, camera position, go with natural light or flash and still you have not changed the main subject. For me the biggest variance I can bring to flower photography is the background with a preference to shoot during the magic hours.
So here is a 'typical' milkweed so now I must play with the background. I have a number of other images from that hour that I spent there and I consider them OK but bland. In the past I have put the setting sun off to the side but on this occasion I decided to integrate the sun with the milkweed. And what better forum than photo.net to post it for comments and then, hesitantly, for ratings.
As to whether there is an emotional impact? Photographing non man-made objects like flowers is a thing of beauty and in my case with a near fatal disease, I take the time to 'smell the roses' and record the moment quite often. My emotional response is observing a thing of beauty and with it comes tranquility and a wonderment of how it came into existence. I have photographed roses on a coffin and rose petals on the church floor with a coffin being loaded into hearse. These carry a higher emotional factor and it is not one I would hang on my wall but they serve as a reminder to enjoy life and continue my passion for photography while I can.
I am not disturbed in any way by the use of the word 'gimick' by back lighting and/or integrating the subject with the sun. I usually associate that with advanced techniques like zooming during the exposure, or making vertical motion during exposure or even multiple exposures (one slightly de-focused and the 2nd or third images crisply focused) to fall into that category. Even here with these techniques, what does it matter what camera method we used to create something that results in an aesthetically pleasing image. I won't even go down the road about digitally altered images to create a different result since for some this is sacrilegious. In addition, neither will I start a discussion on what is considered an aesthetically pleasing image.
In any event, it was just by chance that I spotted this image on the front page when I was logging off since I have a link that takes me directly to my Recent images folder when I sign in.
Thanks again for everything,

Please delete this comment. Thanks.

Please delete. thanks.

Congratulations on Photo of the Week. It is very nicely composed, great colors and focus.

John, thanks for your response to my comments (on your post). A value of the more lengthy discussions on the POW is that we get a better understanding of other views and sometimes, especially for me, a clarification of our own views on aspects of photography. Many of my opinions have been tweaked, altered, strengthened, and sometimes changed by feedback from you and other thoughtful photo.net participants.

Upon first glance, I assumed milkweed was lit with some type of artificial light from below. Well done!

First and foremost, sincere congratulations. It is a wonderful image, one that immediately catches the attention of the viewer to try to find out more about it, like what it is and how it was done. As a photographer, the image invites the viewer once more jut because the image causes an impression to the trained eye. Any photographer, amateur, beginner or professional and seasoned, is somehow drawn by it. By no means do I want to challenge or debate any of the comments above, and I usually do not go into phylosophical arguments about the epistemology of a subject like this one. One will always find arguments in favor or against, so it may be a bit irrelevant. Let facts speak for themselves. You got POW and there seems to be a consensus about how great the image is, so there you go.
This forum is very enlightening. In my book, you have achieved a wonderful image, unique as perhaps every one of the photos ever taken. Your ability to catch this fleeting moment and produce an image that pleases the eye is what merits recognition.
DG

All I can say, Tony, is that it is about time that one of your photos is being recognized for POW. In fact, I consider all of your photos POW worthy. Not only are you an outstanding photographer, you are a constant, contstuctive contributor to the PN community. Your thoughtful comments and technical advice are always so appreciated. The reason why your photos are so excellent is because you do take the time it requires to capture such an original and creative image. Congratulations to one of my all-time favorite photographers on PN. Rebekah B.

Really nice work! Well done!

It is spectacular, Tony. I would give my right arm for one of these beautifully recorded fleeting moments! A famous golfer once said "The more I practice the luckier I get!". I love it!
Kind regards, Hung

First of all congratulations Tony for this POTW. I’m really glad to see that one of your photographs has been elected for this award.  Needless to say that your photo is unique, that I think says almost everything.  Keep your good work with these high standards.  Cheers, Panayotis

Tony,

Very, very nice. As you can see from the number of comments this image has struck a nerve - visually.

I don't rate photos on photo.net any longer but I think your shot is extremely effective.

" I will be the first to admit that I find Flower Photography most challenging because if you capture images of well known flowers (roses, sun flower, milkweed, etc) it is very difficult to bring something unique from the millions of photographers who capture flowers ".
Tony.. your are absolutely right about the challenge of flower's Photography, and who has a doubt about how much it is difficult to produce a beautiful photo for a beautiful subject, let him try.

Hi Tony,
Congrats!! This photo somehow brought me back memories of a childhood moment, the fascination of watching a glass blower for the first time!
There is a very nice synergy and contrast of energy and serenity in this image, bravo! As for things lurking in the grass...I know the feeling. Here in Texas, we have everything from snakes to brown recluse...

Tony, congrats on being selected for a POW.  As you know, I follow your photography here at PN.  While there are other photos of yours I like more, the elves were correct to select this one, in that it has generated a wide variety of comments.  I'm always surprised when some of the more opinionated and verbose remarks come from members who apparently lack the confidence to post their own photos.  I wish you the best, and I look forward to your new posts.  Aloha.

I can't quite get over the somewhat awkward way that the expended pod sits on top of the flower. Also, that the expended pod at the top of the frame is not quite in focus. The flower’s colors are great, as are the tendrils extending from it.

This may very well be the best possible photo that could have been taken of this scene at the time, but I'm not quite sure how well it works.

Tony is a fantastic photographer, and he has many photos that could be picked as a picture of the week. If this is the first time one of his has been selected, I'm surprised.

I wanted to add some additional thoughts to my previous comment, making reference to the argument of other members on philosophical aspects about photographing flowers or what is considered serious photography. I do not want to delve into that issue. Rather, I just wanted to tell you what I perceive, and why I consider your image magnificent. You captured light. And that, in essence is photography. Additionally, you captured it naturally, and you did not resort to any artificial post-processing or digitalization. That is in itself, another feat. The more I look at your photograph, the more I like it. Thanks for sharing.
DG

Tony, First congratulations on winning photo of the week. Did you submit for this, or did PN just choose the image? The image is electric. It looks like a luminary or a lit pumpkin. The technical aspects of this image are way beyond me. I commend you for sticking with the image so long with all of your experimentation. More, your usual artistic eye was working overtime. Best to you for winter.
Larry

I just checked back to this image and it is a bit overwhelming to see all of the great comments on the first time one of my images was selected by PN as POW. My many thanks again and I have to be careful that this does not go to my head. I must remind myself and everyone else that the photo was chosen but with the following caveat; " This image has been selected for discussion. It is not necessarily the "best" picture the Elves have seen this week, nor is it a contest". This way I can be sure to continue to explore and grow as a photographer.
The technical question of some blown highlights came up with a potential solution that HDR could be used. And I agree that some blown highlights (BH - the very white areas in the image) exist and they can be addressed with multiple (too late for that now) or with single image HDR post processing. After reading an interview with a British landscape photographer Charlie Waite that he allows a small amount of BH to get into some of his images. Based on unreliable memory, a couple of his criteria was the percentage of the image and position of those highlights. This was important when making decisions affecting the aesthetics. IMHO, both the limited amount here and the position of those highlights was such that I was comfortable with them and did not want to proceed with post-processing to try and eliminate it.

It looks to me like natures very own contribution to the Christmas decor. And whilst it doesn't represent the meaning of life to me or any other deep meaningful, well rooted interpretation, it does please me when I look at it. It quite simply looks great and surely thats the point. Backlighting with the sun is indeed one of the oldest methods of producing a dramatic photograph, but theres a simple reason for that, its looks good and it works, and yes it could be a method described as "over used" and "gimmicky" but I'd prefer to to describe it as a method that has stood the test of time. In this case it works extremely well, I don't think it could have been an easy shot either, the miniscule amount of blown highlights are testament to that.
My sincere compliments and congrats Tony!
Regards
Alf

Even if lot of opinions here say that we see images like this with back light I must say that this is really unique,this low light and position on this plant makes from this photo more than an attractive one,eyes are lead to this golden light globe surrounded by autumn colors,details also are so well seen around this light,what I would like to see is to be a large one because is so good,as I say other time,simple things make our life better,compliments and you are with this one a winner.

congrats for the POW, Tony!
after i read Stephen Penland and John A's comments, it is not much left to say. it is a beautiful photo, pleasant to look at, and i see it is challenging to make such good photos of these subjects. well done.

Superb. Almost has an abstract feeling accomplished by the lighting. Good background treatment as well

To me this photo represents how the beauty in nature can be captured in the most simple of subjects. The craft is shown by the seeing, timing, composition, and dof utilized by the photographer. I suggest that those detractors who are not inspired by this type of image, or do not consider it a serious effort, have their noses so far in the air I'm surprised they can see their keyboards to type. The fact that some find it necessary to diminish work like this because it is a subject they themselves are not interested in, I find small minded and self-agrandizing. And I agree with Stephen Penland's comments above.