Meadow Orphan Tint ( View Large )

I went our in search of a suitable subject for a competition, the

category was "The Beauty of Plants" ....as I'm usually fully occupied

with landscapes I wasn't holding out much hope of coming up with

anything. I found this flower growing in a wetland area close to

where I live, and used a very shallow dof. I converted to B & W in

PS3 and added a slight tint. This was the version I entered in the

competition. I'd be interested in any thoughts or comments relating

to a comparison, or just general feedback. Thank You

First of all being British you deserve congratulations on a great show of Olympics! Really enjoyed!

As for my opinion on the pictures. I think B&W version is more artistic: beautiful tones and strong composition and romantic mood. The coloured one - is beautiful in its reality. It is technicaly great, has rich colours - looks like ...meadow beauty.... (Interesting, that I have a picture almost with the same name, but not orphan :) Both pictures deserve framing. Warm regards, Alf. Tamara

Nice choice of tone and the selective focus emphasized the flower so well with very good details. 

Beautiful shot, Alf. Regards.

Hi Alf

Your search was not in vain,this image epitomizes "The Beauty of Plants".  The Black & White version is an unusual but impressive take on this image, it really works!  The blurred background in contrast with the crisp,sharp image of the flower gives this a 3D feel...... 

I have viewed the colour version, and whilst it is a beautiful image in its' own right, my personal preference is definitely with the Black & White version, a sure competition winner :) ...... I think this is an exceptionally outstanding image!!......  Congratulations Alf!

Warm regards

Jacqueline

I do like the black and white (tint) as well Alf. It is very artistic and very pleasing to the eye. Your choice of tint was well chosen. I rather like how the areas of light on either side of the flower stem almost seem to have a 'heart' shape. Beautiful resutl Alf! I hope you 'win'!!!

I particularly like this tinted version. I like the shade you chose, but I also like the shot. The comp and clarity are excellent.

Alf this is new for you, and let me tell you it is great. the contrast in the petals is awsome.great separation and a great study of this plant.

Regards Richard

A beautiful result with very nice lighting and details, Alf!

TAMARA

Glad you enjoyed the Olympics, the opening ceremony was quite a spectacle.

The B & W version was placed 11th in a world wide competition.  Most people on PN seem to prefer the colour version, and I think that generally colour does have more appeal than B & W but, I was aiming to be a bit different and trying to imagine what competition judges would deem as original. I think it worked to some degree at least. The title is interesting, I chose it because of its location, and this particular plant was quite a distance from the others. I  have just read William Staniforths comment (listed under Colour Version) and the correct name for the plant is "Meadow Orchid"  so my invented name was unwittingly very close.  

It's great to get your feedback Tamara, I really appreciate your interest and thoughtful comments.

Best Regards

Alf

LESTER

Many Thanks for your thoughts and constructive comments, much appreciated! You summed up what I was aiming for very well!

Best Regards

Alf

JACQUELINE

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful comments and considerations. 

I preferred the B & W too, and although it didn't win the competition it did come 11th from a worldwide imput and in reality was only 4 points behind the winner as I recall.  Trying to find something a bit different is actually more of a challenge than taking a good photograph, after all, there isn't much that hasn't already been done. I'm glad you likes the seperation and "3D"  effect, its always good to know the elements of an image that have been communicated effectively.

Warm Regards

Alf

GAIL

Many Thanks for your thoughtful comments, its great to get such feedback from such an accomplished flower photographer!  The little heart shapes you refer to, are in fact out of focus Buttercups that were growing alongside the plant. The photograph did "win" in a way, it was placed 11th and appeared in the magazine, (two months in succession now Yayay!) so I was very pleased.

Thanks again Gail and Best Regards

Alf

PAT

I agree with you for all the reasons you listed, though it would seem that most people prefer the colour version, you can never out guess these things, or so it would seem : - )

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

RICHARD

You used the word that this image was all about, well for me at least.  And that is "Seperation"  Thats what I was aiming for, and of course something a bit different for the judges to consider.

Many Thanks & Kind Regards

Alf

JAMIE

I really appreciate your thoughts, is the colour version really softer or is that an impression........it is essentially the same photo, though I suppose the conversion could have rendered the tinted version more "contrasty"

Best Regards

Alf

RUUD

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

Good but I prefer the color version.

Hi Alf, The selective focus is great as are the blurred highlights. I think I like the color version better as well. But I have to go back and look again. What I like best about this image is that its a little different than what I'm accustomed seeing from you. Take care my friend.

Best,

Holger

Your B&W version was my first pick as well.  Even with the contrasting colours in the other version this one has more impact,  possibly because it is different from most plant photos which are in colour.  The cool tint here is icing on the cake, moving it even further from the warmness of the original.  The small white OOF areas are subtly visible enough to break up the expanse of background without trying to steal the show.  Eleventh place in a  world wide competition is nothing to sneeze at.  Congratulations!   I doubt the colour version would have been placed higher as there is a glut of great colour flower photos out there.  I think you made a wise decision.   Best, LM.

Excellent work.  However, I love the color one better.  Best Regards,

I think it was, and I use the channels to add to the contrast and accentuate highlights and shadow.  Many Thanks for your astute observations.

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

You are with the majority, and I can accept the general appreciation of colour over B & W. But I still prefer the B & W personally. 

Cheers Tony

Alf

HOLGER

I have to be very honest and admit that if it wasn't for the competition requiring some kind of plant image, I wouldn't have taken this photo. Thats the good thing about competitions, they generally push you in directions you wouldn't automatically go towards. Many Thanks for your thoughtful observations Holger, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

LEN  i'

Always good to get your imput sincere thanks!

It's one thing taking a half decent photograph and quite another interpreting the requirements of a specific category for a photographic competition. I have entered some of what I woud consider my best work to this competition and not even been placed in the top 50.  But I think you touched on an important aspect, and that is finding something that stands out from the rest in terms of just being a bit different, that might catch the eye of the judges.  Like yourself, I doubt that the colour version would have been placed any higher for the reasons you identified, ie : - thousands of colour images submitted. I'm getting worried Len, we are starting to think the same : - )

Best Regards

Alf

WANGHAN

Many Thanks for your imput, it is always useful to get a wide range of view points.

Best Regards

Alf

Alf, it's interesting to see these side by side and see the very different moods they evoke. This one with the cool tint gives a solemn sense of isolation, whereas the color version with the yellows and greens of the background has  a very joyful feeling. 

Its interesting to read your analogy regarding the different moods of the respective B & W and colour version. I would agree with your thoughts, and I think that most people tend to go for the more "joyful" and cheerful one.  Though my personal choice remains with the solitude of the tinted version.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf  

I loved this version very much due to it's unique tonality & enhanced play of light which is not as much in the coloured version though the coloured one  with those heart shaped elements in bokeh is attractive but my eyes go for this again & again.Thanks for sharing.

My best regards.

Kallol

Really an artistic composition, veryveryvery elegant work!

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments.  I was aiming for something different and the tones seemed to be the thing to change in order to make it stand out from the crowd. Most people like the colour version better, but my personal preference is the toned version also.

Best Regards

Alf

MAURIZIO

Many Thanks for your encouraging words, they are very much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

I explained on the color version of this photo why I prefer the color but this one is excellent as well. This one gives more of an artistic quality because of the mysterious mood it offers. The color one is more romantic. It is a hard choice for me because I love both mystery and romance! lol. Excellent work and beautiful image! Thank you for sharing. :)

You don''t have to choose, you can have both! : - )

I can appreciate why the colour version is more attractive to most people, afetr all, flowers are generally known for their colour.  But I guess it was the art element that perhaps lured the judges into liking this one too. I suppose if you were judging a flower photo competition, it would be the images that stood out that woud attract attention.

Sincere thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback, very much appreciated

Alf