''Magnolia''

This is a protected specimen placed at the entry of the Contemporay

Art Museum of Serralves-Porto, at the same time a kind of ''ex-

libris'' of the Museum.

There are a couple of things that really annoy me within this image - (1) the flare! (2) what's with the cymbal?? It could have made the image more interesting, but with just the top sticking into the image, it really detracts.

There are some areas that are a bit blocked up (unless it's my LCD), esp. in the tree trunk. I like the blue walls though! The tree does not make an interesting enough picture to put smack in the middle full frame, but that courtyard might have been nice for some portraits.

Thank you for your comments, John, but:

1 -The ''flare'' is not a ''PS'' flare (an artificial one), but the natural sunlight filtered by the branches late in the afternoon; it may be a little strong, but appears just like I saw it in that particular moment;

2 - The object at the bottom is not a cymbal, but a bill containing the main carachteristics of the tree;

3 - The walls are not actually blue but white. The light blue coloration is given by the light particularities at that time of the day.

4 - I made the Magnolia the centre of the image because... there is exactly nothing else in that yard. The ''Magnolia'' is indeed a unique motive in the whole yard, everything else are the surrounding walls.

5 - I could have photographed the tree from a farther level (avoiding to block some parts like the whole trunk), but first I had not enough room to catch it all and eventually I would lose the impact I wanted. An so I decided.

Regards

Hi Guilherme -

I apologise for what I admit was quite a rude tone in my last message. I see now that the "cymbal" is indeed not a cymbal. I was aware that the flare was natural, but this does not appeal to me. I simply feel that if the magnolia is to be the centre of attention, perhaps it may have worked better without such a harsh backlight. perhaps some fill-flash might have been used to light up the detail in the leaves. And I would still like the "cymbal" cropped out! ;)

I still like the blue walls ;)