Ajuga

[aprilS]

A classic shot with some intense post-processing[1]:



My questions are:

1. Does this image lead the eye, or does your eye go everywhere and nowhere?

2. Over-the-top in color and saturation?

I'm still trying to get a handle on the processing methods. But they make sense to me, and are very fun to explore!

--
[1] Based on Vincent Versace's book "Welcome to Oz, A Cinematic Approach to Still Photography with Photoshop"

[eob]

Sometimes a straightforward shot benefits from some 'overproduction', so I understand your need to push the envelope in the Photoshop a bit further than you would normally do...

Re 1: My eyes are led up and down the stem couple of times before I change my focus to the background. I would like even more blur in the background.
Re 2: I'd say, just a little over the top, but, depending on the purpose of this shot, that might be quite right.

Is Photoshop the only program you use for post-production? If yes, I suggest for you to take a closer look at Lightroom or Aperture. Both programs are much easier and more intuitive than Photoshop in the visualizing department when you try to experiment. Of course, Photoshop is much more versatile and deep than those two, but I found myself using Lightroom for roughly 80% of my photos without even a need to open them in Photoshop (you can print and/or make web-galleries within Lightroom).

My experience with both Aperture (Mac-only) and Lightroom (Mac/PC) allowed me to focus exclusively on Lightroom, but If you're on the Mac, Aperture may be as good or better for you. I know Roland loves it...

BTW, there is another program similar to Aperture and Lightroom. They call it LightZone and it's supposed to be based on Ansel Adams' 'zone system'. I tried that program briefly and I decided that it is not for me.

[habakuk]

In fact, my eyes do not find enough guidance to make me feel comfortable. In a different subject matter, that would be no problem, but here, I it's not helpful in my case. The main "problem" I see is the color scheme you chose here. The orange, green, yellow and violett simply don't play a harmonic chord for me. The background is too colorful for me to let my eyes rest on the flowers. So, I went off to play a bit with the shot and here's what change my judgement towards a more positive value: I desaturated the red colors a good bit and changed the yellow colors to a rather dark blood red. Now that made a big difference to me.

cheers
®

[Ted Byrne]

On the whole I like this image, but then I am one of your biggest fans. Ok, maybe its my monitor, or perhaps the blue range isn't holding entirely together as it rasterizes about atop the hot intensity you've cranked in.

But a lot of the palette you have discovered here April seems to demonstrate a way to simultaneously suggest a patina of aging without the cliché of excising all color with some sepia wash. I find the composition, while a rigorously classic corkscrew, to work in leading my eye up the spiral of lush nature and to its peak of what? Understanding? Maturity's bloom? Fading youth?

Your subject is so formal, like a posture-perfect grande damme imposing manners and pomp in place of the spontaneity of early youth. She has grown handsome and regal... a serious being who one confronts at his peril.

You deal I think in heavy anthropomorphizing and as usual, your enhancements take me to another room in my mind. And even with the cranked-up blues it's one which I may not have found.

Thanks...

[aprilS]

Thank you -- each of you -- for your thoughtful and constructive feedback. It is very much appreciated.

eob, I am on a PC and have heard/read great things about Lightroom from other photographers. It's only because I've invested so much time (and $$!) in learning Photoshop that I haven't yet tried Lightroom. But given that it's also from Adobe, I'm assuming the switch isn't too difficult and have sent myself a note to download the trial. Thank you for that push.

Roland, I also appreciate your reaction to the image. The original capture was much quieter -- a pastel -- and I was amazed to discover the colors within. I'd very much like to see your version, but will give your notes a try and am curious to see what might result.

Ted, I think you hit on the main question that I hadn't yet articulated: What is the thrust of this "portrait"? There is definitely a clash between the hot background and darkly rich subject with its flagrant blues. I very much like your interpretation of a grande damme...at a ball, perhaps, with the whirling intensity of youth dancing behind. I'm not sure I can refine this one further in that direction, but it sparks fun ideas for other shots. (P.S. I'm also glad you see the corkscrew; it was a lot of work! :)

[habakuk]

I forgot to tell clearly: I didn't change anything to make a "better" shot - I always do that to experiment and find out what has which effect in a picture. Here, I was experimenting with colors, as there are not many elements that I could crop/hide/simplify... so color is the main subject for me. This, of course, tells me more about my seeing habits and preferences than about your shot. Ted much more elegantly stayed with your shot and gave it a meaning. I shall work on that too, as this is another skill that is of importance in becoming a better photographer...

And here's the change as I wrote about in my first posting:





cheers
®

[eob]

Overall, I think, this is an improvement - as far as the color palette is concerned.

However, bright colors always draw an attention to themselves. If I were the creator of this image, I would de-saturate and darken colors in the background quite a bit. That way, the flower would stand out as the main subject. Right now, in my view, the flower is fighting with the background for the viewer's attention (same was true with the original).

[aprilS]

And here's the change as I wrote about in my first posting

Now that's a departure!

While not to my personal taste for this particular image, you have given me new ideas about ways to experiment. Thinking back to your "Space Station", I had an "ah-hah" moment. This could be fun...

Thank you.

[aprilS]

...bright colors always draw an attention to themselves. If I were the creator of this image, I would de-saturate and darken colors in the background quite a bit. That way, the flower would stand out as the main subject. Right now, in my view, the flower is fighting with the background for the viewer's attention

Point taken. The more I consider, however, the more I realize in part it's the rounded shapes of the flower petals waving around so wildly that appeal to me in connection with the rounded shapes in the background that are also so vibrant.

A successful image? No, on so many levels. But still, it was fun to explore and I definitely appreciate the feedback.

At least no one said "what were you thinking?!" That gives room for trial and error.