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Big Blue Stem
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Big Blue Stem

by Tim Mulholland

Gallery: FloraPosted September 29, 2010116 views12 comments
Greetings,

I've not posted here before, but want to this time!

For many years, I've imagined the photograph that I'm posting, but finally took the few minutes this morning actually taking this photograph. It's a pretty simple concept, but for many fall seasons, I've just been too busy, too distracted, too, too, too. I've always loved the prairies and think of Big Blue Stem as the "charismatic megaflora" of the prairie. And, I always enjoy a simple, evocative photograph.

Big Blue Stem in the fall (Andropogon gerardi); Pentax K20D, 70mm lens, f/11, 1/180", off-camera flash, and bit of post processing...

Enjoy,

Tim!

Comments

12 comments
Comment posted by Carol Hyman on September 29, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Hi Tim, Welcome to NPN and Flora.

Your big blue stem is a bold graphic statement.

Nice detail, and no suggestions.

Carol
Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 29, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Perfect in its simplicity. Great shot! You've probably considered tweaking the background just a bit to make it pure black from bottom to top, but that would be my only thought to experiement with. Just and idea, not really a critique.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM
What a wonderful image, Tim! I love it.
Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 29, 2010 at 2:35 PM
Very engaging Tim. Nice composition and the darker BG works very nicely.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Nathan Buck on September 29, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Simple but with nice details throughout the stem Tim. Welcome to NPN and flora.

Nathan
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 29, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Tim: Welcome to the finest Flora gallery on the planet and thanks for a terrific first post here. I like the simplicity of the comp and the details in the seed head. The diagonal placement is dynamic and just right. Some do counsel against making the entry point in the exact corner but this works pretty well for me as is. Great to have you aboard and looking forward to more. >=))> :wavey:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Tim Mulholland on September 29, 2010 at 5:10 PM
Hi all,

Thank you very much for your very kind comments. I've been a member of NPN for several years, but just haven't posted to this forum before.

Phil, regarding the background, I did take a version that had a black background, but felt better about this one. I've also thought about converting this to straight B&W.

Bill, I thought about moving the entry from the exact corner, but this cropping seemed to work the best for me. I had been thinking of making a symmetrical diptych of this photo with another BBS shot from this morning, which is part of the reason for why I went this way...

Thanks all,

Tim!
Registered on April 24, 2006, 14 Posts, 139 Comments
Comment posted by Pat Sampson on September 29, 2010 at 8:05 PM
Tim,

Welcome to the gallery. I agree with the comments already made, so I'll just add that I'm looking forward to seeing more of your images. I like this one very much as posted.

Pat
Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on September 29, 2010 at 8:57 PM
Tim:
Love the simplicity of this shot: less really do say more.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce King on September 29, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Outstanding details and I like the composition too. I've envisioned a similar image for awhile but like you just haven't got around to getting it done. Too many other things to shoot I guess but you've inspired me. Thanks for sharing this. :toast:
Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 3, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Very nice image Tim.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 4, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Verynice first post! Welcome!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments