Flora - 2nd HM

Gallery: EPA 2011Posted March 4, 20112,124 views52 comments

High-Key Phalaenopsis

After a Low-Key, I try a High-Key with a model very well disposed for this kind of photo: a white Phalaenopsis. This plant is bloomed home for the second year, thanks to my wife's care.

Inside, near the window.

D700, Nikkor 200mm. - f/22 and ISO 200

I'm always very glad to read your opinions and suggestions.

Comments

52 comments

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on March 4, 2011 at 3:59 PM

High Key really adds to the beauty of these orchids. I like the overall softness and the light. This is really a special image.

Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on March 4, 2011 at 4:09 PM

This is an exceptional image for my tastes Gigi. An immediate favorite. Gorgeous whites and superb details.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 4, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Gigi: One of the finest orchid shots in some time and just spectacularly beautiful. Brilliant comp and exposure. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on March 4, 2011 at 5:47 PM

Very nice Gigi. I love how the centers stand out against the high key BG. Very nice use of light and white.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 4, 2011 at 5:54 PM

That's a WOW Giuseppe. Love the subltle shades of white and the bright yellow centers.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on March 4, 2011 at 6:30 PM

You have brought out the artist in you on this one. Besides being technically perfect it is absolutely stunning. Congratulations on a great image!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 4, 2011 at 6:35 PM

This is a gorgeous image! The centers of the flowers just grab my eyes and then I start noticing the white petal and keep noticing the white petals and then the subtle shadows and on and on.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on March 4, 2011 at 8:31 PM

High-Key...this is so high it's perfect Gigi. Like Bill said this is one of the best orchid images I've seen in a long time.

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Miro Susta on March 4, 2011 at 9:23 PM

Beautiful creation. Excellent simple colour combination and overal composition. Well done.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 4, 2011 at 10:17 PM

WOW!!!! This just knocks me over! Gorgeous Gigi.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on March 5, 2011 at 12:35 AM

Fantastic high key portrait Gigi. Just wonderful controls! Killer good job.

Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on March 5, 2011 at 1:27 AM

Outstanding Image here Giuseppe..especially handling of the whites ...excellent ..well done..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 5, 2011 at 2:43 AM

Gorgeous!
The high-key is perfect here, and the way the petals fade into the high-key is excellent - then a touch of the bright colors of the throat.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on March 5, 2011 at 4:13 AM

Brilliant, Gigi ! The graphic presentation captures the essence of the orchid to perfection.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on March 5, 2011 at 4:29 AM

Nothing short of Spectacular Gigi

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Tate on March 5, 2011 at 5:26 AM

This is fantastic Giuseppe, very artistic

Registered on December 11, 2004, 150 Posts, 1667 Comments

Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 5, 2011 at 6:18 AM

This is superg Gigi - one of the best examples of a high-key floral composition that I can recall. Would be very interested to know a little more about your set-up/process for this.

Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 5, 2011 at 9:34 AM

Wonderful tones and an elegant presentation Gigi. I really like how you've handled the whites all the way through to the grays and still thrown in a wonderful splash of color. Magnifico!

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on March 5, 2011 at 11:16 AM

I am glad to write some more informations for Lizzie and for whom might be interested.
- The photo was highly exposed, just before the blown-up of whites.
- In PS, I began lowering contrast: SHIFT+CTRL+U> CTRL+I> Blending mode: Soffuse light; for giving evidence to all details and light tones. This was my starting image.
- Kuiper's Luminosity Mask: I toned all lights and shades, for a gentle contrast
- Curves and Hue/Saturation for better whites
- Just a bit of softness to the sepals, saving the colored centres, with a mask; local sharpening only in the centres, with the mask inverted
- A bit of final contrast with Curve;lowering of color saturation with Hue/Saturation
- After the size reduction: local sharpening only in the colored centres, with the High-pass filter, for not rising noise; cleaning only the whites, with Noiseware Professional, in a low setting.
That's all.
Many thanks for the interest and the beautiful comments that you all are writing.

P.S. for Lizzie: only the light coming from the window.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 5, 2011 at 11:59 AM

Gigi - thank you very much - I am hoping to find some more time for flowers this year and will be interested to experiment. Can I also ask did you only use natural light here?

Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on March 5, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Absolute perfection!!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on March 5, 2011 at 6:04 PM

Pure art! Something very special, Gigi!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 5, 2011 at 9:47 PM

Hi Gigi

A high-Key masterpiece! The subtle delicate lines and color are breathtaking! this is something extraordinary

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 6, 2011 at 11:47 AM

Gigi,
superb High-Key image. Great artistic shot.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Stahlke on March 6, 2011 at 9:43 PM

Just perfect! The subtle tones in the whites are outstanding, the pastel colors work nicely with them.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 97 Posts, 782 Comments

Comment posted by Brigitte Lorenz on March 7, 2011 at 4:14 PM

Perfect high key image...the light is wonderful...very well done!!!!

Brigitte

Registered on January 10, 2009, 187 Posts, 1507 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on March 7, 2011 at 5:39 PM

Gigi, wonderfully elegant.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Varina Patel on March 9, 2011 at 1:49 PM

Perfectly serene and beautiful. The high-key treatment works perfectly. This is a masterpiece of tone and detail. Incredible.

Registered on August 22, 2008, 45 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 9, 2011 at 5:40 PM

every time look at this, it gets better
Congrats on an exquisite EP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 9, 2011 at 9:34 PM

Hi Gigi

Congrats on winning the EP

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Vince Burke on March 9, 2011 at 10:16 PM

This is incredibly lovely. My reaction to it is at the emotional level. It defies description.
-Vince

Registered on March 7, 2011, 8 Posts, 20 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on March 10, 2011 at 4:15 AM

Many congratulations on the EP, Gigi - an image of extraordinary creativity !!

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Derek Yow on March 10, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Beautiful image, and a well deserved EP. Congratulations Giuseppe!

Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Kennedy on March 10, 2011 at 10:28 AM

Hi Gigi! This is a fabulous photo! I love the high-key effect and the subtle nature. It is probably the finest orchid shot I've seen. It has inspired me to find a subject and pick up my camera. Great job and congratulations on a well deserved EP!

Registered on March 9, 2009, 79 Posts, 676 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 10, 2011 at 9:25 PM

Fantastic high key presentation Gigi! Very ethereal. Congratulations on the EP!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on March 13, 2011 at 9:34 AM

You definitely succeeded with the high key, Giuseppe.
This is beautifully composed and would make a nice
print.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on March 14, 2011 at 1:14 AM

Gigi:
A fabulous image and well deserved EP. Congrats

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on March 18, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Just fabulous!! What a remarkable fine image. Congrats on your EP. Well deserved.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 2, 2012 at 8:33 PM

Congratulations Gigi on the EPA 2011 award. Stunningly beautiful image!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 3, 2012 at 1:18 AM

Congrats on the 2011 win - simply stunning.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on January 3, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Well deserved EPA Pick honour for this superb photo, Gigi

- any of your photo could make it truly speaking. You are a great artist and its always a pleasure to open your postings

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 3, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Gigi

Congrats on EPA award

I have enjoyed all your postings all last year and I am sure you had the most weekly picks in flora and deservedly so!

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 3, 2012 at 3:41 PM

Big Congrats on the EPA 2011, Gigi!! Well deserved.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 3, 2012 at 5:58 PM

Congratulations on your HM win, a beautiful image well deserving !!! Cheers

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 3, 2012 at 6:09 PM

Many congrats, Gigi, on your EPA award - for an image which has all your hallmark qualities of imagination and originality !!

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 3, 2012 at 8:44 PM

I love the high key images . This one well deserving of an award. Congratulations

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 9:36 AM

Gigi, this is a great image well deserves the place.

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 9:41 AM

Gigi, this is a great image well deserves the place.

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 9:41 AM

Gigi, this is a great image well deserves the place.