Grass-Widow

That main bloom is gorgeous David. I love the lines and details in it. Overall, I like the photo, but I wonder if you could simplify it a tad by showing us a bit less. The color is really great.

Nathan

Congrats on the new find. Lovely photo, with just the right DOF.

Thanks for the comment Nathan. You raise a good point. The main bloom is very pretty, so why not focus more on it. My aesthetic is more of a landscape photographer where there are several elements that I hope balance and support the main subject. A quick look at my gallery will show that I'm quite consistent in that style. Also, I'm an avid amateur botanist and try to show plants with all the details necessary to identify them. Very often leaves are critical to that end. When possible I also try to show a bit of the habitat because many wildflowers grow in a very narrow range of conditions.

In this particular case I was also limited by the elements. I usually shoot "in the wild" where wind can severely limit how close I can get. Just trying to keep a small flower on a long stem in the frame can be a challenge.

David:
This is really excellent. The main bloom is just tack sharp and perfectly exposed. The soft verticals in the bg do help support the bloom and give habitat context. Overall I like this a lot. I can see where Nathan is coming from and one way to simplify this is perhaps remove the two verticals on the far left which are pointing out of the frame.

Wonderful light and pleasing colors in this image, David. I like your DOF choice to give this image a lovely softness except for the main flower which has good focus and interesting details in it. Nice find!

Beautiful, David. Perfect focus on the main bloom, and softness everywhere else. I like the comp as well. Excellent work all around.

David - Lots of suggestions already but considering your style and having made this frame in the wild, I am beginning to look at the environmental and documentary shots with a different set of eyes and interest. I am beginning to understand the challenges some of us don't quite experience.

For me, the main in focus bloom carries the frame through and through. If there is one thing I might attempt without touching any elements in the frame would be to soften the bloom in the lower right corner in post processing (if you are not against it, that is), so that all attention is absolutely riveted to the main in focus bloom.

fantastic work on the main flower...great details here and wonderful bg too

Brigitte

Just lovely, the colours are so wonderful and rich. Beautiful work.

Great portrait with an excellent feel for its natural setting.

So elegant and beautiful. Great D-O-F and colour.

David: What a delightful shot! I like the supporting elements, the color palette, and your DOF choice. Most excellent.>=))>