Pathos

Gallery: FloraPosted September 4, 2012116 views11 comments

I picked up this Iris last Spring after a storm broke it off of its plant. Brought it home and scanned it and gave it a low key look with the bg color. I don't think I've ever seen that shade of purple before-- so dark in places that it looks black.
It also struck me, personally, when I noticed how weatherbeaten it was. It has a look of long-suffering about it, and I thought it felt a bit haunting and sad… Hence the title. Not so cheerful, but has it's own beauty… deep in its soul...

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Jaymes Dempsey on September 4, 2012 at 5:06 PM

I really like your low key look, along with the textures in the flower. Lovely purple tones, too. Wonderfully artistic!

Registered on June 28, 2010, 47 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on September 4, 2012 at 5:10 PM

Quite an image, Catherine ! The outlining I really like, and the tones are indeed so suggestive of a sombre mood that fully justifies the title. The petal textures are beautiful - you seem absolutely to have mastered this technique !

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

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on September 4, 2012 at 8:30 PM

Catherine:
You have certainly bring forth the characteristics of a scan image well with the exquisite fine texture pattern. The shallow lighting certainly brings out the melancholic mood. I like this a lot. I have not seen such well defined edges in my scans and wondered if this was added in PP. Also, I think the image can do with a little more tweak with curves to bring out more contrast. You may also want to play with the image/adjustment/shadow highlight slider if you have not already done so.

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on September 4, 2012 at 11:16 PM

Catherine - Nice rendition from the scanner. The dark colors there definitely convey a mood that you wanted to.

I find that outline interesting - natural or otherwise. Helps prevent tonal merge with the background. Like Gary says, opening up the shadows a bit and playing with the highlights might bring out better tonalities.

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

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on September 5, 2012 at 12:11 AM

Deep, dark, foreboding, mystery. This all comes to mind when I look at this image. A very strong image.
Bob

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 5, 2012 at 9:14 AM

Pretty wild. I like the sharp outline and all the details in the flower...had me wondering if you were going Goth.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 5, 2012 at 10:36 AM

I like your theme for this Catherine, you're an adventurous soul

Also like deep shades of purple I see, and the well defined edges work nicely here

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on September 5, 2012 at 2:01 PM

The dark tones are captivating, creating the mood you suggest. I also find that this seems to have a depth that draws me into the image. (Strange for a "flat" scan, but that's the effect it has on me. Lovely.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on September 5, 2012 at 8:58 PM

What fantastic colour Cathrine, love the dramatic mood of this image !! Beautifully crafted !

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 6, 2012 at 11:45 AM

Perfect title! A dark and mysterious work. Love it!

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 6, 2012 at 9:19 PM

Hi Catherine

If a flower has a soul, you truly captured it here. i think this is a wonderful scan, bringing us color, and mood that's very original, and beautiful

Albert Darmo

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