Shining Star

Gallery: FloraPosted February 18, 2013127 views13 comments

Unlike my previous post, I was pretty happy with the conversion on this one. Read my description below to get a feeling for what I want to convey with this. Still, I'd be happy to hear any ideas for improvement.

The starflower is one of my favorite spring wildflowers. In May they dot the forest floor like constellations, as they are among the first visible objects as the pre-sunrise glow begins to announce that the day will soon begin. As a result, this little half-inch flower starts shining even before our eyes become sensitive to the colors of the woods.

Canon 50D
Sigma 150 mm. Macro
f/22 @ 1/6 sec.: ISO 400
Tripod, cable release

P.S. Just noticed that for some reason, the Web conversion looks darker than what I started with. I wanted a dark background, but not this dark.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on February 18, 2013 at 11:29 PM

Wayne:

This one has more tonal range and I can see why you like this one compared to the previous post. The star really shins and has a celestial feel, like floating in the sky. Like the sparkle on the petals too. The bg is dark and works well to support the shinning star theme.

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on February 19, 2013 at 1:39 AM

This is awfully fine for it's beautiful shape and sparkle. What a wonderful thing is macro to allow us to see the little things that so many of us don't notice. If you had a different background I'd guess it would be fine also, as to this presentation, outstanding IMO.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on February 19, 2013 at 6:32 AM

Lovely! This one has the right pop to it! I love the sparkles in the petals! The dark BG looks fine to me!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM

Beautiful flower, Wayne, it really stands out against the dark background. The speckling in the petals is very dramatic.

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 19, 2013 at 10:47 AM

Lovely work Wayne, I love the luminescent light on the pedals !

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

Comment posted by Chris Grabski on February 19, 2013 at 12:38 PM

It's truly a shining star. Beautiful image.

Registered on April 29, 2011, 122 Posts, 431 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 19, 2013 at 8:11 PM

Good as is, Wayne. I wouldn't argue with the darkness of the background. In black and white, black is not a sin. The shininess and glitter of the star is the subject and that works really well. The rest just needs to not take away from that.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 19, 2013 at 10:33 PM

Hi Wayne

The form and tones here, are delightful. And Gary Said it so well in his comment ......
Albert Darmo

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 20, 2013 at 3:22 PM

Well done Wayne, the captured sparkle in the bloom is well seen and the comp. wonderful.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on February 21, 2013 at 11:22 AM

Beautifully presented. Excellent control of the bright reflections and I love the shape of the bloom you captured.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 21, 2013 at 12:13 PM

I would love to see the phenomena you describe of these tiny little flowers glowing in the pre-dawn light. I hope this one is a large print hanging somewhere!

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

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on February 21, 2013 at 5:49 PM

Wayne, I think that I have never seen this flower before, thanks for sharing. Between colors and light you have done well choosing the second with the B&W.
Cheers.

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 23, 2013 at 6:45 PM

Wayne: I really like this one. Ditto what Gary said. 2 thumbs up. >=))>

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