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Sea of Red
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Sea of Red

by Bill Fach

Gallery: FloraPosted June 22, 2014180 views9 comments
Sony A77
Minolta 100mm macro
ISO 200, 1/200 @ f4

Chrissy planted this bunch of red cone flowers a few weeks ago and I've been playing around with them quite a bit. This is a cropped version of the original frame, which I've posted as the larger version. My initial evaluation while composing the shot was that the large partial flower on the right edge provided some counterbalance to the main subject and emphasizes that this pale bud is really a mutant in this bunch. All comments welcome. >=))>

PS: I hit 24,000 comments tonight which gave me occasion to reflect on all of the wonderful experiences, friendships and opportunities I've had through NPN in general and the Finest Flora Gallery on the Planet in particular. I especially appreciate Gary and Ram and how they have helped sail the ship over the last few months while I wound down a bit. Thank you all for being a big part of my life.

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Nathan Buck on June 23, 2014 at 12:39 AM
Congrats on the comment milestone, Bill! 24000 is getting up there for sure! This is very nice. I like the BG and the focus on the main subject. I think I would clone out the partial on the right side, and maybe even the one on the bottom left. DOF is nice. On to another 24000 comments!

Nathan
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments
Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 23, 2014 at 8:55 AM
Bill,

Thank you for those comments. I've been the recipient of many of them and to the extent that I do photography successfully it's because of them. I continue to be very grateful and appreciative.

I like this image very much as posted. I particularly like the complementary reds and greens with the black bg interspersed and the light. I actually like the partials on the sides. In the larger version I might clone out the bright flecks in the viewer's upper right but it doesn't really matter.

Beautiful work as always.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on June 23, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Hi Bill :wavey: It takes a wonderful and dedicated person to make 24000 comments on N.P.N Flora. Congrats :toast: :toast: I like this image, because of the fine composition, and the beautiful complimentary colors... the Bg also adds to the beauty of the scene.


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 23, 2014 at 12:12 PM
Bill, thank you for ALL of your constructive comments, it is people like you that make NPN one of the best photography sites to keep the creative thoughts flowing. As for the image posted I happen to like the smaller version without the partial showing on the right but see how it could go either way as I do like the color contrast with the white/red. A very interesting composition, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 23, 2014 at 2:19 PM
I agree with Nathan on the LRC.

Bill, my personal thanks for your critiques. They've not only helped me be a better photographer, but more importantly, a better person. Thank you. :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on June 23, 2014 at 4:35 PM
Love the setting of this bud against the full-blown flowers, Bill - the crispness of the former really shines against the blurred reds. Very lovely and original composition. And thank you for all your comments - they are a very big part of what makes this site so special !!!!
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on June 23, 2014 at 6:57 PM
I like this image a lot, Bill, but I absolutely love the oof red coneflowers in the bg, Bill. You should take the same image with just the oof bg and save it in case you ever need a bg for some text, etc. In fact, I am going to specifically try to copy this bg when the coneflowers bloom up here in a couple weeks.

24,000 comments. Wow, that's impressive. Great job as moderator and just in general with your overall participation at NPN. I thought it was interesting that Pat and Nathan were the first two to comment on your post. Between the three of you, you have over 50,000 comments. :eek: Outstanding. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 23, 2014 at 7:56 PM
Bill - Congrats on reaching a great milestone :eek: :toast: . Your comments have helped me and I am sure many others improve.

This is a nice shot highlighting the CF bud using fully bloomed CFs. About the only thing I might do is soften the CF bit in the lower RHC.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments
Comment posted by Yun Gao on June 26, 2014 at 1:10 AM
Bill, I really like the background which is not completely blur out. The composition with the contrasting foreground and background works very well. I prefer the smaller photo and might try blurring just a bit the LRC.

24,000 comments, that’s a lot of time and work. Your comments on my works are very helpful and encouraging. Thank you! I like NPN.
Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments