Dahlia 5 (+B@W)

Gallery: FloraPosted September 18, 2014146 views10 comments

Hi all.

I found this variety of dahlia at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens a couple of mornings ago. I have been going in the mornings before work and have had some really good shooting conditions.

I liked the dynamic feel of this shot and this bloom.

I am trying out the Nik Suite for the 15 day trial. Let me know what you think of the B&W version please.

Any and all thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

Nathan

Nikon D7000, Sigma 180 macro, tripod, ISO 400, f16

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on September 18, 2014 at 8:29 PM

As I said, I am trying out the Nik Suite. This was converted using Silver FX Pro.

Thanks in advance.

Nathan

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 18, 2014 at 9:56 PM

Nathan: Me commenting on B&W would be like commenting to Einstein on physics so take this with a grain of salt. I would like a touch more contrast but everything else looks good. Now as for the color version, it is excellent. Classic comp carried off superbly. >=))>

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

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on September 19, 2014 at 5:01 PM

The larger photo is beautiful Nathan! Colors and light contrast in the center are splendid.
For the B&W I think that Silver Pro can do a better work but this flower seems to me a difficult subject for experimenting the conversion.
Cheers.

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on September 19, 2014 at 8:45 PM

Nathan - Color version for me too. Lovely neons in the center. Silver Efex Pro from my experience works great but you will not find a magic bullet in just one of their conversions. You will have to play around with opacity and other things like blending modes to make a great final version.

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 20, 2014 at 6:08 PM

Hi, Nathan. Hope you'll be happy with the NIK suite of plug-ins. It's helped me for sure.
On this particular dahlia, somehow the flower's center does not impress me as being natural looking. Of course, I wasn't there seeing the flower...
As far as the B&W, goes, especially with flowers, I am worse off than Bill! I do agree that it's a well done, classic comp, for the dahlia.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Bob/Charly Nelson on September 20, 2014 at 9:24 PM

Frame filling wonderful Nathan. The light, detail and composition are superb.
Bob & Charly

Registered on January 29, 2014, 35 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on September 20, 2014 at 9:48 PM

Hi Catherine. The center was exactly in reality like the photo looks. That was one of the things that attracted me to the flower.

Thanks!

Nathan

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 21, 2014 at 6:09 PM

Ah, good, Nathan! I confess it looked like you really twirled the saturation slider or something, but in this case I'm glad we can chalk the color scheme up to the dahlia breeder…
I've not made one dahlia image this summer and am in withdrawal, so can't wait to see what's next outa yours!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Sanjay Sundaram on September 22, 2014 at 8:29 PM

Both are wonderful Nathan. I have no experience with the Nik suite but I think the resulting image could be brighter. Beautiful flower captured perfectly. The detail is a pleasure to look at. Well done!

Sanjay

Registered on April 9, 2013, 107 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 24, 2014 at 9:38 AM

Hi Nathan

Love the wonderful lines of this flower. The colors are delightful .. the B&W needs more umph

Albert Darmo
Canada

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