California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

I'm fortunate enough to have some of these cute flowers growing on the sidewalk just outside my dorstep, they keep me out of trouble while I wait for sunset.

Canon EOS 1Ds / EF100mm f2.8 Macro MkI + 37mm ext. tube / 1/15s f5 ISO100 / tripod + mlu + cable release / available light / 4x5 crop

They are irrestible, aren't they.

i really like the light on the edges of the petals and the abstractness - really nice capture.

Enrique -

Very nice - a very lovely image.

I walked by a patch of these on my way to work this morning. I hope to spend soem time with them this weekend.

Scott

Very nice and creative capture. I'm not sure so much empty space is required on top or not. To me, it makes more impact if you crop from little above where petal ends on the upper right.

Very nice image. Love the abstract quality and the strong colors. Like Subrata, I'd prefer it cropped a little from the top for better balance. What are your thoughts on going with a square crop?

I consider these shots micro landcapes, the petal edges are mountain ridges and in that context the upper area represents the negative space of the sky.

A square format would be OK but it woukd concentrate the focus excessively on the petals making too much an 'in your face' subject, while the extra space in the 4x5 format allows the eye to wander and discover the color gradients with the petals brigning you back in to the frame.

Thanks Enrique, for explaning your choice of placement and crop. I always love learning about why a photograph was made in a particular way and appreciate your response to my question.

Competition is hard in the flower macro world:
This is a nice compositiion and successfull as an exercise,
However it's nothing that original for all those taking such photos with expensive reflex cameras.

I like the graphical nature of this as presented. I might like a bit more contrast to further define the mg "ridge line". Either way a good flower image.