stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Last year it was so hot & dry that they did not bloom too much, but this year they have been going nuts.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Does anyone like my wifes flowers? Post yours please.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

i'd like them better if they did not all look pretty much the same.

Backlighting is nice and Iris' can glow this way but every shot backlit and backlit in the same way gets boring pretty quick

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Sorry but I don't have any studio lights or much knowledge. Just an old country boy.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

i don't have any studio lights either - you could you know like move the flowers or move your body or move both....you could you know find a spot in or around the house with different light....you could you know use some ole boy creativity to do something different.....but all this "you could" depends on asking yourself "what if?"

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

You don't need studio lights and knowledge is free...it's up to you to decide what to do with what knowledge you have.

Dcrob gave some good advice, run with it.

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

I agree with Dcrob. Of the images, I dare say that the last one holds my interest best, likely for its unique comp. from the others. The black background used is often over used, giving the viewer nothing new.

If these are bearded iris grown in your yard, why not shoot them before being picked? Use some different backgrounds other than black, if needed. I dare say you would get more unique images. There is no need of a "lighting system", when the great outdoors provides wonderful natural light.

The flowers are quite nice, I think your use of the black background treatment is what is causing the viewer to see your images as being a bit too mundane. Experimentment a bit. I once painted an abstract watercolor on poster board to be used as a backgroundound for shooting florals. Got some wonderful results. If I can find some of these, I will try and post one.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Thank you for your kind words and advice.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Thanks for looking.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Thanks and I will try to do some outdoor shooting.

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

Here are a couple of bearded iris, alive and shot outdoors. Background was provided by use of depth of field.

Also, I am posting a couple of floral shots using a painted watercolor abstract as a background. These two were shot using available light out on my deck, with the light coming from a large skylight. Both of these are digitals of actual darkroom film prints, which I made using custom easels and printed through rice paper in the darkroom (original film images).

Edit: For some reason, the system was giving me fits on my trying to get the 4th image uploaded. Had to log off and back on, then it uploaded. All of these are older images of mine, and all are film. . .not digital images. I suggest that you work with available light, and work with depth of field.

If a background is needed, seek something that is unique. Go to a fabric store and look for something that your eye could see as a proper background for your subject, the choices are endless. Just try to remember, plain white and plain black are over used and tend to bore the viewer. As I said above: Experiment.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Great job!

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

nice work - good ingenuity / creativity - i seem to like #3 best - the repetitive patterning and overall softness where it oughta be and sharpness where it needs to be.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

mollymolly Loc: In the heart of the Everglades.

Your wife grows beautiful flowers and your photography skills can really do them justice. I would really love to see more of your work with the different backgrounds mentioned. One or two with the black are great, but so many posted together makes them all look the same. Still, your photo skills are wonderful.

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Thank you and I will try again to do better.