Lily in B&W: I wanted to work with a few flower photos in B&W. Your ideas, suggestions and critiques are welcome. Dodie...

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I wanted to work with a few flower photos in B&W. Your ideas, suggestions and critiques are welcome.

Dodie

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

From what I can tell via the thumbnail (no download is available), the tones and textures are beautiful. What software do you use for converting?

Strictly personal preference, I'm not fond of the somewhat busy composition nor the brighter areas in the background. IMO both of those factors take away from the exquisite elegance of your subject.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I agree with Linda on the busy background. Strictly a personal preference I tend not to like flower pictures with part of the flower cut off.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Very elegant.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Linda From Maine wrote:

From what I can tell via the thumbnail (no download is available), the tones and textures are beautiful. What software do you use for converting?

Strictly personal preference, I'm not fond of the somewhat busy composition nor the brighter areas in the background. IMO both of those factors take away from the exquisite elegance of your subject.

Hi Linda,

Sorry I haven't answered sooner, I got overheated yesterday and that made me sick so I didn't do much of anything else. You are correct about the background and I am going to try to add a vignette to see if that helps or maybe even a re-crop. This flower was part of a get-well vase for my neighbor so I didn't want to rearrange it.

This was photographed in color with the Tamron 90mm macro that I purchased a couple of months ago then I converted in Lightroom and then tweaked until I liked what I saw.

Thank you for your always honest critiques. I learn more when I can see what others see that I missed. You've got me thinking!!

Thanks for your help!!

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Curmudgeon wrote:

I agree with Linda on the busy background. Strictly a personal preference I tend not to like flower pictures with part of the flower cut off.

Thank you, Curmudgeon!! I agree with the background and am going to try a vignette or a re-crop to see if that helps. This flower was in my neighbor's get-well vase so I didn't feel I could rearrange it to get the rest of the flower. I am thinking about a way to do a set up in my house and will see if my neighbor will let me cut a few flowers.

Thanks for showing me what I missed!!!

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

edrobinsonjr wrote:

Very elegant.

Thank you, Ed!!! I appreciate you taking the time to look and giving me that nice complement.

Dodie

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

luvmypets wrote:

I wanted to work with a few flower photos in B&W. Your ideas, suggestions and critiques are welcome.

Dodie

I think Linda's comments are right on the money. I would add, though, that flowers are amazing in black and white. We usually think of color immediately when we thing about shooting flowers. A good black and white image with lots of tonality and proper contrast can work wonders with flowers. You are definitely on the right track.
Erich

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

ebrunner wrote:

I think Linda's comments are right on the money. I would add, though, that flowers are amazing in black and white. We usually think of color immediately when we thing about shooting flowers. A good black and white image with lots of tonality and proper contrast can work wonders with flowers. You are definitely on the right track.
Erich

Thank you, Erich!!! I appreciate your comments. I love B&W and will submit more as I get them done.

Dodie