Yellow Plumeria

[John Holland]

I started trying grow plumeria plants a few years ago from a few seeds a friend sent me. After a couple of years the plants finally started to flower. Since I started from seeds, there was no way to know what color the flowers would be until they bloomed. One of the plants is producing this vibrant yellow-white flower

 

[Pete Askew]

Beautiful shot, John. I really like the soft lighting and what a colour. And, welcome to RPF.

 

[Asun Olivan]

Love the shot! Colour and composition are very nice.
The only thing is that I find the black bit on the top right corner a bit distracting… the rest is great!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Great first post, John. Asun has a thing (apparently!) about top-right bits See her recent comments here: http://realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/trees-konica-hexar-af.20014/#post-155637

But, she might be right!

Lovely colours and shapes, though.

We often mention what tools we used. Could you tell us what camera/lend combination you used, and any processing? You don't have to, but some take an interest in these things.

 

[Asun Olivan]

I know! I'm sorry…
I really honestly expect people to tell me what they truly think about my photos, that's why I do the same.
I hope it's alright and all you don't end up hating me

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I don't! You also say good things, and your honesty means I know you believe what you are saying.

 

[John Holland]

Thank you all for the comments/feedback - I do like to have the constructive critique.

This image was taken with a Canon 7D, 180mm macro lens, f/16, 1/250 second, ISO 100, and flash (I do try to keep the image EXIF data available). Processing was done in Photoshop - nothing special: levels, curves, sharpening, and some spot removal.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Looking excellent from here John. An imaginative photo.

 

[Milan Vjestica]

Lovely shot. I do agree with Asun on the black corner. The way the petals radiate out adds to the image.

Did you crop at all?

 

[Paul Lange]

I'm not sure that the black corner bothers me too much. I love the sense of order to the composition of a natural thing.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

I am too, a very orderly body so the black bit is a little disturbing, but not much. It is as many have said, a lovely image and the yellows are so soft and you haven't apparently fallen for the temptation of too much sharpening here. Very well done and by the way; Welcome to the forum from me up here in Norway.

 

[John Holland]

Thank you for all the comments/feedback. I can see where the black corner can be a bit of a distraction (it was not to me until it was pointed out, now I am thinking about it). This image as is, has not been cropped. But since the issue about the black corner was raised I went back and did two different crops to remove the corner. One crop retains the aspect ratio (3x2), and the other does not (just crops off the right side a bit).

Which one do you prefer? Original, Aspect Ratio maintained, or right-side cropped?

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

I go for the latter, just beautiful.

 

[Pete Askew]

I prefer the version with the aspect ratio retained. I like the leading line.

 

[Peter McCullough]

Simply stunning John, love that floral work, brilliant!

Regards;
Peter

 

[Douglas McMann]

Superb colours and composition John...and to be honest, I think the "black bit" actually lent it some "place" rather than the more abstractness of the cropped images...

...but that's maybe just me...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I with Dougie. I might start a FaceBook campaign for you to bring back the black bit!

 

[Pete Askew]

You could call it 'The Black Spot'!

 

[Detlef Kuhl]

Nice shot. Like the texture and dradiation of color. The first cropped with the leading line is mine.

 

[John Holland]

The black spot/area did not bother me, but the crop with out it (the one that maintains the aspect ratio - and hence the leading lines of the petal) is probably a bit more eye catching. This image will likely be sent to the printers - if I go with a canvas print, I'll use the original as the black spot will be in the wrap around area. If I go with paper (or metal), I'll probably use the first cropped version.

Thanks for all the feedback and critique.