Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Allium aflatunense
If you ever visit my photoblog you are probably bored with seeing pictures of this particular plant, but I thought it was time to get some feedback......
I suspect that this sub-macro view of the world appeals to short sighted people more than people with good vision. Actually I also suspect that macro work, like pure abstract work, mostly appeals to the creator.
Permalink / posted by and copyright of Colin [auspiciousdragon.net] : 7:25 PM
Comments:
I am glad that you're giving us the opportunity to talk about one of these. I would agree that macro work appeals to the creator but that does not necessarily mean that the viewer cannot be appealed to. The particular starburst effect that you have got with this, and some of the others if I recollect correctly, works well and compensates for the more than 90% OOF. In terms of the total aesthetic of the starburst, I suppose that the molecular cell structure centre bottom doesn't quite chime. I know that this is heresy, but | can't help wondering what it would look like in colour. One of the disadvantages of b/w here is the relatively narrow tonal range with no deeper darkness. As an exploration of the plant and its features I like this very much; as a total picture the points I have made already count against it for me.
I'm actually a fan of the narrow tonal range. Combined with the minimal DOF, you end up with something otherworldly.
Due to curiosity I put the Latin name into Google and got back a description and image of the whole flower.
The area of the image that gets my attention is the left hand upper diagonal. The bokeh of the lens has produced some beautiful dreamy liquid effects. I think I could get lost in there.
Picking up on the tonal range point: this was shot using filtered daylight with lots of side reflectors (i.e. in a conservatory with a plastic roof and white walls). The files came out with almost no contrast whatsoever. I printed a few like that, and then a few with a more normal contrast before settling on this midway point. The photos change a lot as I play around with the contrast.
John: I forgot to take a grey balance, because I knew that I was intending to produce a mono result. The colours that I've got are therefore more vivid than accurate.
Rex: on bokeh - this is the ZD 50mm macro shot at f2. Lovely lens. Don't blame me if I cause you to buy it....
I've looked back over all your allium shots and this one is the only one that has the break in flow (if I can put it that way) of the dreamy liquid/otherwoldliness/starburst effect caused by the chemical valency type shape bottom middle (hence, presumably, Rex's observation about the top left diagonal). All the other shots I like very much but this one a little less so. I agree about the 50mm lens although I use it far less than when I first had it; maybe because I do less macro work at the moment.
For me, there are too many areas to look at and I do find it difficult to take the whole picture in. I feel that the effect that pleases me most is the top right where has the interesting shape, combined with a nice dreamy effect.
One word - exploding. Everything is rushing towards my eye and the tips just achieve focus plane. I'm enjoying the amount of movement you seem to get out of your photos.
The effect, particularly top right is like something produced by heat. All shimmering and wavering. I do find that the most interesting aspect of the shot.
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The area of the image that gets my attention is the left hand upper diagonal. The bokeh of the lens has produced some beautiful dreamy liquid effects. I think I could get lost in there.
John: I forgot to take a grey balance, because I knew that I was intending to produce a mono result. The colours that I've got are therefore more vivid than accurate.
Rex: on bokeh - this is the ZD 50mm macro shot at f2. Lovely lens. Don't blame me if I cause you to buy it....