blue iris

jayjuice · May 23, 2004

critique appreciated

LaFoto · May 24, 2004

I think I would really like this close crop of the iris flower if there wasn't the empty lefthand upper corner. If the entire photo were this intense blue with the yellow in the middle, I'd say: "WOW". But that empty corner really bugs me...
(But there's no need to seriously listen to an amateur like me...!)

cowbert098 · May 26, 2004

I agree but wow this is really a great photo with great potential to be even better.

wwjoeld · May 27, 2004

i like the colors

DanielK · May 27, 2004

I disagree that the yellow should be in the center. I think your composition is very strong on the 'rule of thirds', which is always a nice idea, but there seem to be a lot of things pointing me off to the right.

I've found that people (in the western culture) tend to view art like they read a page of text. From top to bottom and left to right and then on to the next page. If there is another peice next to yours on a gallery wall or in a magazine or webpage or whatever, then your piece kinda shoves the viewer off to the next interesting thing that might be next to it on the right.

In my version, I flipped the image, cropped a bit and adjusted the color a smidge just to show what I was talking about. See if you can see a difference as to how your eye is pulled through both pieces. Where does it stop and linger before moving on? Where does it gravitate to next? How is this different between the two versions?

My version was quick and dirty and it's late, so I apologise if I'm not making my point.

Daniel

bogleric · May 27, 2004

The blues and the purples are nice in saturation and not overly done. The yellow off to the side makes for an excellent composition that is much more dramatic than if the yellow was placed in the center. Part of art and photography is grabbing the viewer and pulling them in. THis picture does that and I tend to focus alot on the v petal towards teh center.

This definitely engages the viewer well. The only distracting part is the glaring upper left in the original. It isn't the fact that it is empty, just that the glare from the light is overpowering.

jayjuice · May 28, 2004

thank yo for your comments!

Daniel, your comments were particularly helpful and opened a whole new way of thinking to me. thank you for opening my eyes

DanielK · May 28, 2004

jayjuice said:
thank yo for your comments!

Daniel, your comments were particularly helpful and opened a whole new way of thinking to me. thank you for opening my eyes

No problem. My background is in painting and composition was key in that world. It was different, though, because I had the luxury of time to set up every last detail of a composition while with a camera, you have to kind of take a pot shot at it unless you are doing static studio work.

Daniel