Desmidorhis speciosus

[Loukie Viljoen]

The whole flower has a diameter of 10 cm, quite a show and quite a smell.<table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 4em auto 0.5em; padding: 0.5em; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">
</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">Canon EOS-1D Mark II</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Camera Manufacturer</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">Canon</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Exposure Mode</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">Auto</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Exposure Program</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">Aperture-priority AE</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Exposure Time</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">1/50</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Aperture</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">32.0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Flash</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">On</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Focal Length</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">100.0mm</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Lens</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">100.0mm</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Lens (35mm equivalent)</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">100.0mm (35mm equivalent: 236.7mm)</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">Focusing Time</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">One-shot AF</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85); padding-right: 8px; text-align: right;">ISO</td> <td style="padding-left: 8px; text-align: left;">1600</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(153, 119, 85);"> </td><td>
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[Alfred Forns]

Not familiar with that flower Loukie but might want to stay away !!!!!

I like the stopping down for max dof Worked fine. Also like the orientation with visible openings at the center. I see a light area around the flower sort of like a halo but wider? Not sure what was going on there !!!

[Steve Wheeler]

The flower is so unusual... and stunning! Is it a succulent.. cacti of some kind?

Great detail, color and DOF on the flower. I'm seeing the same white "Halo" or area around the flower that Alfred mentioned. Curious if it has something to do with the PP as it looks like maybe you did something to desaturate (deemphasize) the BG and bring out the flower? For me personally I'd prefer to see the entire plant at the same contrast and saturation levels as the flower... I dunno... Maybe I'm WAY off base here.... But the flower looks a little disconnected from the rest of it's parts.

Steve

[Robert O'Toole]

Interesting image of a space alien looking flower. What is the BG loukie?

Agree with the previous about the PP. Looks like a contrast artifact or S-H maybe?

Love the flower, the BG looks strange.

Robert

[Mike Moats]

Hey Loukie, Cool looking subject, I think this would be great shot as a vertical and add some of the stem. BG looks interesting.