Earthly Delight

[Anita Rakestraw]

Another take on my mushroom from the horse pasture. Your critiques & comments will be much appreciated!

8-18-08, 7:35 p.m.
1DMkIII, 100 macro lens
1/1, f/32, ISO 400

[Mike Moats]

Hey Anita, I think this is a great subject with some very interesting patterns for an abstract look. I would crop the upper right negative space and just show the shroom. If you can shoot this again I would also concentrate on tighter shots of the swirly areas in the top of this image and show less of the straight line stuff. Curve lines always look more interesting.

[Aristotle Georgiou]

Great close up and interesting view you've taken, I like the composition, flowing lines and nice lighting.

[Bill McCrystyn]

NIce shot - Giving a little artistic expression to a macro subject is refreshing. If you didn't go with Mike's idea, I would simply darken the negative space. Your shadow detail is good and the image holds interest. I like it.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Thanks, Mike, Aristotle, and Bill! Appreciate the comments, tips and suggestions. Seems my photos were taken on the last day that this shroom looked good; next day it wasn't photogenic anymore! :( But I do have quite a few images to work with and will continue to see what I can come up with.

[Bill McCrystyn]

One other little trick I learned in PS that I think might work on this shot is to go to selective color (black) and make a small adjustment (1-5 points) in the overall image. It can add a little drama - try it. I really like the shot, you don't need to take another one, just detail it a little.

[Kaushik Balakumar]

Lovely patterns those gills of mushrooms have. This one's much sharper than your prev mushroom post.
I would second Mike's idea.

[Julie Kenward]

As soon as I saw the thumbnail I knew it was yours! It's really lovely as presented but Mike does have a point. If you could really zero in on the waviest section next time it would really make for a dramatic macro abstract. Really superb work, Anita!

[Ed Cordes]

Hey Anita, this is great! Mike suggestions are good. After all he is the master. However, this is well seen and recorded.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Thanks for the tip, Bill, and for the comments/suggestions, Kaushik, Julie, & Ed. Yes, Mike's the macro/abstract man, I agree; I listen when he "speaks!" :D :D

[Ed Vatza]

Excellent image, Anita. The flowing, undulating gills look beautiful here. And the complementary background should not be lost here either. Very nice.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Thank you, Ed! Much appreciated!