calla lilies

[Ron Conlon]

Two calla lilies, one stacked in about a dozen shots, the other place well behind out of focus. The oof lily was lightened by dodging the midtones. Two flashes, one behind everything with an intervening white plexiglass sheet, the flash in front in a box which I shot through.

[Dennis Bishop]

Very nicely conceived and executed. The intensity of the colors (or lack thereof) is perfect. Having the stems nearly converge at the bottom was a great idea because it helps to guide the eyes through the image.

[Nancy Bell]

I am a big fan of your minimalist flower images! I usually go to the Macro forum to see them. Glad you posted here! The graceful lines and the pale pinks are so delicately lovely. And your stacking technique is seamless. The second OOF flower adds a nice simple repeating second element for an interesting composition. Well done!

[Anita Bower]

Outstanding light. You did an excellent job with the flashes, producing a beautifully lit flower with just enough shadow to emphasize its curves. The white bg works really well.
In my view, the out of focus flower is too different from the perfectly focused flower. I would eliminate the blurred flower or let it be less blurred or add a texture (but this last would defeat that white bg). There is a white imperfection on the main flower towards the top of the green area that I would clone out.
A very pleasing composition and image.

[Ron Conlon]

Thanks, all.
Nancy, I switch forums (MF vs OOTB) depending on how much manipulation I have done beyond the stack, so they find various homes.
Anita, I conceptualized a bigger oof flower, to generate some matching color background, but I guess the oof focus flower would need to be closer than the subject to make that happen. Not what you suggested, but i see the reason for your dissatisfaction. Textures haven't appealed to me in my own stuff--I feel like I have gone to such effort and expense for clarity, sharpness and depth of field (on the subject at least) that a texture either distracts (on the bg) or reduces the image quality I tried so hard to achieve (texture on the subject). That's where I am right now, anyway, and my approach will undoubtedly change in the future as it has in the past. I am kind of flailing around on backgrounds at some points (between the minimalist white or black background versus occasional oof prints) and this was an attempt at a different background. Didn't achieve what I wanted, but it is a learning experience--which your critique helps, thanks. It's why I love this community.

[Anita Bower]

Thanks, all.
Nancy, I switch forums (MF vs OOTB) depending on how much manipulation I have done beyond the stack, so they find various homes.
Anita, I conceptualized a bigger oof flower, to generate some matching color background, but I guess the oof focus flower would need to be closer than the subject to make that happen. Not what you suggested, but i see the reason for your dissatisfaction. Textures haven't appealed to me in my own stuff--I feel like I have gone to such effort and expense for clarity, sharpness and depth of field (on the subject at least) that a texture either distracts (on the bg) or reduces the image quality I tried so hard to achieve (texture on the subject). That's where I am right now, anyway, and my approach will undoubtedly change in the future as it has in the past. I am kind of flailing around on backgrounds at some points (between the minimalist white or black background versus occasional oof prints) and this was an attempt at a different background. Didn't achieve what I wanted, but it is a learning experience--which your critique helps, thanks. It's why I love this community.

I didn't think a texture would be the solution for you. I love the minimalist look you have here and the white bg. Sharp, simple, elegant.