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Thread: Amaryllis Belladonna

  1. #1
    BPN Member Kerry Perkins's Avatar
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    Default Amaryllis Belladonna

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    Otherwise known as "naked lady", but I didn't think you would look at it if I used that title... Well, some of you would have. The name comes from the fact that the flower has a very long stem with no leaves, then suddenly there is a flower at the top.

    Something different for me, as I've never been very good at flower images. I have recently discovered the Los Angeles County Arboretum, a wonderful place full of trees, flowers, birds, dragonflies... The amaryllis are blooming right now, and this one was just getting started. I saw it all alone against a shadow so I had to try to do something with it. First I isolated the flower with Topaz Remask, then applied an Orton effect manually by combining Topaz Adjust (mild detail) and Topaz Lens Effects (creative blur). Then I took the resulting image into Nik Color Efex and applied the "Sunshine" filter. Sure wish I could post it bigger...
    "It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson

    Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com


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    Kerry, for someone that doesn't shoot flowers very often, you did a great job with this one! The black BG sets the bloom off beautifully...there's great texture and color in the stem and the "husk" of the bloom....nice composition to set off the array of petals...my only suggestion would be to tone down the hot pinks just a smidge..but that's a matter of personal taste. Nicely done!

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    I agree, the texture is amazing and wish I could do this well on a subject not normally used. Glad that you found this angle to capture the dark background. The bloom jumps right out at me. Thanks for sharing.

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    Wonderful composition, Kerry. Lovely colors and the dark bg makes this a standout composition.

  5. #5
    Brendan Dozier
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    Kerry, this is a beautiful & elegant naked lady! Your photography skills and artistic eye paid off big time with this one. Love the light, rich color, and very nicely processed & composed!

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    Kerry, for a guy who doesn't take to flowers, are you kidding? This is beautiful...........love the pure simplicity of it......super position of the flower with outstretched leaves (petals), leaning in a curve from the stem. The colors are just great and that hot pink just steals the show! You had to see this one........well seen, Kerry and well presented. In my opinion an absolute standout!

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    Kerry, You knocked it out of the park! Beautiful capture, processing and comp. I'm on my laptop but I see a faint ghosting like line around the stem? Not sure if it is visible on my desktop.

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    BPN Member Kerry Perkins's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone! I think I'll do some more flowers...

    Denise, when I got to work this morning and looked at this on my "el cheapo" monitor I was horrified to see a large halo around the stem! Don't know what step caused it, but elevated black level on a monitor will show it. I didn't use a black fill for the bg, it is just what was there only really dark if that makes any sense. At any rate, I will fix that before I print this one! Good eye young lady.
    "It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head." - Henri Cartier Bresson

    Please visit me on the web at http://kerryperkinsphotography.com


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    This is gorgeous. Love the simplicity and the dramatic presentation.

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    Simple, elegant, colorful. Very nice work. Lovely lines. I might tone down the hottest pink. Glad you will be shooting more flowers!

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