Hydrangea O'Keefe

[Cheryl Slechta]

This was a macro I did of the hydrangea. I used Nik Viveza to increase the brightness a bit, Nik Detail Extractor on the stamens, Nik Vignette using a lightish blue color from the flower plus Silver Reflector effects, then Pixel Bender. It kind of reminded me of an O'Keefe
Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions appreciated.

[Maureen Allen]

Beautiful Cheryl!! It does look like an O'Keefe. My hydrangeas aren't blooming yet. I think I'll go right outside now and talk to them about that

[Paul Lagasi]

A very pleasing image, I like the curves and colors..well done

[Dennis Bishop]

I agree with Paul about the curves and colors. The diagonals are good, too. Besides how well the colors go together, I like the soft transitions. It looks unstable, however. If it were mine, I'd rotate it 90 degrees clockwise so the stamen and the dark diagonals are nearer the bottom and the stamens are pointing upward. That makes a huge difference in my perception of the image. It is interesting, though, that Geogia O'Keeffe did many verticals, and some of them seem a bit top heavy. (The title is really clever.)

[Indranil Sircar]

This is beautiful, Cheryl. I too like the waves and the color. I also like Dennis's suggestion on the orientation. It may be worthwhile to try it out...

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, I'll try the rotation and see what I think. Thanks for the suggestion

I agree with Paul about the curves and colors. The diagonals are good, too. Besides how well the colors go together, I like the soft transitions. It looks unstable, however. If it were mine, I'd rotate it 90 degrees clockwise so the stamen and the dark diagonals are nearer the bottom and the stamens are pointing upward. That makes a huge difference in my perception of the image. It is interesting, though, that Geogia O'Keeffe did many verticals, and some of them seem a bit top heavy. (The title is really clever.)

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, here is a variation with your suggestion. It seemed to place the stamens too close to the middle so I cropped it. Then it reminded me of some of O'Keefe's New Mexico mountain and desert images so I changed the hue. I kind of like it this way (in a different way).

I agree with Paul about the curves and colors. The diagonals are good, too. Besides how well the colors go together, I like the soft transitions. It looks unstable, however. If it were mine, I'd rotate it 90 degrees clockwise so the stamen and the dark diagonals are nearer the bottom and the stamens are pointing upward. That makes a huge difference in my perception of the image. It is interesting, though, that Geogia O'Keeffe did many verticals, and some of them seem a bit top heavy. (The title is really clever.)

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . it reminded me of some of O'Keefe's New Mexico mountain and desert images so I changed the hue. I kind of like it this way (in a different way).

Especially with the change in coloration, this is entirely different. I like it this way, too. For some of the same reasons I liked it the original way -- the curves, the diagonals, and the gentle transition in colors. I also like the composition of this one. But there's something else. I think it might be the colors -- in both an absolute and relative sense. The colors are not just appealing, each in its own right, but they work so well together. The fact that the bluish color of the stamens is echoed in the surrounding part of the image works a lot of the magic, perhaps.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Dennis. They are different - I think maybe I should crop some a little from the top?

[Dennis Bishop]

Thanks, Dennis. They are different - I think maybe I should crop some a little from the top?

I could make arguments for and against. It's ultimately a subjective decision in this case, I think.

[Jay Sheinfield]

Cheryl, wonderful image. Love the processing. I like both orientations, with a slight preference to the last.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Jay. I'm partial to the 2nd one also

Cheryl, wonderful image. Love the processing. I like both orientations, with a slight preference to the last.

[Paul Jasso]

Hi Cheryl, Wonderful images (although just one really-insert smiley thingy). They're both great but I have a few things that drew me to the first image. First, it seems to have more "depth". The blues/purples on the left seem further away than the greens/yellows on the top and the blue/purple curves on the right seem closer than the yellow on the bottom of the second image. The result draws me to the stamen better. Second, the curves Paul and Dennis like (and I) are not as prominent in the second image which, to me, was another thing that drew my attention to the stamen focal point. And finally, I agree with Dennis, the colors of the first just seem to tie in together better. All that said, if the second were hanging on a wall and I didn't have the first to compare it to, I'd love the second. Again, wonderful images.

[John Storjohann]

Cheryl, I'm late to the party, but I echo some of the other thoughts. I like both images, with a preference to the 2nd for orientation, but to the first for coloring....really well done, and it DOES remind me of O'Keefe's work!

[Mark Fuge]

Very nice image and application, Cheryl.

I like the OP as posted. Very O'keefe'ish!

Nice colors and tones.

[Bob Miller]

Hi Cheryl.....another vote for the second! I like it much better thab the first...not sure why!

[denise ippolito]

Cheryl, When I first opened the image I thought a slight crop from the top. Now after seeing the second image I might keep both as they are and create a third for a series. Well done!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Denise, that's a great idea I hope you had a great trip!!

[denise ippolito]

I did thanks so much!