Colours or B&W?

I have usually pretty clear vision of how a photo should look like after processing and it was the same in case of this ‘mum photo. I wanted to add it to my growing series of photos in high-key look. Processing itself was rather easy with cloning out specks as the most time-consuming part. After all, the photo looked like I planned.

~ This Way (BW) ~
1/25 sec. @ 100 mm, f/2.8, ISO 100

Chrysanthemums are great flowers for many reasons. For me it’s because they start blooming in late summer and lasts through autumn until first frost and because of their blossom structure. I really like all those layers of petals which unfold slowly as if hiding some precious treasure in the very center. If I was a bee those petals would be like a highway for me. A highway leading me to the center of heaven.

When I had the photo processed I started wondering  how it would look like with colours back so I tried it and that was my damnation.

Now I can’t decide which version I like more. At least I can ask you. Which version do YOU like more and why?

Indian summer is in the air. Enjoy!

Getting to market, step 1

I announced my goal for this year – getting my photos to a market – in one of my previous posts. I did some small preparations when a very pleasant surprise met me and I’ll write about it in one of my next posts for sure. Let’s focus on the “getting to market goal” now.

My first step on the road ought to be offering my photos in a gallery hosted by the printing company where I make my photos printed. I have already sent my photos there but they haven’t been published, yet. Ok, never mind. They will do it soon, I guess.

Maybe a month ago my wife stuck on a web site called fler.cz. My local visitors will probably know it. It is the biggest local web portal for artists and craftsmen (no mass production) allowing them to offer their products on the portal pages for a commission. Something like a local version of etsy.com. I browsed the shop and I really liked what I found there. Frankly, I like the stuff there more and more 🙂 Moreover, I looked through a gallery of photographers offering their photos there and I found out that such a type of photography as I’m doing is not present there so my work will “fill the gap” in their portfolio. And “fler” if it comes from “fleur” in French means a blossom! What a match 😀

~ Seedy Mum ~
4 sec. @ 100 mm, f/10, ISO 100

It took me some time before I finally decided to put my work on display and so from now on you can see and buy my first 15 photos there. There is a LOT of various photos on the server so I’m really wondering if my works will interest someone to buy it. Time will tell. I know that the key is to have a bigger offer than just 15 images and I plan to update it regularly. I’ll definitelly do a recap after some time and I’m really looking foward to it.

Until then, enjoy the spring in full bloom!

Technical information: all photographies in this post were taken with Canon EOS 450D camera and Canon EF 100mm USM macro lens mounted to a tripod, in natural conditions, indoors.

An Intention

Everything begins with an intention, either consious or subconsious, and photography, or generally any process of creation, is no exception. Let’s think about the consious intention on field of creativity. I think that the more professional the person/creator is and the more experience (s)he has the more the intention is complete and thoughtful. I presume that when professional photographer is thinking about a photo (s)he is going to take (s)he has very precise idea what and how (s)he want to accomplish and (s)he will very probably end up with excellent photo.  A total amateur, on the other hand, knowing nothing about light and composition will end up with a great shot rather rarely and won’t be probably able to reproduce all steps leading to it.

~ Vintage Mum ~
0.8sec. @ 100mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

I must admit that I see myself somewhere between these two states. I am far way from a pro, nothing about it, but I am also far away from the total amateur, I would say. Still it is really rare for me to come up with concrete idea, an intention, that would lead to an excellent photo. More often my itention could be described as “to take couple photos of this flower and if I’ll end up with some really good one I’ll work with it more to get something original and nice”. This could be a description of my attitude to photography in last weeks. There are exceptions, of course. For instance, photos of cyclamen posted here were completely intended including light and composition.  But mostly it goes as it was just described. Photos accompanying this post are no exception.

~ Pastel Mum ~
1.3 sec @ 100mm, f/8, ISO 100

During winter time the only time that I can spent by taking new photos is 1-2 hours after noon during weekends and as this is very limited time I’m usually not very happy when we have some other plans. Nevertheless, two weeks ago we had no plans for weekend and so I bought this interestingly coloured Chrysathemum in a flower shop when we were out shopping. I was sure it will make a nice colourful contrast whith the central part in bright green and outer petals in pure white. Well, it was nice contrast but photos were still a bit average so I tried to give them some better look by additional post process.

Thinking about an intention – 2 years ago I wouldn’t be able to take such photos because I haven’t had the experience I have now. Being a pro, I would be probably able to visualize the result at the very moment of taking these or even before that and I would proably know the exact look and feel that I want to give them. Or isn’t it so? Are pros also relying on fortune sometimes?

I wish the spring was already here!

Technical notice: all photos in this post were taken with Canon EOS 450D camera and Canon EF 100mm USM macro lens mounted to a tripod, under natural conditions, indoors.