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November flowers

© Peter W. Marks

November flowers

Uploaded: October 31, 2012

Description

1/100sec; f8; ISO 400; 70mm.
Canon 70-200 IS lens

Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/100 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 70.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Aimee C. Eisaman November 01, 2012

Peter posting a flower image? What is happening??? lol That's awesome there are still flowers blooming even with the leaves falling off the trees. Might want to check the white balance on this. Maybe a bit of burning the midtones on the flowers that are in the sun would help too. :~) #1495814

Dale Hardin November 01, 2012

Nicely composed scene Peter. Like it a lot. As Aimee suggested, you might cut down on the highlights a bit. Love all the light. #10399229

Peter W. Marks November 01, 2012

OK, when I get Aimee AND Dale wanting me to alter my flowers, what can I do but obey!
I can't remember when I last used the burn brush so I played around with it set at varying opacities and strengths and I hope this works for you my friends. As for the color balance Aimee, I spent way too much time messing with that and have no idea exactly what you had in mind. What I could see was the bluish gravel in the driveway so I messed with that. I even went outside to look at it but the weather is very different today so the light is not the same and and I have no idea whether this is an improvement.
In the original image I did bump up the colors considerably to give a warm summery look to tide me over until next year. Hey!, even Van Gogh's sunflowers weren't really that color! #10399357

Beth Spencer November 01, 2012

Peter!I am proud of you for doing a flower picture!!! I think your edit helped. The flowers in the original on the left side were a bit bright and you seemed to fix it.
Since outside all I see is snow and more snow and more snow I really enjoyed seeing the color in these!! #10400085

Kristin Duff November 01, 2012

MIRACLE... if Peter is posting flower shots...there is a millionaire out there for me somewhere! Seriously Peter, I am glad you are out shooting and as for the white balance I like things on the warm side! Maybe that's because winter has arrived in Calgary and baby it's cold outside! #10400087

Aimee C. Eisaman November 01, 2012

Well whatever you did it fixed the issues that I had. Well the ones with this image...not all my issues! lol #10400107

Peter W. Marks November 01, 2012

Thanks you ladies! Now enjoy one I shot back in the spring in the same place that nature had planted all on her own..

#10400181

Peter W. Marks November 01, 2012

And of course that makes no sense! I meant to show the dandelions not daffs. #10400186

Peter W. Marks November 01, 2012

And of course that makes no sense! I meant to show the dandelions not daffs. #10400189

Stephen Shoff November 01, 2012

I think a tight crop might really make this stand out, Peter, and at the same time eliminate some of the problems of the gravel and the bright flowers on the left.

I'd suggest an 4:5 crop with the top of the frame as the top border, the right border just to the right of the wheel, and runs down to about the level of the rock. Try to exclude the rock if you can. I think that would cause some great framing of the wheel by the leaves above it and the flowers below.

I don't know what you've done to adjust the colors, but if that is what caused the problems with the gravel, I'd suggest you just start over and maybe use the ACR white balance eyedropper on the rock to set you white balance. Otherwise use Levels before you do any contrast or color adjustments. #10400206

Jeff E Jensen November 01, 2012

I'm jealous that you have flowers, Peter!

I'm traveling this week, and I'm looking at this from my work computer, so I'm not going to comment on the colors.

I do like Stephen's crop suggestion. #10400287

Peter W. Marks November 02, 2012

Thanks guys. Does this work?
#10400821

Stephen Shoff November 02, 2012

I think the crop makes a much stronger composition. The vertical crop works well, probabably better than the horizontal crop I had envisioned, but not communicated.

Is the image sharper than it appears here? #10400935

Peter W. Marks November 02, 2012

Final vers sharpened #10401084

Michael Kelly level-classic November 02, 2012

Glad I am late as I really love the final version. Amazing that you are still getting what looks like a summer scene this time of year. Very warming as we move to the cold weather ahead (at least for some of us as I know some are already in it). #10401297

Peter W. Marks November 02, 2012

Thanks Mike. I think this is a good example of how the camera can slightly exaggerate. It wasn't Photoshop but rather all those wonderful menu choices on Mr Canon's DSLRs that combined with a delighfully clear, sunny day gave me this summery effect (in reality 55F).
Some others sommented on the color cast in the early versions and I went outside again today to look at the same scene under very similar light and I could see why there were some strange color effects. The overhead canopy of yellow sweetgum leaves gave a golden cast while my bright red Chevy truck that was parked just a couple of yards to the side combined with the bluish grey rocks to give a purplish magenta color. There is a lot to be said for black & white I'm thinking! #10401447

Kristin Duff November 02, 2012

I like the final crop and tightness of the last photo posted. And I am still jealous of 55! #10401578

Rita K. Connell level-classic November 02, 2012

I also am glad I am late because I like your last post best. but I see you got and EP on the edit one. congrat's but I see you didn't give us a chance to get you to the final crop that is so nicely composed .....You and dale are always jumping ahead. #10401617

Peter W. Marks November 03, 2012

Cheer up Kristin! Calgary AB (that is home for you- yes?) has been promised a whopping 50F (10c) for this coming Monday.The rest of the week, not so much!
And thank you Rita. Yes, I am impatient and just that teeny bit 'ornery so I submit an image, warts and all, then just sit back and wait for your criticisms while I polish my EPs. (Of course I never get POTDs, and Finalists etc like you fine folk do )

But now to be serious (oh sure!) I do understand why the final cropped version is appreciated, but let me explain how for me it is a very different image than the original one I posted. I have probably said previously that mostly the images I make are for myself as reminders of where I have been and how I felt at the time. "Nostalgia" if you will. As such, the original shows a bit more of the location in our unkempt yard rather than just pretty flowers. I will probably get around to mulching all the leaves but with the year fast disappearing I like to hang on to the randomness of nature as long as possible. No perfectly straight rows of tulips and neat borders for us!
But if you are curious; I always wear jacket,collar and tie and polished shoes to church; But that's for my Saviour not photography critiques. #10401785

Beth Spencer November 03, 2012

Peter I do like the final crop. We are on day 5 of no electric and many more days without it. Snow still up to our behinds and so I really do love your flowers!!! #10402824

Peter W. Marks November 03, 2012

Thanks Beth. I really do feel sorry for all the folks without power. A few years back we would have occasional 24-36hr outages so I purchased a generator and although we have very rarely needed it it is reassuring to have it at hand.
I do hope you will have power restored very soon, that's been way too long. #10402842

lisa anderson November 03, 2012

Peter, these photos are all so lovely! They look so warm and spring-like and it's so cold where I live in China right now. I like all of the ones you posted here and hope to see more of your flower pics :) #10402925

Debbie E. Payne November 03, 2012

Peter -- I like your warm, bright flowers and am also glad I am late to the party because you saved the best for last but all were good. Where is the other Pete and what have you done with him? --just kidding... I love how you kept working with all the suggestions and came up with even better images as you processed through the changes. We don't have anything but dead and dying flowers in our back yard... Winter is very near. Your flowers may hold it at bay for a bit longer. #10403038

Peter W. Marks November 04, 2012

Thank you so much ladies. Here is another flower image for you Lisa and one of the "other Peter"for you Debbie.

#10404176

Peter W. Marks November 04, 2012

For Lisa and Debbie. My school photo at 5yrs old in Aug 1944.
#10404201

Peter W. Marks November 04, 2012

Dandelions and me at 5yrs 7mnths in 1944
#10404221

Anthony L. Mancuso November 04, 2012

Wow, who woulda thunk it..not only did Peter post a flower shot, but multiple flower shots within the flower shot..I think it's a good and healthy thing and despite your explanation I prefer the last edit...although the circa 1944 shot is my favorite on the thread.. #10404371

Aimee C. Eisaman November 05, 2012

Your last version of the original flower shot looks great...I like that crop! :~) You were such a cute little boy too! #10405194

Peter W. Marks November 05, 2012

Tony, I think you are teasing me! I am surprised you didn't also praise that pudding-basin haircut! When I think back Aimee, I realise that this image was taken while WW2 was at its height and the D-Day landing in France had only taken place a few weeks previously (June 6 1944)and we Allies were struggling through Normandy with the final surrender of Nazi Germany still months away. That school photos were being taken probably showed our confidence that we were winning the war in Europe.
So thanks friends, you have all been very generous in your remarks. Heck, I might even do more flowers in future! #10405262

Jeff E Jensen November 05, 2012

Yup, I like the last one as well. #10406160

Beth Spencer November 08, 2012

What a cute picture of you!!!nice job on all the flowers!! #10410080

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