Jan Handman  

Succulent Shadows by Jan Handman

April 2021 - Succulent Shadows

April 2021 - Jan Handman

Original

About the Image(s)

I post images on Instagram for fun. For awhile I had one account with general photos and composites. But I also love contemplative photography (AKA Miksang, Zen, or minimalist photography) because it's very relaxing. It's sort of a polar opposite to composite creation, so I started a second account for posting humble objects and simple sights that cross my path out on walks and around my house. This image is one from my alternate IG account. I don't have the original, but I've included another photo of the same succulent plants that are all over my neighborhood. I photograph them often, but most of the time I end up deleting them. This one had a wonderful shadow on one leaf, so first I applied a very close crop and increased the contrast and saturation. I darkened out most of the background. Then I used the dodge tool to lighten the edges of the leaves and I think I also applied a Glow filter in On1. Minimalist photography isn't something everyone likes, but I'm drawn to it for the simplicity and calmness that it usually portrays.

This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted

 
Another graphic image - be still my beating heart. This image really does it for me too. The transition from sharp at the bottom to blurred at the top, and the subtle colour really draws attention to the complexity of the shape against the black background.

Minute suggestion - a mid grey stroke line around the outside because we can't see where the image stops and the black webpage begins.

Love your work.   Posted: 04/04/2021 23:57:29
Jan Handman   Jan Handman
Thank you so much for your kind words Fran. Excellent suggestion about the stroke. The backgroud on IG is white, so it didn't even occur to me to make a change for DD.   Posted: 04/09/2021 15:09:52
Steve Estill   Steve Estill
This is quite a change from your usual presentations for us. I really like it. The more I look at it the better it gets.
The sharpness of the front of the leaf (photographically, not literally) blends easily into the drifting smoke of the back of it. I like the zingy green aginst the black.
I like the simplicity and calmness you talk of.
Thanks for showing it.   Posted: 04/10/2021 17:06:20
 
Jan this is a wonderful image. I love the sharpness of the dark shadow on the green leaf. It is a very calming piece.   Posted: 04/10/2021 20:23:26
Georgianne Giese   Georgianne Giese
(Group 77)
Ah, minimalism, my new favorite photographic area! It is really surprising how difficult it is to produce a minimalistic image. It takes a lot of big steps down from imagining compositions. I do like the very "Zen" nature of this one. It seems to me that it would make a snazzy hood ornament for a one of a kind custom built sports car! :-)

Great job Jan, once again!   Posted: 04/13/2021 18:17:30
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
(Group 54)
Steven Jobs is said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Half a century before Jobs, Mies van der Rohe, a German architect, said, "Less is more." You have proved them both right.   Posted: 04/16/2021 13:00:04