Denise McKay  


Magnolia by Denise McKay

January 2018 - Magnolia

About the Image(s)

A couple of summer's ago, the magnolia trees in my neighborhood were just beginning to bloom. I decided to keep my eye on one particular flower and watch it until it had bloomed to the point that I thought it would make an interesting macro. I took this with a Sony A7ii using my 90 mm macro lens. I used the available natural light, and set my camera on a tripod to take this shot. Settings were ISO 200, f13, 1/25 shutter speed. I used Lightroom to convert the photo to black & white, then made some slight adjustments to exposure, whites, blacks, and clarity, plus added slight vignetting.


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




Carol Sheppard   Carol Sheppard
(Group 95)
This immediately appealed to me...a combination of a beautiful tonal range, sharpness in the details, a soothing crop that brings out all those lovely curves and textures. I would love to see you enter this in a contest....it's a beautiful shot, technically and aesthetically pleasing to my eyes!   Posted: 01/09/2018 13:56:59
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
(Group 77)
Thank you so much for the kind comments. I think what really appealed to me as well were the curves and the different tones from the way that the light fell on this beauty. I felt really lucky to find this at the right time during the period it was in bloom.   Posted: 01/29/2018 18:35:29



 
The only suggestion I have is to see if centering the flower in the frame would benefit this beautifully serene image. Carol's right, this is a super image for competition. Revisited it several time, Denise.   Posted: 01/09/2018 20:55:26
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
(Group 77)
Thanks Lou! It was a personal decision on how this was centered to try and capture all the curving petals that attracted me to this flower. I appreciate the feedback, and I tried several possible crops, but this one won me over.   Posted: 01/29/2018 18:38:18



 
Well Denise what a very fine work you have created. The point of focus seems to me to be perfect. I like the way the pedal behind it curves around and brings the eye into the middle of the flower. I think you have captured a winner showing this in black and white. The flowing lines in the image are very calming to me. Thanks for this great work.   Posted: 01/10/2018 17:27:10
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
(Group 77)
Thanks so much Bill!   Posted: 01/29/2018 18:38:46



 
Love this shot! Drawn right into it when I opened this page. Really like the B&W conversion, something that's not usual for me. I'd hang this where everyone walking into a room could see it.   Posted: 01/29/2018 10:31:47
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
(Group 77)
Thanks Bill. I actually did print this and have it hanging in my bedroom at home! So not where too many people see it, but where I can still enjoy it, LOL.   Posted: 01/29/2018 18:41:14