Charles Walker  


Helebore Heart by Charles Walker

October 2020 - Helebore Heart

October 2020 - Charles Walker

Original

About the Image(s)

In the early spring, forests in North America are abundant with a luscious green plant named Helebore. Some hikers mistakenly call it “skunk cabbage.” It looks edible; however it contains a potent neurotoxin that can cause asphyxiation. Some Native Americans used it to test of the courage of those who wished to be a chief. I’ve always been attracted to it because of its graceful lines, arcs of lines reminiscent of the plants photographed by Edward Weston. This is a macro-style shot of a Helebore heart. After cropping and flipping the photograph, to render the final image, I used four layers allowing each leaf to taken on a subtly different color. Camera data: Nikon D7000 (590nm filter), 70mm, f/8, 1/80th, ISO = 250.


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




Emil Davidzuk   Emil Davidzuk
Charles

One thing about our group that I appreciate is the new ideas that spring forth and breathe freshness into IR imagery. I really like your artistic rendition of the Helebore, nice pattern and texture. A St Louis BW photographer, Jack Curran, produced shots like this of leafy plants.

Well Done

Emil   Posted: 10/01/2020 08:15:05



Palli Gajree   Palli Gajree
Hi Charles
An unusual treatment and approach to the subject matter which is most suitable. The detail, pattern and the coloring go hand-in-hand, which suits the image. Like it lots! 10/10.   Posted: 10/01/2020 23:46:20



Gary Potts   Gary Potts
Wow Charles!
Competition image in my book! Love that you flipped it...no comparison in the version you've presented in terms of visual impact and composition. Very, very well done...and, yes, the variety of Infrared within our small group is refreshing and educational for us all.   Posted: 10/03/2020 09:11:09



Jack Florence Jr   Jack Florence Jr
Very interesting, unique, and creative, Charles! It doesn't feel like infrared (which is fine). The use of similar color shades, wholly unexpected, adds something to the image for me, which I can't quite put my finger on.
I keep looking at the frond behind the purple one, which perhaps is a little bit of a distraction, and I might have preferred it to be just the three fronds, but I still enjoy this very much as is.   Posted: 10/05/2020 17:25:21



 
Charles,
I enjoy this tight crop and composition that uses both lines and colors to guide my eyes around the image. Your creative use of colors is what I most enjoy and thank-you for describing how you did it. Your image at first made me think of Georgia O'Keeffe although I can see how you were inspired by Edward Weston as well.
  Posted: 10/05/2020 20:40:27



Melanie Hurwitz   Melanie Hurwitz
Chuck, I am an absolute sucker for patterns in nature and this one makes me jealous that it is not mine! The highlights and shadows created are lovely. I am enjoying the color palate. The delicate mauve streak adds a third dimension. A quibble - I might have cropped it even more to get rid of the little stem at the bottom , even though it is an explanation what the viewer is looking at.   Posted: 10/06/2020 11:58:38