Haru Nagasaki  


Lotus flowers by Haru Nagasaki

June 2022 - Lotus flowers

June 2022 - Haru Nagasaki

Original

About the Image(s)

I stay away from the landscape image this month.
While in field work a month ago, this lotus flowers in the hotel garden grabbed my eyes.
The sun light was a bit harsh so I shot this with really dark setting visioning “Low-key” type of image in BW.
Please tell me what you like and what you do not like.
Nikon D850 ISO31 ¼ 102mm 1/50 sec f11 tripod


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




Don Hill   Don Hill
(Group 40)
Hey Haru, when I looked at your image it looked a little dark. I also opened it in Photoshop and cropped a little off the sides, but that did not really do anything for the image. The flowers have a cool sort of glow, but, and only in my opinion, one or two look soft. Nothing sort of drew me into the image. It did not have the "magic" I am used to seeing in your images. I could be wrong about the soft comment. I might just be totally wrong.   Posted: 06/02/2022 21:46:12
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Don, for your comments.
You have reviewed my image long enough so your points would be valid.
Thank you again.   Posted: 06/12/2022 20:02:38



Trevor Harvey   Trevor Harvey
Hi Haru, I love the detail that you got into the image but am not sure if the choice of low key works for me. I always associate flowers with a softness whereas the processing brings out a hardness for me.   Posted: 06/07/2022 23:47:11
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Hi Tevor,
Thank you for your honest feedback. You might be right that this is not for low key image.
Thank you for mentioning.   Posted: 06/12/2022 20:04:34



Arne Skinlo   Arne Skinlo
(Group 36)
My main comment about this image is that it has too many objects and they are fighting each other.

If you make it square and keep the four flowers that create a triangle, you will have a better composition. I would also lighten the dark area in the middle of the flowers to show some details.   Posted: 06/12/2022 05:00:09
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Arne.
I should have a bit more careful in structure the image.
It was a emotional shot and did not pay attention so much. That's my mistake.
Thank you for mentioning.   Posted: 06/12/2022 20:07:05



Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
(Groups 83 & 87)
Good day, Haru!

The composition very much sides with Japanese aesthetics within the realm of Wabi Sabi and other categories that reveal beauty within the objects we may not notice in are hurried pace, the austere, wilting or in decay. Do not be discouraged from continuing your quest to reveal beauty hidden within shadows, too.

The 9x16 crop is surely a very appropriate first step in presenting the work, perhaps a more narrow (such enjoyed within Hashira-e, for just one example. Follow this link to see other popular print sizing: https://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_print_sizes.asp.) Keeping in mind the variety of crop-options available will allow you to capture nature scenes like this from a more diverse optic: your sense of visualization will expand, and thus your creativity.

What I call, "Contemplative Structure", spend more time and "work" the subject of interest longer. I suggest there is many decisive compositions within this most beautiful example of nature you present to us this month.

Lastly, search images captured by Nobuyuki Kobayashi for a fine example of low key nature compositions, and his eye for abstraction in nature.

Your work is beautiful; I hope to see more of these low-key, intimate nature scenes from you in the future.

Lance A. Lewin
PSA B&W Photography Mentor
PSA South Atlantic Area Membership Director
  Posted: 06/28/2022 07:13:02
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you for your encouragement, Lance. Much appreciate it.
I checked the photographer, Nobuyuki Kobayashi.
I feel his spirit in shooting photograph is pretty similar to mine.
I will keep tracking his work going forward.
I will keep challenging low-key image. Also I am challenging high-key image as well now.
I would appreciate it if you could keep mentoring.
Thank you again for your comments.   Posted: 06/28/2022 08:14:22



 
Again, you give us a soulful image. It does not reveal itself very quickly, but the beauty of lotus contrasts well with its murky origins. I enjoy the composition of the 5 blossoms, as the image flows from lower right to upper left.
You stimulated a response from Lance that is eye-opening for me.
The color image seems to have more nuance in the blossoms than the monochrome. I tried to increase luminosity of the brighter portions of the blossoms. Also decreased low-to-midtone luminosity of the foliage areas. Just to see what happens. Turned out to be my version of chiaroscuro, which as I understand, increases contrast to focus attention on very selected areas.   Posted: 06/30/2022 17:22:14
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