Murphy Hektner, APSA
March 2025 - Flamboyant Flower
About the Image(s)
Photographed with Pentax camera and Tamron 90mm macro lens on tripod. ISO 100 - 1/30 sec. at f/16 - cloudy soft lighting and no wind. Post processed in Element. Soft-gold reflector used. One image.
A few years ago traveled with family to the Amazon rain forest in Brazil. Found many wonderful tropical flowers I had never observed before and that was a treat for a plant guy. This Flamboyant bush was about 6 feet in height and had these beautiful red and yellow flower stalks growing upward. The challenge was to find a flower spike with a dark green out of focus background without distractions in the distance.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Hi, interested in the soft-gold reflector. This immediately tells a story something so frail and delicate being so vivid and bold with the blooms singing in different directions. All the buds waiting to join in the chorus right behind them. I really like this composition. I like the positioning, the balance and the fact the blooms are the main feature without the whole plant being there causing an eye distraction. Nice Posted: 03/03/2025 16:39:48
Hi Alison: Pleased you liked Flamboyant Flower, had never seen a flower like that and so delicate in stature.
Regarding the soft-gold reflector: The soft-gold is in a zig-zag pattern, silver and gold alternated and I use them a lot. I have two sizes, a 12" round and a 22" round and they fold up quite small in size. The brand I use is Photo-flex and you can find them on B&H website, there are many sizes to view and choose from. Posted: 03/03/2025 19:13:31
Regarding the soft-gold reflector: The soft-gold is in a zig-zag pattern, silver and gold alternated and I use them a lot. I have two sizes, a 12" round and a 22" round and they fold up quite small in size. The brand I use is Photo-flex and you can find them on B&H website, there are many sizes to view and choose from. Posted: 03/03/2025 19:13:31
Murphy, wonderful image - the colors really pop and I like the slant. For me, I think a little more space on the left and right would be useful. Also, consider deleting the out of focus green leaves at the bottom - just consider it. Ray Posted: 03/12/2025 20:56:55
Hi Ray: Pleased you liked the picture. I wondered about the out of focus leaves at the bottom of the frame. Would you leave the in focus leaves at the bottom left or remove them also?
I was amazed at the wide variety of tropical flowers, flowering trees and also flowering shrubs, in the Amazon Rainforest. Posted: 03/13/2025 02:49:52
I was amazed at the wide variety of tropical flowers, flowering trees and also flowering shrubs, in the Amazon Rainforest. Posted: 03/13/2025 02:49:52
Yes, I would leave the in focus leaf as it add color and texture - what a great trip you must have had! Ray Posted: 03/13/2025 19:40:24
Hi Ray: YES, the trip to the Amazon Rainforest was a trip of a life time. Besides the natural beauty of the botany of the region the culture was interesting; I met interesting people and the food while different than our U.S food was very good.
Cheers. Posted: 03/22/2025 17:24:26
Cheers. Posted: 03/22/2025 17:24:26
Great picture. I like the composition and the color.
Indeed the leaf (bottom right corner) could be removed.
Amazon, the centre of gravity of Nature and Life, is an unforgettable trip. Amazon is "synonym" of S. Salgado. We have the pleasure to have an exposition of him (Amazonia) next month in Brussels... A great honor. Posted: 03/23/2025 10:10:08
Indeed the leaf (bottom right corner) could be removed.
Amazon, the centre of gravity of Nature and Life, is an unforgettable trip. Amazon is "synonym" of S. Salgado. We have the pleasure to have an exposition of him (Amazonia) next month in Brussels... A great honor. Posted: 03/23/2025 10:10:08