portrait of an orchid

[coldrain]

This orchid has been flowering for a few months now, I decided to make a few photos of its last 3 flowers on this... what do you call it? Can hardly call it a branch?

Sigma 18-50 f2.8 EX DC @ 40mm, f2.8, ISO 200, 1/1000th sec.

[coldrain]

Canon 70-200 f4 L USM @ 104mm, f4, ISO 200, 1/250 sec.

[JTL]

Coldy, that's beautiful...

[coldrain]

This one taken with the Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 macro, ISO 100, f13, 2 sec.

[fionndruinne]

I think ya call it a stem.:D

Nice shots; methinks I like the dark background better.

[No Control]

Nice shots; methinks I like the dark background better.

Methinks I agree. But out of curiosity what was your setup for each background?

[coldrain]

Thank you JTL :).

Thanks foin, and NoControl:
There is not really a setup. The light ones... the background is a window, the light is the sun. And with the dark background the backround is... the night, and the light source is an overhead light bulb.

[Vich]

You mean you want to name the shot, or not sure what to call a grouping of flowers like that?

Really like your 2nd one. It's a framer.

[michaelb]

Love the last one - very nice.

[Nickcanada]

I love em'! How do you reduce reflections in the window at night? Is the window open or are you using some unknown magic?:confused:

[Spookonthe8ball]

Coldrain, How do expect me to choose between two nice Canon macro lens when ya put up an exceptional Tamron 90mm like that?
Great work on your part:)
Spook

[jwhite]

This one taken with the Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 macro, ISO 100, f13, 2 sec.

Nice pictures. What do you think of the Tamron? I will eventually be getting a macro of some sort. Was thinking mostly of the Canon 100mm f/2.8 until I saw this post and Tamron in use. Have you ever used the Canon?

[drama]

I usually love your flower macros but not this time
In the white background shots, the whites are way too bright
In the black background shot, which I like more, the colors are too saturated

[fionndruinne]

Too saturated? But ah, you're a Canon user, that's right.;)

I think they're good.

[clutch]

Too saturated? But ah, you're a Canon user, that's right.;)

I think they're good.
i think the first two are a little to bright/ washed out.... but the 3rd is perfect.... for my tastes anyway.

[coldrain]

The whites are way too bright on purpose... the light is white, and engulfs the subject. It is called high key photography. And I like playing with that.

Thanks Vich, I too like the 2nd one more than the others.

With the black one here is only one light source in the room, so unless you should in a straight angle to the window, there will be no light reflections. The faint reflections of lighter surfaces in the room lit by the light source do not show up because of the big dynamic contrast between the lit flower and the dark window.

The contrast in the black background one is quite like it was in the scene, you just get that with such lighting (tungsten) and the dark background. Not natural like with sun light, but quite close to the actual scene.
I do understand it may look a bit strong for you Drama, but I like it this way.

About the Tamron 90mm f2.8 and the Canon 100mm f2.8... The Tamron and Canon are optically very good both, probably the best on all platforms for ~100mm macro lenses, bar maybe the old Pentax 100mm.
Plusses for the Tamron: light build, best manual focus feel, shorter, so better to also use as portrait lens. Very sharp and contrasty with nice bokeh. Comes with lens hood, and the front element lays deep inside the lens.
Minusses: Tamron build quality, slow (is normal for macro lenses, but compared to the Canon.. it is slow) AF, has a tendency to hunt. Extends to almost twice the lenght.

Plusses for the Canon 100mm f2.8: Sturdy build, good MF feel, does not extend, very sharp and contrasty, nice bokeh, silent AF.
Minusses: Heavy, front lens element exposed, you have to not forget to order its lens hood, 100mm makes it a bit long for portrait use.

All in all, both are great lenses, and it is up to you to choose one that fits you best.

[Viky]

Somehow, I don;t like #1 much. But, #2 is very nice and lot better than 1, however the best and my favorite by far is #3.

I love the completely dark background and the saturated colors!

[JTL]

Coldy...I don't think some people "get" #2...but...IMO...it belongs in a gallery...

[Rooz]

#2 is absolutely superb. i took a shot of the same flower yesterday in the same way as the black background, (just a slightly differnt colour). scary. :eek:

[coldrain]

Thanks, JTL and Rooz... I agree that some just do not "get" #2.

Here is another night one, with a different composition.

[coldrain]

And here the same shot, with the stem removed. It becomes a bit weird... while the stem does not distract anymore, the flowers lose teh attachement to the space.

[drama]

This I like :)
I had a relook at the whole series, I think the vertical compositions, especially the high key ones the background offers very little visual relief, to enjoy the flowers

I prefer the horizontal version