JACK LARSON PHOTOGRAPHY
In the Park
Posted by john4jack (Corvallis, Oregon, United States) on 3 April 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
The City Park is loaded with a variety of flowers.
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Out of Town. We are out of town for the weekend. My posts are up, but I won't be able to comment much. Am going to the Nature Photographers of the Pacific Northwest meeting, plus seeing family.
Comments. A word about my comments. I don't have the eloquence of Paul (Eyes Wide Shut), but that doesn't mean that I don't feel many of the same things when I look at your work. When I give one word comments such as Excellent, Exquisite, Superb, Outstanding, Incredible, Stunning, etc., those words are not used lightly or cheaply; they are crammed with freight, emotion and meaning. When I give a one word comment, that is in no way a devaluing of your work.
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"When I was starting out (okay, 55 years ago) I showed my work to an art director named Bob Cato. He went thru my folio carefully, slowly, closed the book and said, 'You walk too fast.'" Jay Maisel
@jamesy: That's actually not a magnolia. It was some small blossom in the park; what I don't know.
"Marie" :-) from perth, Australia
Hi Jack, hope you have a great weekend, and I appreciate those one word reviews so much more now. This is by far my favourite flower shot, captured with great skill, and the lighting is just spot on. Lovely.
3 Apr 2009 6:22am
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
WOW.. this is excellent.. I like it a lot!
3 Apr 2009 7:24am
xavier cardell from menorca-barcelona, Spain
What a nice macro. So well composed and framed. I just love it
3 Apr 2009 8:06am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
What gorgeous detail! I love the fur like texture of the bud...stunning Jack!!
3 Apr 2009 8:10am
Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States
It's surprising how much detail is in budding plants ... this is so soft against the dark background.
I like your explanation of your comments!
3 Apr 2009 8:22am
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
Very good use of value to highlight your subject! I often only give one word comments as well. From me, my highest complement is "excellent".
3 Apr 2009 9:47am
@Craig: Sometimes I give longer comments, Craig, but it is not always because I think more highly of the photograph. My longer statements almost always are in responding to people. Thank you for what you said about the meaning of the word, "excellent," for you; once you have said, "excellent," you wonder sometimes, what more is there to say.
Nicholas from Shah Alam, Malaysia
I love this one. Nice tone and great antique feel to it.
3 Apr 2009 10:17am
Alivia from Saint-Etienne, France
Enjoy these few days of rest, you did not need this little preamble to tell us about the sincerity of your comments, you know, John, that your words are true and come from the heart .. and your sensibilté s is expressed in your vocabulary ..this flower is so beautiful, delicate poetry emerges, you have entered in its purity with tenderly ...thank you to you.
3 Apr 2009 11:09am
@Alivia: You are a very dear friend, Dane. To look at your photographs, and to exchange messages with you, is very precious to me. You are a bright light in my life. (And your photography lights up the lives of all of us.)
Lee from Fort Frances Ontario, Canada
Very well composed. I like the softness of this shot.
3 Apr 2009 11:40am
@Lee: One of the main things that I have more deeply learned on aminus3, Lee, is the value of softness. I came of age in the era of the f64 group where tack sharp was almost God. Especially with flowers, softness and selective focus is often integral to beauty and expressing one's deepest feeling about the subject matter of the photograph. I must say that I have also seen that this is true not only of flowers. The trick, of course, is to know when and how to use it.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
Elegant photo. Belongs in a frame in a formal dining room or in a ritzy restaurant where lots of people can see and admire this work.
3 Apr 2009 11:40am
@Anna.C: "Elegant," thank you; that is a word that applies to you, Anna.
khadi from New Delhi, India
Brilliant photo. I like the dark maroon backdrop -- it lends the picture a softness and brings out the golden highlights on the bud.
3 Apr 2009 12:35pm
MontereyJohn from Salinas, California, United States
Oh my, what have you done here? That is really fine.
3 Apr 2009 12:53pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
There is such lovely rich elegance in this one.
Have a wonderful weekend.
3 Apr 2009 12:59pm
Don Smith from California, United States
Beautiful flower imagery Jack, I love the quote from Jay Maisel! Thanks for your continued support of my blog - have a great day.
3 Apr 2009 1:07pm
@twodot: Outstanding; a coiner of new words.
Barbara from Florida, United States
I love the deep rich tone and light against the delicate bloom. Remarkable capture. I agree with Viewfinder, frame and display this.
Your explaination is appreciated, never do I feel slighted by one word comments.
It sounds like a great weekend ahead for you, enjoy.
3 Apr 2009 1:36pm
Ajay from Pune, India
Dear Jack, you're taking it bit more seriously. Trust us (me at least)... your comments are most welcome anytime. It's sometimes upsetting when I don't see your comment on my photos though. :-) No pressure.. enjoy your lovely weekend.
3 Apr 2009 2:27pm
@Ajay: A pure accident when I miss you, Ajay; it's not about your work.
Diane Schuller from Hythe, Canada
very beautiful Jack and I really like the simplicity of this in particular
3 Apr 2009 2:38pm
Yvonne S. from Tilburg, Netherlands
Hello Jack, i love this flower, well done! I really appreciate your short comments :)
Have a nice weekend!!
3 Apr 2009 2:46pm
Marie LC from France
Le magnolia est à l'honneur, ici aussi on ne voit plus qu'eux !
3 Apr 2009 2:47pm
jim from sebastopol, United States
this is a lovely star magnolia image. i have one growing in the garden and my images just don't come close to capturing its beauty... your shot does! jim
3 Apr 2009 2:51pm
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
I like the focus on this one - wonderful aperture with the blurred background and the warm color tones are great! Thanks also for your many kind words! Have a great day in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
3 Apr 2009 3:13pm
@Scott Schilling: Thanks, Scott.
don from Spokane, United States
A gorgeous blossom whose lighting is a prime factor in its solid success. I like the detail, but its the glow of the blossom and the dramatic side light that makes it come to life. Fine close up.
3 Apr 2009 3:27pm
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Looks like a saucer magnolia variety to me. Enjoy your trip! best...jerry
3 Apr 2009 3:32pm
Hema Iyer from Bangalore, India
Beautiful flower and a great background. Have a great weekend, Jack.
3 Apr 2009 4:18pm
EYES WIDE SHUT from The library of my soul, United Kingdom
Such delicate beauty makes me feel glad to be alive, Jack. The softness and warmth of tone work incredibly beautifully here. The detail in those tiny hairs, amazing
I would love to join you at that meeting. You know, the length of a comment has never been so important to me in compasrison with the thrill I get to know that somebody has taken the time to leave it. One word or a thousand, it's just so nice that somebody has made an observation.
Have a great weekend Jack
3 Apr 2009 4:27pm
@EYES WIDE SHUT: Thanks, good friend; you have a nice weekend as well.
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
That was my thought also ... a magnolia, wrong! But it's a beautiful flower, very soft and a beautiful background which makes it even glow more!
3 Apr 2009 4:40pm
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
I forget to mention that I completely agree with Eyeswideshut ... I appreciate the fact that somebody takes the time to leave a comment and I try to be original, but it's difficult when English isn't your first language ;)
3 Apr 2009 4:43pm
@Monique: Those of us who are linguistically limited profoundly appreciate all of the efforts to communicate in English. When it is in another language, I use a Google Translator.
zOOm from Paris, France
Oh Jack, this is really a beautiful photography. One of your best I think. DOF and focus are fine, well balanced and I really like the contrast beatween this white flower and this "chocolate like" background (me, greedy !). A great close-up indeed. Softness and aesthetism make a wonderful couple.
3 Apr 2009 5:06pm
@zOOm: Thanks, Florence. Like you, I find myself very attached to this particular photograph. I especially like its simplicity and, for me, Zenlike quality. It feels like a big time gift.
Toni from Eastern Washington, United States
This is a stunning capture, Jack. I, too, thought it a magnolia blossom, but saw your comment that it wasn't. I wonder what it is - it is gorgeous!
3 Apr 2009 6:02pm
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, California, United States
Gorgeous image. Love the back light.
3 Apr 2009 7:46pm
observing from North West, United Kingdom
This shot has a beautiful light and soft color.
3 Apr 2009 9:59pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
Such a wonderful macro, such delicate detail in the flower, highlighted by the stronger background
4 Apr 2009 12:49am
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
Beautiful photo! I like the soft look and the lighting.
4 Apr 2009 2:03am
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
I don't know what this is either, I looked in my wildflower book but that didn't help much...Frankly, I don;t really care what it is, I just know that it is beautiful. I love the fuzzies around the bud, and the soft focus is delicious. Have a wonderful weekend!
4 Apr 2009 2:48am
Kyle from Manhattan KS, United States
What wonderful tones. I love the almost white flower and the subtle sepia. Very soft and appealing.
4 Apr 2009 3:26am
marcel lemieux/star_cosmos_bleu from Bedford.Quebec, Canada
Exquisite.......lovely light...great shot....and that quote in your intro is to much...(you walk to fast)...that truly talk,s about the essence of art and photography...beautiful
4 Apr 2009 2:06pm
Stephanie from Toronto, Canada
Wow, that is so pretty! Very warm and rich. It's perfect!
4 Apr 2009 3:08pm
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
I like the soft and delicate atmosphere (and light) on this one... I think that it's a Magnolia (stellata) flower.
5 Apr 2009 11:30am
@Francesc B.: it's a plum.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Mmmm....these tones are wonderful. The single blossom is exquisite!
6 Apr 2009 3:48am
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Superb composition! Would make it onto my "to be framed" list! :) Love love love it!!!!
6 Apr 2009 6:39am
Cricket from Alabama, United States
Eyes Wide Shut does have a way with words! I wish I had that talent.
Beautiful photograph!
7 Apr 2009 6:17pm
Nikon D700
1/640 second
F/5.0
ISO 200
66 mm (35mm equiv.)