Lotus in monochrome

[AndyS]

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. How beautiful this lotus is, Andy!

I can almost feel the thickness of the petals. The textures and details are so very clear in this stunning B&W photo.

Magnificent capture!

[AndyS]

5. Thank you Peg.

Converted from an old Kodachrome image.

[Pobeka]

2. Stunning!

One small critique -- that vertical black/white area below the right side of the petals drags my eye that way. I'd do a little cloning from other areas to mute that out.

This is exhibit quality work here, IMHO.

[Rebl2]

4. I am no

photographer by any means, but my eye went straight to the center of the flower and then to the petals, then the background. Lovely photo.

[AndyS]

7. Oh my! Thank you for the kind words

and the critique! I now see the splotch you mention and it could be burned down a zone or two.

It's a B&W conversion from a Kodachrome 64 image. Kodachrome has some interesting artifacts in out of focus and underexposed areas but in the sweet spot the subtle gradation and tonality are incredible.

[Rebl2]

3. Beautiful!

[AndyS]

8. Thank you, the subtlety of B&W can can sometimes

improve the texture and 'feel' of a subject.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. Lovely.

The wavy shape of the petals is what catches my eye.

[AndyS]

9. It's not fully open. The petals have been folded around each other and

when it fully opens they flatten out to make a bloom that's more than a foot across. The center is a seed pod that's easily 2-3 inches across and can make an interesting studio subject. The lily pad is huge, four feet across and supports sunbathing turtles.

The fresh opening blossom is very intricate and more interesting than the adult flower, lat least for me.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. Well done!

[AndyS]

11. Gracias!

[alfredo]

12. Lovely

[Callalily]

13. Exquisite!