Run For the Roses

[DoctorJazz]

In honor of the Kentucky Derby today.



EXIF: 1. SS 1/320, AP 5.0, ISO 100, Exposure bias -1.33
2. SS 1/50, AP 14, ISO 100, Exp. bias -0.67
Lens - Nikon 85 mm. f/1.8 AF

[mingkywingky]

Beautiful shots Sandy. Nice angles and DoF. Love it.

[shirlm2]

Hi Sandy these are lovely. What a beautiful red you have captured & carefully exposed in what looks like quite bright sunlight. I love your use of the grey rock surrounds which sets off the red so beautifully. I can't decide which I prefer but I think the first by a tiny amount as I like the shallow DOF on the roses with the "sparkly" blurred effect of the background setting them off so well.

[DoctorJazz]

Hi Tenny,
Thank you for taking a look and commenting on these.
I'm glad you like the outcome!

Hi Shirley,
Thank you too for your time to look, and for your thoughts.
It was fun to shoot these as the light was changing so much with the sun going in and out. The bokeh in the first was a pleasant surprise!

[johnnya]

Great set Sandy. I love the composition. Very creative!

[mdonahoe1]

Really beautiful shots, Sandy. I was expecting one of your amazing horse shots from the title tho!!
Marianne

[gjtoth]

It was a memorable day, as they all are, here in Louisville. My wife & I turned down tickets to the Derby. The madness and insanity is a bit OTT for us, I think. :)

These are really nice, Sandy. The second one is the better of the two. While both are well-composed and have good detail/color, the first has more blown highlights than the second. A couple of the things I've been made aware of in the last year or so are to watch my background and what it will/might produce (distractions from the main subject, odd bokeh, weird spectral lighting, etc.) and the other is blown highlights. While I might blow a few, I am making a conscious effort to improve in these areas. Good stuff here, though.

[DoctorJazz]

Thank you John, Marianne and Gary! I so appreciate your comments.
Marianne, I'm still trying to perfect the shot with "rose in horse's teeth", but so far it's not working for me (or them)!
Gary, Thanks for pointing out the highlights in the first. These were taken at a waterfall
and I liked this one for the composition and the background bokeh.

[kinetic]

Hi Sandy and two very beautiful shots…the first has such a soft feel, enhanced by the beautiful Bokeh from the water…this being stronger in your first shot.
The second has those water droplets on them which are just such a nice touch, and with lovely shadows and excellent composition.
A combination of the best bits from both would have just been something else ;).
Great shots Sandy
Mark

[sandrac]

enjoyed the shots
the softnessof the rose and hardness of thhe stone makes me think of the words love and marriage
guess I am feeling kinda deep today

[verikos]

Hi Sandy
I'm with Mark on this one. I think a combination of the two would have pulled the strongest elements together into the one photo. Saying that, they are still both beautiful. I LOVE the bokeh in the first shot. I also like the fact that you've used grey stone as your backdrop.......very unusual, very creative. I really like it.

[DoctorJazz]

Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for your thoughts on these, and the encouragement to keep at it!!
It really means a lot.
I had so much fun with these, and can't wait to do more.
Thanks Mark.

Hi Sandra,
Thank you for commenting on your interpretation of these.
I guess Nature's studio has a way of making us "deep" sometimes.
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the shots. Thanks Sandra.

Hi Denise,
I thank you for your thoughts and comments on these.
They were something very different for me, and I'm so pleased that you like the stone surroundings.
Every rose is unique, as is every stone in some way, and this is what I was after in putting the two together.
Many Thanks Denise.