NYC, September 11, 2001, We remember.

[Smilingeyes]

Hello all, newbie here. Please critique this picture and tell me what I can do to improve it.

Here's the description of the photo as it is on Flickr.

My family went snorkeling last weekend ( September 11) and I found these guys just lying on the sand when I got out of the water. My first thought was "there must have been a wedding earlier" but as it was such a momentous date and they were whole flowers instead of just flower petals like you would usually see at a beach wedding, my guess is that they were there as remembrance to someone who passed away in the tragic event. We'll never know for sure, will we? So let's let our imagination roam!

This was a lucky shot. As the light was quickly failing (around 7:30 p.m.) I didn't think it would turn out to be any good and I didn't even notice the sky until I got home and uploaded the pictures to my computer.

My questions for you, fellow photographers, is ... How can I make the colors in the sky pop out more? SHOULD I make them pop out more?

PS: Flickr forced me to resize my pics. sad face. The original is not grainy like this.
is it just me or my photo is not showing on this forum?

[Sean H]

Was this the image you were trying to post?

[Smilingeyes]

Yes. Thanks Sean for putting it up. For future reference...can you tell me how you put it up? Thanks a lot!
...Never mind...I just found out how.

[Photologyst]

Well. . .

The photo looks a bit grey to me.

Based on the photo alone, it is difficult to discern just what it is that you are trying to convey.


Rosemary is the plant of remembrance.

The lily, in particular the Madonna lily, is the flower of mourning.

In the (Victorian) language of flowers, yellow roses are associated with joy, wisdom and power. However, in Europe at the time of the introduction of such roses, the color yellow carried much more negative overtones. Consequently, yellow roses were long used as a symbol for jealousy and dying love. Today yellow roses are more commonly associated with joy and friendship.

Therefore, your choice of flowers is iffy at best, if you are a traditionalist.

[Smilingeyes]

Thanks photologyst....I didn't buy these flowers. I found them discarded on the beach . Based on your answer...do you think I should up the contrast and increase the brightness of the picture?

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by Smilingeyes

Thanks photologyst....I didn't buy these flowers. I found them discarded on the beach . Based on your answer...do you think I should up the contrast and increase the brightness of the picture?

OK, you can try that.

However, what do the yellow roses have to do with 9/11? Or, were they just there, coincidentally on Sept 11?

If you are commemorating 9/11 then I would suggest a bit of drama.

[Sean H]

Considering how dark it was getting you probably had your aperture open as big as possible to let in as much light as you could. But while doing this, you caused the background to fall out of focus. (At least that is what I assumed happened)

There isn't much you can do about it. But you can still lighten and add more contrast to the image.

[oldguyrich]

I wouldn't change it at all! the lighting and tone of the photo suggests some sorrowful emotion , with the rays of sun promising light up ahead...to make it brighter, or boost the color would change it's overall effect to me... if you are making a portrait of a rose, you could edit it, brighten or crop it.. but I think it's strength lie in the tone, and mood- and composition focusing on the rose. Great shot. One of those I wish I had taken.

[Smilingeyes]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Sorry for the late reply. I have been super busy and haven't been on dps for sometime. I have since tried to lighten and add contrast to the image but somehow it doesn't convey the same tone...so I will pretty much leave it the way it is.