Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by jmsetzler:
Franziska,

I like the hand as well... I hoped this photo would score higher.. it was one of my 10s this week... good work!

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by FranziskaLang:
Everyone, thanks a lot for voting and the comments.

To answer some of the questions: I knew I was going to get comments both in favor and against the hand. While this was just a fun 'out-take' while shooting a lot of flower-ony photos, I finally decided that I actually liked this one best. Go figure!

I've posted another version for your comparison at //www.pbase.com/gr8photos/bandw.

The reason I took this in b&w is that (a) I wanted to try taking an image of something that is traditionally color in b&w but so that it still looks good. This shot in particular I like better in b&w than color. It looks more 'stylized' I guess. Feel free to check out the color version at the address above for comparison.

No, the bottom half of the shot is not OOF. The 'ghosting' of the mirror cannot really be avoided, other than by changing the camera angle and that wouldn't have worked for this shot.

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by dotcomjohnny:
Would have given more points if it wasn't for the hand!

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by irae:
Excellent light, focus, clarity, tones. Personally, I think the mirror image detracts. It's not as sharp as the top due to some doubling of the reflection, and the angle of the reflection makes the composition a bit messy. Still near the top of the heap.

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by malapropam:
I think the shot would be more dramatic without the hand...for me, it is distracting.

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by langdon:
Great use of a reflection, I'm not sure if the hand helps or not. =/

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by arnit:
What the f*** is that hand doing there? :) I would have scored it a bit higher without that hand. Good picture though.

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by sheyingshi88:
excellent except for a little subject movement

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by eddy:
Very sharp photo, nice reflection and great flower for a B+W shot. The hand in the photo makes this different from all the other staged flower shots.

Photoshoot Setup
by FranziskaLang

Comment by karmat:
Really nice, I like how you can see the texture of the flower and the hand. The reflection really adds to the picture, and though the hand doesn't bother me at all, it would be a nice picture without it as well.