The Flight of the Humming Bird
by paganini

Comment by JPR:
Oh man. This photo makes me so angry! You wouldn't believe, I spent about 2 hours the other day trying to take pictures of the humming birds in front of my house and they were just to fast. I got NOTHING. this is a great shot, esp. because I appreciate how difficult it is to get. You should be very proud.

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by connie:
Pretty shot!

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by BJ:
I like everything about this shot! More specifically - I think the composition is excellent and the DOF is right on for the feel of the photo -which I also think was aptly named. Very nice job - high score:)

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by wetland:
beautiful image...i like the way it is cropped...and the color chosen for the duotone could not have been better.

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by Journey:
Lights have been blown out (guess you used a gold tone in PS and you might have tweaked the curve more which might have helped a bit). What's really appalling is that you took a perfect flower and then mess it up. That's really a crime against nature; worse than rape. It did not justify impairing this beautiful flower and that's exactly what you did. Because while you stood there with your camera you robbed this flower of oxygen. Should photosynthesis take a backseat to a photo-op? No way! The crime would not have been quite so great if you had taken an imperfect flower, such as one with a broken stem, to begin with.
My conscience tells me i ought to report this to Earth First! so that they can arrange for a hitman. Since it is hopeless to try and instill respect and a REAL understanding for nature to the likes of you, i will limit my actions, however, by giving this a 7.
Update: presumably by now you have had a chance to read my comment. It was a little harsh - guess, i was caught in the matrix :) It's actually quite a fine picture although i still feel that this flower may not be the ideal candidate for duotoning and might look better in color, just because it is so light in value. I like the mood of this picture and the composition with some leaves being abstract shapes and you also did an outstanding job with the rule of thirds :) 9
PS: I tried to cancel my phone call with Earth First ! but was unable to get hold of anybody - you'll just have to dodge the bullets for a while.

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by Mitonski:
Nice subject, nice focus on the flower and leaves with the backdrop slightly out of focus. Good Job.

Serenity
by paganini

Comment by qachyk:
I have to say as someone originally from an area with a lot of tornadoes, the greenish tinge makes me feel less serene than you probably intended. :) Very pretty, but the tone being a little more yellow might have been nicer.

Rise Above
by paganini

Comment by Journey:
never mind, silly question, figured it out. post deleted.

Message edited by author 2003-05-27 12:58:23.

Rise Above
by paganini

Comment by GeneralE:
Regardless of the mat color, that's a very nice digital framing job -- good overall presentation. I think your exception to the "level horizon rule" is effective here.

Rise Above
by paganini

Comment by paganini:
actually this isn't a perfect flower either :) (note the water and the greens, not perfect)... but i do strive to find the best composition/perfect flower out of chaos.