Grape Hyacinth in a Bottle

Keeping it simple is best !!

Well I am no expert in table top photography, but I can't see anything particularly wrong with this shot Keith. I like how you have angled the jar, so that there is minimal reflection and I like the slight shadow at the base and the graduation of lighter background colour to the top. What do you think could make it better? I will be interested to see the comments tonight.

I'm pleased you like it Rosa.............and it's growing on me too. I was hoping to get a pure white background, but using flash results in too many reflections. I really need to find a large LED light or a studio flash..........but I have more important things to spend my money on at the moment :-))

I've never been one for technical aspects of anything, including photography, so I would be less of an expert even than Rosa! But I like this, even though I'm not the greatest fan of b/w photography!

Glad you like it Andy.........thank you.

Je ne suis pas expert non plus Keith, mais je trouve le cliché réussi. Je ne suis pas impartial car j'aime beaucoup le noir et banc!

You're very kind as always Jean-louis...........thank you.

I like this work, Keith!

Thanks very much Judite.

Welcome and Thanks for posting to the
All Flowers Group

.
www.ipernity.com/group/194694

Thanks John.

A fine study in b/w, Keith !

Thanks very much Ulrich.

makes a great BW

Thank you Annemarie.

An excellent job I must say Keith and as one who has also tried this art, I might know a thing or two about such things.
if you are really looking for views on it, I must say that I find it a little too perfect! You have wiped out almost every hint of a shadow giving it a feel almost of it being 'cut out'. I know it isn't as you have left a little on the deck and I can see the light direction from top left to right (when I try hard). My book 'Life Library of Photography - The Great Themes ' has many examples of still life and how to best capture them and light shadows nearly always pays an important part of them. Another thing (excuse me please) is, I ask myself "what is the real subject here". It seems that it would be the glass as that is where your real focus is both with sharpness and light interest.
That all being said - the composition is perfect and I love the three flower-heads in their simplicity here. As you say the monochrome really is perfect for this too. All in all, a wonderful piece of work that I would have been proud of.... but I know you -and I think you could better this with another go ------ oooh eerrrr. (which would be far better than I could manage!!!)

Good night my friend (If you still count me as such :) ) Herb

Thank you for your well thought out comments Herb...................I always welcome any constructive criticism (the key word here being "constructive")!

I think you're right in what you've said.............this is not product photography, but still life and I'd completely overlooked that. You've given me a lot to think about.

I'm pleased you like the shot overall.............and thanks for that. For what it's worth I've posted a colour version...............(before I read your comments). I think they apply to that as well.

Thanks again my friend :-)

Haha, I thought for some time after writing the above -that I had gone too far in my comment and I am very relieved that you have taken it all in the manner that I had hoped and no less expected from a person of your photographic experience and calibre. Looking at the two versions now, I have a slight preference, as a piece of real art, of this mono over the original coloured one but as said elsewhere, that is just a personal preference today. Tomorrow, I could think differently. Both are good. I look forward to more like this from you. ~ Herb

No problem at all Herb...............I always appreciate your feedback and I'll never complain about constructive criticism and comments.

ik vindt het best de moeite waard om mee te experimenteren Keith

I agree Fred............thank you.

Bin kein Profi, aber ich denk das Foto ist Dir doch sehr gut gelungen, Keith!