Unusual Composition

lily
Image © 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION

I wanted to create an unusual composition and final image for this orange lily. I originally thought that I would just try to sneak a peak at the lily by including only a glimpse of it on the edge BUT as usual something caught my eye and I decided to go with it. The negative or empty space and the front leaf appealed to me immediately. For fun and since this was an unusual composition I decided to contact Gloria Hopkins and ask her to do one of her Composition Maps on the image. Gloria’s eBook “Natural Design” is very interesting so I was very excited to see what she came up with.
To process the image I used Nik’s Color Efex (use code BAA to save 15%)High Key filter and a hint of the Fractalius filter.


flowersjpg
Image © 2011/Denise Ippolito Photography with Gloria Hopkins Composition Map applied

If you would like more information on Gloria Hopkins Composition Maps which are included in her eBook Natural Design click here. Thanks Gloria!!


______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito


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12 Responses

  1. A.K.Sircar says:
    November 18, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    Very good creative work, Denise. Thank you very much for the tutorial.


    Thank you very much Amal and you are welcome :)
    denise

  2. Dennis Bishop says:
    November 18, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    I liked this image the moment I saw it, and — for the most part — I knew why. That front leaf was one reason.

    Thanks very much for showing us this and including the information about Gloria Hopkins. I’m definitely going to explore further.


    Thanks Dennis, Gloria’s composition maps are most interesting to read :)
    denise

  3. A.Barlow says:
    November 18, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    That’s really cool. Only thing I can add to that is the curve of that leaf. I think it was touched on in “guides the eye”.

    To expand on that, one thing I have always used in my hand drawn art is curves and lines that rotate throughout the image. The curve of the leaf is pointing to a very prominent leading line that then leads you back DOWN the image. Kind of in a circular pattern.

    To put it an easier way, make sure your points are pointing at something and generally point back into the image instead of out of it. The fact that it leads left to right, which is more natural for most people “think reading” is icing on the cake.

    Nice job!


    Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I always find it interesting to see read someones comments on an image :)
    denise

  4. LensScapper says:
    November 18, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Exceptional! Fascinating ‘reading’ of the image. For me it works beautifully and confirms that rules should always be broken!


    Thanks Andy, I appreciate the kind words :)
    denise

  5. Edith Levy says:
    November 18, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Very creative Denise. Lovely image. The composition mapping is very
    Interesting. I’ve never seem that before.


    Thanks Edith, Gloria’s eBook is filled with them :)
    denise

  6. Mary Stamper says:
    November 18, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Nice job, Denise! To me, a strong image can usually be reduced to abstractions…lines, colors, shapes. The exact subject really doesn’t matter. This is a great example of how a good image can be created no matter what the viewpoint on the subject is.


    Thanks Mary, I loved it the minute I saw it from behind the camera.
    denise

  7. Richard Carlan says:
    November 19, 2011 at 12:03 am

    Very creative and unique and the tutorial on adjustments is great. But, I guess I’m old school and too many adjustments of an original image is not that image. It’s not the photograph of what you took. Strictly my feelings.


    Richard, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
    denise

  8. Andrew McLachlan says:
    November 19, 2011 at 2:32 am

    Denise, fantastic composition and processing. I love it! Gloria’s composition map is very interesting and quite informative and a great instructional tool too.


    Thanks Andrew, I thought it was interesting too.
    denise

  9. Mary Stamper says:
    November 19, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    @Richard Carlan

    Richard, why does it matter if the image isn’t the original image? What if the image that you want can’t be made in a camera? Do you not make the image at all?

  11. Richard Carlan says:
    November 19, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    @Mary Stamper
    Hi Mary,

    You may be right in your feelings. I seem to be stuck on the idea that, you shouldn’t make it what it isn’t, Maybe if there was a way to automatically signify that an image has been altered to be something other than was originally photographed I could be OK with it. Thanks for the feedback.

    Richard

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