Soliciting your opinions

Personally i really like this photo, it is a very different look at a Chromodoris nudibranch if you ask me. I like the leading lines and the patterns presented. However, i have shown a couple of other people and they have sort of hummed and hawed about it.

So, please give me your opinion

Thanks

Mike

I think that it is fantastic. One of the best nudi pictures I have seen ever (99% or nudi shots are ID pix). Its one of those original but simple ideas that is just perfect and leaves you wondering - why didn't I think of that.

Assuming that it is uncropped and the sharpness is there at full res on the rhinophores. I can see this winning competitions (particularly within a portfolio) and also being great for editorial usage. I can even see it on the wall as a abstract print. Its awesome.

My only criticism is that it is a bit too yellowy - I'd prefer a bit more orange and red.

In short one vote for the YES! camp

Alex

I really like this too. I like abstract paintings and this has the feel of a real quality piece of abstract art.

The only criticism I would have is that it looks slightly soft to me - but the full size might be better. I would also crop the dark corner in the bottom left as I found this a bit distracting.

But in short a real thumbs up from me.

I agree with Alex. One of the best nudibranch pictures I have seen.

Another vote, I agree with Alex - very interesting and unusual capture.

I do like the concept of this photo .. but not to put a dampener on the positive comments .. which i do agree with but .... it seems plat looking to me .. like i know there is depth of field in there because i know what I am looking at .. and around the horns there is definately more sharpness .. but it seems to just blend into each other rather than round off.

Don't get get me wrong this is a nice photo just doesn't make me feel it like i would want it to with all the leading lines and colours in the pattern. I could be looking too hard though like those sailboat out of focus images that you are meant to stare at to see another image thing .. just wanted to comment as the picture did grab my attention in the thumbnail.

Thanks for posting that Mike. It's a beautiful shot. Well concieved. If it's sharper then it appears, that's my only concern. Otherwise really nice.

I've taken a few "artsy" shots as well and haven't gotten too much feedback on them either. I'ts nice to see these type shots posted.

Here's my one of my fav (sorry for the hijack):

Rand

Ditto the above comments. I assume it is sharp, just a size thing.

I have tried some topdown stuff occassionally and personally like it at times while others may not. I really like the lines and what you were doing with this composition. Giles may have a point on the depth of the shot but maybe the photo size does not represent it as well. Might take a very slight change in the angle from above to get that.

I also apologize for trying to mimic this shot in the future as I really like it. I have seen great shots in the recent National Geo that are only portions of a subject and have always liked how others have done this with fish eyes and patterns.

This ranks up there in my eyes for the concept.

Well done

ps Rand love the shot.

Todd

I normally don't like abstract macros as there are so many very average ones out there. Even doing well in competitions. But I think the two here are first class.

I think I like Rand's because not only it is perfectly executed but it is an unusual subject. Which definitely lifts it about the normal coral shots you see like this.

I'd like to contribute an image but I've not got anything up to scratch! But your pix are inspiring me to get abstracting.

Alex

Wow, thanks for all the replies everyone. It was a bit of a rush job from camera to computer so no real sharpening or anything, probably a little soft. Will look at the large version a bit better today.

I was down there with a 105mm and a +1 and was not getting the DOF i wanted from the typical head on shot so thought i would try something different as the back of this type of nudi is just so sexy. Going flat like that meant i didn't have to worry about the lack of DOF from using the close filter.

THanks again for the comments everyone, inspiring me to go shoot more macro!

Rand: nice hijack! Great shot, i really like how the coral stands out nicely from the black and the diagonal presentation

Thanks Mike, like Todd, I'll be stealing your idea or at least a variation of it given the opportunity.

Now, I'm not familiar with the designations, it's a Basketstar, which I believe is actually an animal? But is it still considered a coral?

Rand

Ahh you are right, basket star, definitely an animal, but then again so is coral. Basket stars in same family as crinoids etc

Will look forward to lots of imitations!!! Makes me feel like the makers of Viagra...

Basket stars belong to the phylum Echinodermata which includes everything from sea stars, urchins, sand dollars, feather stars, sea cucumbers and brittle stars.

They're not actually in the same family as crinoids (although they are in the same phylum). Crinoids include feather stars and sea lillies.

Basket stars belong to the same the same class as brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) and have (as superbly pictured by Rand) multiple branches to their arms. Basket stars belong to the sub order Euryalina which are characterised by arms capable of verticle coiling...

What he said!

I considered explaining all that in my original post - but being an abstract image I thought it wasn't necessary. Sorry for any confusion.

Alex

I really like it, Mike, it's a very special shot, different from other nudibrachs pics you ussualy see. Great idea!

Mike,

Very nice shot. I've been tempted to try shots like this but usually backed off and did the normal heads on shot approach. Me thinks it time for me to try playing a bit more...after all, it's only pixels!

Stu

I like both shots a lot!! I actually really like abstract shots. Patterns, colors, shapes, all are great to focus your lens on , but what really makes the shot is to be able to actually recognize the subjet(s) of the shot after a few seconds of looking. Both of the pics here do that perfectly.

Peace,

David.

Mike,

I've been to your website before and this was the one image that stood out to me.

I know that many people react in very odd ways to underwater abstracts. What I've run across is some folks like (even go so far as to say need) to be able to identify or recognize what it is they are looking at. When showing some of my abstracts and close shots I've actually had someone say "Don't people take pictures of fish anymore?"

I believe an abstract will attract itself to a target audience and the presentation may be as important as the audience.