Orchids

[chauncey]

Paid a visit to a gardening outlet, got these two for the purposes of photogenic quality.





Shot inside using the same lighting using a blue and tan bed sheet.
Were I to get serious about them...what would make a better background color?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated on either one of them.

[TonyW]

These are both nice shots. The second has strong colours so that the strong background looks good. In the first, the flowers are more delicately coloured so that my impression is that the background is too strong and/or too similar to the colours of the petals. I'm not sure what the alternative is, perhaps something closer to white but not pure white or perhaps go the other way and make it almost black.

[Nicks Pics]

The light blue is an okay color for the yellow one, but I'm struggling to think the cream color for the whitish one is appealing It could use a darker color, or some texture to the background might have helped if you used a light color, such as wrinkles in the cloth.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured. Reverse the backgrounds currently used.

[NorthernFocus]

Lovely blooms. Like others IMO the second BG is fine. On the first one black would have worked well.

[IzzieK]

Presence and attention -- exactly what an orchid wants....I like #1 orchid and the only thing wrong about it is the background. The second one looks better because of the stronger colour, but I bet you will enjoy growing both of them if you bought them and bring them home. Personally, I like a cymbidium...

[bnnrcn]

Hi Boyer, I completely agree with Dan

[DanK]

Nice shots, images, but neither background works for me. The white is too close to the flower colors. The second looks artificial.

My own taste runs to simple, and I have used only white and black backgrounds. My problem is that although I have seen some beautiful, very delicate images with white backgrounds, everything I have done with white backgrounds is mediocre at best, and usually not even that. I haven't figured it out yet. So I generally use black, which is almost always undistracting, IMHO, although unoriginal. E.g.:

[Mike Buckley]

Dan mentioned that he uses only white or black backgrounds. The same for me. In my case the reason is very simple: I've got no talent when it comes to designing. People with that affliction -- and I'm sorry to say that you seem to be in that camp -- should stick to black or white for floral portraits.

[chauncey]

Oh right, so this is "everyone gang up on the old man day".

The sad thing about it is that you're correct, as I pointed out here...
Now I'm sure

Your job, ala "Mission Impossible", should you choose to accept...is to steer me in the proper direction.

[Mike Buckley]

Your job, ala "Mission Impossible", should you choose to accept...is to steer me in the proper direction.

I think I did exactly that. Do as I did: give up and use black or white.

[DanK]

I think I did exactly that. Do as I did: give up and use black or white.

yup. exactly what i did too. But I would still like to master whites.

[Mark von Kanel]

Oh right, so this is "everyone gang up on the old man day".

Yup !

gotta be black for me. though i would be interested in white... must have a go.

[Loose Canon]

Dang! I hope I'm not too late to "Gang Up on the Old Man" day! I missed last year's!

A lot of times a color from the subject itself makes for a good bg color.

[Mike Buckley]

Dang! I hope I'm not too late to "Gang Up on the Old Man" day! I missed last year's!

Not to worry, Terry. Feel free to gang up on me every day. I'm always happy to be the source of your entertainment.

[Loose Canon]

Thanks Mike!

As an Olde Mann myself I feel eminently qualified!

Maybe we can switch off every other day or so!

[ajsmith]

The first background does not look white... could be my monitor at work. Looks sort of a creamy color. I have had the same problem many times. From what I have read, the white background needs lots of light to appear white.

In the second one, if you are looking for a colored background, try the opposite color on the color wheel. In this case "purple" is the opposite of yellow. You could use anything from a blue-violet to a red-violet. I think a nice blue with just a touch of violet, very pale and cool would look nice. Can't go wrong with classic black or white though.

[chauncey]

It's late...time for my afternoon nappy. More flowers will come though using an opposite color.

[IzzieK]

It's late...time for my afternoon nappy. More flowers will come though using an opposite color.

What?! You are wearing a nappy now? Who change it for you? 'Reminds of the book "Tuesdays with Morrie"...

[Stagecoach]

My take on the background 'debate' for flower images is that it all depends on what you are producing them for, seed catalogues, Wallmart greeting cards or pictures that could be hung on walls

Oh, and of course there's the chocolate box

Grahame