Nice! I like the summery light tones.

Kathryn: Thanks so much, Martin. Now if I could only find some summery light tones outside! All I find is wintery wet gray tones!

Another nice black and white! Nice DOF and I really like how dark and empty the background is.

Kathryn: Thanks, Jewlya. I love empty spaces...some times too much.

An elegant study of the male flower of the corn, Kathryn.
The folding leaves give it a dynamic bed...love it.

Kathryn: Thank you so much, Ray. Those few folding leaves have inspired me to do a study of grass. I've yet to photographically capture my vision, BUT I do have a lot of pictures of grass leaves that are pretty bad. Wonder if I can sell them on e-bay at a discounted rate...

This is a Likey for me, Kathryn!

Kathryn: Honored, Ginnie.

very elegant and i love the title

Kathryn: Danke, Moi. My titles are getting a little better. My first name for this picture was "grass.:

tones ..9/10
DOF ...9/10
composition ...9/10
tingle factor ...9/10
mood ... 9/10
effort ...9/10

K, Hmmm ... I see you are still are still on the learning curve!

wicked ;-) richard

Kathryn: R, I am going to have to work harder to please you I see or can i just use the cliche', "those judges from _____ always score lower than everyone else." Give me a break, you know I am a slacker.

Kathryn, the light in this is so beautiful! (:o)

Kathryn: Rosalyn, when I was looking at the light in this picture and thinking about light, I remembered reading something written by Diane Frolov and her husband Andrew Schneider, both of whom are screenwriters/producers. I think it sort of captures my own feelings about and fascination with light:

Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry, "More light." Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlelight. Neon, incandescent lights that banish the darkness from our caves to illuminate our roads, the insides of our refrigerators. Big floods for the night games at Soldier's Field. Little tiny flashlights for those books we read under the covers when we're supposed to be asleep. Light is more than watts and footcandles. Light is metaphor. Light is knowledge, light is life, light is light. "

WOW this is just fantastic.

Kathryn: Thanks, Tracy. I am glad you like it.

Do you think Richard can justify the difference between 9/10 and 10/10. He's just jealous - the should all have been 10/10

Excellent and going to my likeys too.

Kathryn: I think old R is trying to keep me on my toes! Thank you kindly for your comments, Louis, and honored to make it to your likeys.

I liked the colour shot you posted that was similar to this.I like this even more. The lighting and range of tones is a delight.

Kathryn: Isn't it funny, Bill. I held back on posting this one because I thought it was too similiar to the first and not as good. Glad to know you like both!

awesome photo, good DOF

Kathryn: Chantal, thank you so much for your visit and comments. Glad to see I am mastering DOF

I love the use of DOF here and the light on the grass picks out all the little details superbly. Good choice for b/w.
Ingrid

Kathryn: Thank you, Ingrid. Much obliged.

This is a cracking shot !!

Kathryn: Well I know I've done something right when I get a "this is a cracking shot" from you!

When an image is spot on in every way, it socks you in the eye and that's just how I felt when your thumbnail opened up in front of me. This one just sings Kathryn.

Kathryn: Pixelpixie, thank you so much. Glad it sang on key for you.

moved by your work Kathryn exceptional.

Kathryn: Wow now that is a compliment, terry. I am moved by your words.

There's a graceful beauty here. The DOF and light are wonderful.

Kathryn: Thank you so much, RedPen. Hard to believe that it was a bit overcast that day, but there was a break of sun in the afternoon. I caught that lick of sun and made it work for me.

super stuff Kathryn.

Kathryn: thanks, Tim. When I finish responding here, I am heading over to your blog to see what the man who knows his light has been up to lately!

This is really beautyfull.The DOF and lighting are spot on!

Kathryn: Richard...thanks so much. Glad to hear you like it and good to know that I am learning the tricks of the trade...

Lovely, lovely image Kathryn. Light and dof are spot on - one to be proud of. David.

Kathryn: Thank you so much, David, for your kind comments. I am not sure that I am proud, but one thing I do suspect, is that my old Dad who was an extrodinary artist/musician/photographer would probably grant me a hint of a smile of pride while looking at this one

Wow Kathryn this is a supurb macro love love it, bravo

Kathryn: Thank you so much, Astrid. How is the water there? I think you've sent it this way. It is cold and rainy again...or should I say still!

I like the way the seed head is against a clear black background whereas the stem is almost mixed in with the background.

Do you think the picture would work without the frame? Or not, perhaps the lower part would look wrong ...

Kathryn: Eillie, to be honest with you, I took quite a few pictures of this seemingly photogenic plant. I moved around and considered the background with the idea of covering to a black and white so that I could try to get that dark against the light top. Shewww that was a lot of work. As far as the frame, umm had not thought of turning it off, but I think it is ok as. Do you?

This is good Kathryn, it is all about the light, and hence about the best aspect of photography. Your capture and treatment is first class, wonderful.

Kathryn: Mike, danke sehr! Truly appreciate your ongoing help and guidance.

This is lovely, Kathryn! Great DOF and sharp focus on the main subject.

Kathryn: Lesley, glad you like it. Thanks much for leaving a comment and thanks for looking!

Lovely lighting Kathryn

Kathryn: Hi. Chris. Thanks for your comment. Yeah that light was pretty good. I am not sure I can wait for Spring again. Winters in northern Germany are brutal ...at least for me.

Excellent depth of field. The black backround makes the main stalk stand out. Great job.

Kathryn: Thanks, BlackPearl. Good to know that works for you.

All good things has been already said. All what's been left to me is a harsh critique that everyone ignored today. Look at the image again, Kathryn. Do you feel the space is very tight for the main object. It screams for more space. A composition like this is very good for a botany textbook, but you're longing for a different goal, aren't you, dear? If you have more field in the original shot, play a bit with different crops (including 1x1).
Oh, man. I typed this and thought to myself, who am I to teach others about photography. Don't listen to me, Kathryn. So many people liked the image, that could mean you got it right.
Z

Kathryn: VZ, thanks for the critique. I am looking hard at this photo and mulling over my goal with it. My goal was simple explore light... In the original there is a bit more space and the intricasies of the variances in light and it's effect on the leaves in the foreground, the leaves in the background, the stem, the head, the seeds, and even the dark background are mute. Did I achieve my goal? I believe I did.

But now to a more important question...what is it that YOU are longing for in this picture? How is it that you need this picture to speak to you and what shall it speak of?

Perfect ! B&W is really nice here too...

Kathryn: Thanks, Roland, You are kind..yeah I like the B&W too.

Nice! The light is very good!

Kathryn: Thanks, Jose's. Now if we only had a little of it today..it is snowing instead!