Meeting the ever so lovely mss. Orchid

[HCS]

You know, some nights you've got nothing to do. So i go on one of them contact sites, scroll through the participants, swipe a bunch of 'm to the left until you find one that you seem to like.

Swipe to the right and settle for a date in a bar somewhere.

When she walks in the door, you scan every inch of her. You like what you see:


You both have a drink or two, senses get a little foggy. She opens up to you and your stories:


Then, after further drinks, she shows her true self, she calls herself Butterfly:


You take her some place nice and admire her legs, those beautiful, long legs:


And then ... by the end of the night, all reservation flies out of the window and you get to see the essence of Butterfly  :-]


Hope you like my pastime story, let me know what you think (of the images).

[Jakov Minić]

May I comment on the story?

[HCS]

May I comment on the story?

Of course, but i'm interested also in comments on the images 

[Jakov Minić]

OK, I will refrain from commenting on the story

Photos:

1. Probably the best of all, however, it can do without the dark half.
2. The green branch lower right is distracting me from the main subject.
3. Very good, but low contrast for my taste.
4. Under continuous review
5. Hmm.

I hope I wasn't too harsh...

[HCS]

OK, I will refrain from commenting on the story

Ohh ... come on. Now i'm curious 

Photos:

1. Probably the best of all, however, it can do without the dark half.
2. The green branch lower right is distracting me from the main subject.
3. Very good, but low contrast for my taste.
4. Under continuous review
5. Hmm.

I hope I wasn't too harsh...

Certainly not too harsh, i appreciate you looking at my pics and giving your thoughtful comments. Thanks for that!

The first one is a focus stack with the Siggy 150and i liked it because those 6 flowers in bloom in a sort of "perfect" double row (like a 6-cylinder engine  ). The others are the nikkors 135/2 and the 85/1.8 on extension (cheap ebay) and hand held. You spotted the 135 in #3, since it is rather low contrast anyway and the cheap extension tubes aren't helping.

I also appreciate the differences in taste, as i'm printing both #1 and #5 big and putting on a wall somewhere in the house (no, not the toilet  )

[PeterN]

It was fun to read your story. You definitely were in a poetic mood.
My very personal observations regarding the images (if I may):
1. Also my favourite. The contrast between dark and light makes it powerful and emphasizes the flower. I agree that the left side could have been left out. The flower on the right is beautiful on its own and deserves the focus of attention.
2, 3 and 5 are promising but personally I would prefer either a total blur/unsharp or a bit more sharpness. I also wonder how a black & white version would look like.
4. I do not think your focus point works here. Too many blurred - but not entirely blurred branches. Perhaps a totally unsharp photo that emphasized the contrast in colors or zooming in to make it more abstract would have worked better.
5.

HAving said that, I thoroughly enjoyed your post.

[HCS]

Thank you Peter, much appreciated.

Thanks for the honest feedback, it sure helps me (just like Jakov's). I also understand that this kind of imagery is not for everyone and is not following technical protocols.

Off the record, i had the first one enlarged to 30x45 on fuji pearl and it looks beautiful IMO, including the "dark side". The last one i had enlarge (and just today received) to 60x70 on acrylic and also that looks rather nice if i may say so. But of course, i shot them 

Thanks again!