Potential within (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

[skip]

[Marko]

First off welcome to the forum Skip - Strong first image!
I really like the quality of the BW here - lovely tones overall!
If it were mine, I might consider trying to burn the top left bright area by 15-20%. My eye keeps going to it even though it isn't the brightest part of the image. I'd also try to burn the right side by the same amount if the file has any white meat left.
The LINES in the flower are fab, I would 100% try to bring them out more - through contrast play and selective sharpening.
Hope that might help - welcome again

[skip]

Hey, thanks for the input! A question: I intentionally clipped the highlights on the right side to give the effect of a blinding light coming from within (hence the title). Given one of your comments, do you think that isn't successful (as in it just looks like overexposure/loss of detail)?

[Iguanasan]

Welcome to the forum, skip! What a wonderful shot. Nicely done.

[thoughton]

What Marko said

I think regarding the blinding light from within effect, it would have been more believable if some of it was shining through the front of the flower where the lines are. Some sort of shadow from an insect inside would have been the crowning glory! On the other hand simply increasing the contrast on the lines might accomplish that on its own.

[skip]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Appreciated!

Skip

[Matt K.]

Great work, and welcome to the forum. I kinda like it just the way it is ....