Selfies from the Brink

By Markus_Hediger

RADICAL EXPOSURE (EP17)

This week’s challenge: Isolate one detail or object through radical exposure. Go either very high or very low key.
Part of our veranda is covered with a plant that produces beautiful hanging flowers. They seem to drop from the sky and float a few feet above the ground. At a certain time of the day, sunlight breaks through the leaves above and falls on those beautiful red and yellow petals. I wanted to capture that moment, but I had to find a way of isolating the flower from the background: a brown wall. I decided to capture only the petals lit by the sunlight and radically reduced exposure until everything else disappeared in darkness.
I believe that this challenge or exercise will prove to you (if you’re not convinced yet) that your camera is an instrument of beauty and creativity. Compare the main picture with the first extra, shot in auto mode. What, at first sight, seems unspectacular can be transformed into something magic. (The second extra is an example of using very high exposure. In this case, I photographed a partial leaf of a papaya tree in our garden. As I was pretty much confined to our home this week, I had to go with what was at hand.)
Some tips for this week’s challenge: If the detail or object you want to isolate is brighter than its surroundings, go low key. Reduce exposure until everything else disappears. If it’s darker than its surroundings, go high key. TRY TO DO THIS EXCLUSIVELY IN-CAMERA. Use Photoshop or any other software only for minor adjustments.
 
(I just added another - and better - high key example over on leftovers.) 

This week's challenge: Radical Exposure
Tag: EP17
Go for: Artistic impression.

You can publish your contribution(s) on any day(s) until Saturday, March 10th. Don't forget to tag it with EP17.
 
The next challenge will be published on March 10th (suggestions for techniques/themes are always welcome). Hearts for this challenge will be awarded on Monday, March 12th.
 
IF YOU WANT TO EXPLORE A SPECIFIC TECHNIQUE OR THEME, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS!

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