It’s hard to believe it, but earlier this week it seemed like spring had actually arrived. We had two days of back to back sunshine and I passed these crocus plants on the school run during one of these glorious mornings.
As you can see, the flowers were bright purple. I simply had to return with my camera to photograph them.
On closer inspection I noticed the bright yellow stamens on the inside. There was bright sunshine, bright purple leaves and brightly coloured yellow stamen. It was a very uplifting scene and very spring like!
Following on from my recent experiment with selective colour, I thought I would use this technique again to highlight the amazing colours of these crocus flowers.
I took the image in close up mode. During the editing process, I reduced the hue and saturation until the image was almost entirely black and white.
Unlike my previous attempt, I kept some of the colour in the image so there was still some green and brown in the background. I then reinstated the colour in the leaves and stamens by painting them back in.
It’s fascinating to think that is a process photographers used to do by physically painting the colours into the pictures using brushes. It still requires some skill to do it with a computer but it’s not like the old days.
Anyway, this was a fun little experiment. I hope you like the result. To me it looks slightly other worldly although the bright colours do stand out, which was my intention.
I will be linking this to one of my favourite blogging linkies. It’s called #MySundayPhoto and it is hosted by the Photalife blog. If you have liked this picture, I recommend clicking on the badge below and visiting the linky as it features photography from some very talented bloggers.
33 thoughts on “Crocus flowers: Turning heads on the school run”
Looks great. John. I love what you’ve done with it. Congratulations on your award too. #MySundayPhoto
Fab colours John very vivid love how you captured it #mysundayphoto
Hi John, very nicely done. The colours of the crocus are highlighted beautifully. I’ve never tried this process, but I’m going to have to now! I can’t imagine how painstaking it was to paint colour in in the good old days.
xx
Absolutely beautiful. Lovely little flowers! #MySundayPhoto
Beautiful crocuses. I never knew that artists used to actually fill in their photos with paint!
Oh they certainly did. Must have taken ages.
Gorgeous colour, I haven’t seen any down here yet.
Huge congratulations on your award this week, so well deserved.
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
Great light! I like the use of selective colour, it’s nice and subtle with a little bit of the green left. It makes those flowers really pop out! Good luck with Spring, I’m sure it will show up soon… You probably don’t want to know that it was 38 C here today… sorry.
You’re correct, I don’t want to know….I want to experience it! Best of luck with your impending winter.
Won’t be seeing anything like that any time soon. There’s currently snow everywhere. That sounds very much like deja vu! #MySundayPhoto
It is a bit like dejavu isn’t it? I’m pleased to say the crocuses survived the return of the snow.
I didn’t really notice what you’d done until I read it. The crocuses are gorgeous and they do stand out. I’m not sure whether I’d prefer them just straight against the normal background
Mmmm, you may prefer them against the normal background. I think this way they stand out more though.
fab photo, i never would’ve known you painted the colours back in unless you said #mysundayphoto
Perhaps next time I should keep quite and see if people work it out for themselves!
I like the use of selective colour on these. Crocuses are so pretty 🙂
I think what helps is these flowers were so bright. The selective colour makes them stand out.
Such lovely spring flowers now we just need the temperatures to match
I think we’re slowly getting there with the temperature! Slowly being the operative word.
Beautiful shot If only spring would get here already. Congratulations on willing your award at the Surrey Digital Awards.
Oh if only spring would get here. That said, I think it is finally happening! Thanks for your good wishes.
This is just a stunning photo John – and I love the variation in colour. It makes the crocus look so strong #MySundayPhoto
Very kind of you to say so Victoria. And from someone who knows their photography I shall take that as a compliment!
We’ve got lots of crocus on our allotment but everything else is so behind owing to the weather… #MySundayPhoto
Crocuses and daffodils and that’s it in our area. Although some of the trees are starting to blossom which is nice.
At first glance I thought it was a photo crocuses in the snow. The technique is really effective!
Oh wow, if you thought it was a snowy background then this technique must be good.
You know I do like the effect and it bears looking at more closely. The desaturated background and green of the leaves really make the violet, orange and yellow-orange pop. I especially love the water drops on the petals. Lovely.
Oh the water drops, yes, They’re the reason I took the image in close-up mode. They come out quite well don’t they?
These are such a lovely colour. What a gorgeous photo. Congratulations on your award too. #MySundayPhoto
Thanks for ht egood wishes. Delighted that you also enjoyed the photo Susan.
Signs of spring are definitely uplifting at the moment… Looking outside today, you wouldn’t believe the arrival of spring was just a couple of days away #MySundayPhoto
It was exactly the same at our house. This photo was a reminder of all that sun we had, just a few days beforehand!