Agave

one awsome Image after the other great work
May we all shoot 8x10 some day soon

I think that this for me, would have more impact were it to lose the top quarter of the picture. The bit of sky does little to enhance the picture and its removal would concentrate the focus on the "interesting bits" !

I really like this image !!!

"The bit of sky does little to enhance the picture"

I disagree. losing the context and setting would distroy the shot for me. Isolate the front plant too much and the explanation of a studio setting with controlled lighting becomes too easy -- the remarkable thing here is that the lighting effect was achieved on-site.

So, spill the beans, Peter! How DID you make that agave jump out like that? Painting with light? Print bleaching?

A fine specimen. Is this a plant in a natural setting or is it a cultivated plant in someone's garden?

To reply to both of your questions, Mark and gma, these are wild plants that the indians collect and transplant as fences around their properties (it is probably one of the only goat-proof plants in the area). This particular specimen was much lighter than all other plants. I exposed for the light area, gave it N+1 development and dodged the area a little more during printing.
As to the sky, the original print shows the heavy fog that contributes to the mood. This was taken at 10,000 feet above sea level and it was VFC (very cold). The scan shows a bleak area that is detracting, but does not help the overall image.

The picture is great. but I think there are better uses for Agave, where is the tequila man.