Gosh what a sad intro you gave us. The lighting is excellent again, the darker area at the bottom of the bloom ads a little mystery and I love the faint foliage behind. I might have to come over for some lighting lessons.
Excellent work! I love the very special glow that you created, as well as the color of the rose and it's texture. I've always thought lighting was one of the keys to photography and it definitely is superb here, perfect for the concept you are portraying: loneliness. This is going to my favorites :)
These emotions you are covering with the beautiful roses are special and each one has touched that place in my heart where we all feel these emotions from time to time. Excellent job, as usual, Rob :)
"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web." Pablo Picasso
Hey there Mister Madman, wat'cha know that I don't know
Tell me some crazy stories, let me know who runs this show
Glassy-eyed and laughing, he turns and walks away
Tell me what made you that way
You conveyed the concept of your title well here Rob.
There is indeed a mood and feeling to your image that is ... unsettling, let's say.
Comparing "Loneliness" and "Searching" side by side ... I think initially that "Searching" still takes the podium though.
I detect a couple of areas of white; almost opaque, translucent ... and am wondering if they are editing remains missed? ... or perhaps some illumination on a background object?
And on that note, therein lies my preference for "Searching". As you filled the frame in that photo with the suggestion ... suggestion of other elements subtly ... providing some nice balance compositionally in my humble opinion.
I do like that the 'heart' of this rose is placed in shadows somewhat. The lighting and camera position you chose works well, once again, conceptually on that element.
Aj