Unloved Iris Bud

[Arthur Morris]

In a recent blog post, "Tough Call on Hey Bud (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2013/05/19/tough-call-on-hey-bud/)," I presented five bud images created on Denise Ippolito iris workshop last week and asked folks to choose their favorite. This one is my fave but nobody chose it :S3:

This 3-frame in-camera HDR Art Vivid image was created with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732108-USA/Canon_4411B002_EF_300mm_f_2_8L_IS.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA30028LIS2/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA30028LIS2), the Canon 1.4x EF Extender III (Teleconverter) (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732113-USA/Canon_4409B002_1_4x_EF_Extender_III.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA14XEF3/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA14XEF3), and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/847545-REG/Canon_5260B002_EOS_5D_Mark_III.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE5D3/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE5D3). ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop yielded a base exposure of 1/125 sec. at f/13 in Av mode. 2-second timer. Note: I should have used more + compensation for all but the first image here as the Art Vivid JPEGs are always on the dark side.
Central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF on the bottom of the flower part of the bud. Click (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/09/13/rear-focus-tutorial/)here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/09/13/rear-focus-tutorial/) if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image for a larger version.

As for the image above, don't be shy; all comments are welcome

[Anita Bower]

I love the colors--saturated and iridescent! I'm delighted to see a flower HDR as I've been wondering how that method would look with flowers. I've never tried it. I just glanced at your other buds, and now understand the title. I like everything about this photo.

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Artie. Beautiful colors plus a good comp and a clean background. The sharpness and detail around the center of the flower is exceptional! Compared to that, the tip of the flower is not quite as sharp - you might consider trying some subtle additional selective sharpening in that area, though it's a minor point. Overall, the image is outstanding!

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Arthur, very nicely composed. I quite like the angle at which the bud is positioned...love detail but do wish the tip was more in focus as Steve noted.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. This one needed focus stacking to avoid bringing up the BKGR....

[Jonathan Ashton]

Beautiful image Artie I like the composition and the shape of the flower head. I find the colours equally appealing and yet a little unsettling.
It is probably the HDR and possibly bias on my behalf but it leaves me wondering how the image would look using straight forward conversion from raw, I can't help but feel I would probably have preferred it. Maybe you could post a conventional version and prove just how wrong I can be:w3