Water Hyacinthe flower

[Roy Priest]

I've had a small water feature on my back deck for years. I put in new plants every year and this is the first year I have had a water hyacinthe bloom. So I decided to take a pic or two. I am a complete novice in macro work, if this is indeed macro. Advice is welcome.
Nikon D4, tripod, remote trigger (wired), 1/30 @ F16, 60mm. 1/3 EV, ISO 100

[Jonathan Ashton]

Roy the image is well composed but the exposure appears too low. On your techs you indicate 1/3EV, does this mean you over or underexposed by that amount.

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Roy. For a "novice," you're off to a flying start with very good sharpness, DOF, comp, background and no noise! I'm not familiar with this particular flower, but it seems the the image could go a bit brighter overall. Nicely done!

[Diane Miller]

Looks like wonderful sharpness and an interesting subject. I'd also like to see exposure increased. (You may have to tame the highlights in that case. That's not cheating, these days.)

[Roy Priest]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. My wife liked it a darker than I had it originally.:S3: How's this repost

[Diane Miller]

Much better, for me! In a photograph, the viewer wants to see a full tonal range for a normally-lighted and toned subject. The histogram is a much better light meter than perception, which can be very relative.

But you (and your wife) be the judge -- scrolling between them here, which do you prefer?

[Roy Priest]

Diane, I always liked the lighter version. My wife is now banished from making comments.:bg3: