Lilac Buds

[Dave Woeller]

After this past winter it's so nice to see the flowers and buds starting to come out again. This shot is from a lilac bush in my yard that is starting to show those signs of spring.
Canon 7D, 100mm 2.8 macro, 1/25 sec @ F/11, ISO 200, 0 ev, AV, manual focus, pattern metering, on tripod, PP in Lightroom3

[Desmond Chan]

Although as is this image may reflect what you or your camera saw when the shutter button was pressed, usually a photograph would look "better" to viewers in general if it has good contrast and vibrant colors. I also think as is this image has a color cast on it (cloudy day?). So, I took the liberty and made some quick adjustments to it just to give an idea what the final image could be like:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/Although%20as%20is%20this%20image%20may%20reflects %20what%20you%20or%20your%20camera%20saw%20when%20 the%20shutter%20button%20was%20pressed,%20usually% 20a%20photograph%20would%20look%20%22better%22%20w ith%20better%20contrast%20and%20more%20vibrant%20c olors.%20I%20also%20think%20as%20is%20this%20image %20has%20a%20color%20cast%20on%20it.%20So,%20I%20t ook%20the%20liberty%20and%20made%20some%20quick%20 adjustments%20to%20it:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5606728477_c0c64ea457_b.jpg

[Dave Woeller]

Thank you for your time and effort Desmond. I agree that the repost has much more punch and yes it was a cloudy day. You have given me something to work toward and it is appreciated.

[Mitch Haimov]

I like the detail in the front bud and the OOF BG is great, Dave. I would like to offer some additional suggestions to supplement Desmond's:

The rear bud is distracting both because it merges with the one in front and because it is not sharp. Therefore I recommend gently bending such elements out of the frame before making your exposure.
There is too much negative space at the top of the frame. I like angled compositions, but think this might work better if you angled it a little less (stem coming in from the bottom near the corner rather than through it) and either moved the subject up a bit, cropped from the top, or moved in closer (if your rig will allow). A square crop would have worked well without the rear bud.
The bright spots on the stem draw my eye. You could tone them down with burning (I prefer painting with black on a layer full of 50% grey and the blend mode set to overly using a soft brush and low opacity rather than using the burn tool) or careful use of a curve.

I hope you find at least some of these ideas helpful.

[Brendan Dozier]

I like this composition, Dave. All the different elements of the plant are interesting to explore with the eye. Great suggestions from Desmond & Mitch, and I think the repost does make the image stronger by bringing out the detail and color more.

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Dave. I like what Desmond did with the repost. By comparison, the OP looks gloomy - probably not the look you were going for to show the first flowers of spring after a long winter. :S3: The repost has more brightness and punch - more of a spring-like mood. Cropping and comp are usually somewhat subjective and Mitch has given you some suggestions to consider. The OOF buds don't bother me too much, but that again is subjective. You might try blurring them even more to see if that helps the sharp buds in front stand out more. In the field, you could try a different shooting angle to get both groups of buds in the same plane of focus - just some thoughts to consider. :S3:

[Dave Woeller]

Thanks everyone. Some really great thoughts, and much to consider. I do agree that the repost has a warmer, springier feel. I'll keep playing with it and try to find some more buds to get better angles.

[Anita Bower]

Lilac buds already! I'm in PA and my Lilacs show no signs of flowers. Lucky you.

I like the upsweep and repetition of those little green leaves. The bg is lovely--blurred and with interesting colors. The purple of the buds looks good against the bg. Nice details in the front bud.

No need to repeat above suggestions. I look forward to more.

[Dave Woeller]

Thanks Anita, Hope you get your buds soon. I'll keep working on my macro skills. The feedback here is helping a ton.