Shot this a few days ago and found this to be a very difficult subject to derive a strong comp. Still not sure how I feel about it and would like other opinions.
Nikon D300,200mm macro,F32,1/40,iso 200,0 comp,tripod mtd,natural light
I think it's hard to compose because it is a busy,complex subject with lots of parts. That said , I think this is a fine image as is. The dark Bg sets it off very well. Not in love with the stem coming out of the corner , but thats just a matter of taste. It doesn't take anything away from this image. The great DOF keeps it all together.
Love the flower. Orange is my favorite color. The comp looks fine to me. It's interesting that Joe brought up the point about the stem coming out of the corner. I used to do that often and I would always get beat up here over it. So I stopped doing it. Then just a couple of weeks ago, Artie was critiquing one of my images and wrote:
"Where do you folks stand on bringing the stalk into the frame exactly from the corner? (That would be my preference if possible.)"
And a little later, he added:
"Here is some advice: do it your way. If they do not like it, disagree. Let them know that you prefer your way and let them know why. I was taught that having diagonals enter the frame from a corner is the way to go and I do believe that the resulting compostions are much stronger. I have been questioning the teachers ever since 4th grade and do not intend to quit now!"
So now I sometimes bring the stem in from the corner and sometimes I don't. As Joe pointed out, it is a matter of taste.
Hey Dave,
That is one tough flower to compose....but you found and isolated one nicely. The dark BG really makes it pop too! I don't mind comps out of the corner....besides....it's not directly out of the corner! Exposure and colors well handled too! Very nicely done.
I think you did an excellent job on the exposure and lighting and DOF. As for the comp...It feels a little bottom heavy to me and I think you could fix it (if you chose to do so) in one of two ways: Either stand the stem up a little straighter and go with a vertical crop or let it arc a little more than it is now and give it more room on the left side for the eye to go out of the frame.
It's perfectly lovely as is - I just feel it's a little tiny bit off balance.
Canna Lily
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