Any comments? Flowers are not my normal subjects? 1/500th, ISO 400, F9, -.33.
Mary Jane Magnolia
Any comments? Flowers are not my normal subjects? 1/500th, ISO 400, F9, -.33.
Last edited by Mike Wilhelm; 03-05-2011 at 07:43 AM.
Hey Mike, I love the flower and the basic comp! There are a couple of things that could have been done in the field and/or during editing that would have made this look even better. The main one would have been to get a bit more DOF when shooting. I'm thinking you had some room to work with so you could have shot this with a smaller aperture to get more DOF and still had that nice BG. I cant suggest a number because we don't have the shooting specs. Another thing to try in the field would have been to take a small step to the left so more of the pink flower is showing. The flower is tight at the top so I would add some canvas there and maybe crop a small amount from the right. I think you could improve those OOF areas around the edges by selectively sharpening them. You'll never get them looking perfectly sharp but I think they can be improved somewhat. Photoshop's "sharpen edges" works pretty well on fuzzy things. This isn't bad at all for someone that doesn't normally shoot flowers.
Don't forget to post the camera and editing specs. We always need them to give our best critiques.
Sorry, Ken. I don't post often so I forgot to include the other info. Nikon D700 300 mm F4 w/ 1.7 teleconverter. Edits Contrast 19, highlight 18, shadows 12, saturation 55, tint 3.3, sharpness .3
Hi Mike.
My major comment is that this image is very good, but it might be made even better.
I think Ken's comments regarding sharpening are worth considering, and you might try them if you have the software to do it. But instead of adding space above the blossom, I'd rotate the image clockwise if you can, so that the bud is pointing to about 2 o'clock. That would automatically add more space, and it would IMO create even more interest in an already nice image.
I haven't made any effort to sharpen this image per Ken's suggestions, but I have rotated it to show you what that might accomplish. I also cloned out some white spots in and around the stem.
Norm
Last edited by Norm Dulak; 03-05-2011 at 05:05 PM.
I like the soft quality of the lighting I might have experimented with different "croppings" to see different compositional options.
Yes, I see what you mean by the effect of the rotation. Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions. Unfortunately, I am currently working with an older version of photoshop that gives me limited options. Yesterday, my wife and I discussed an upgrade. Seems like it is time.
Hey Mike,
Running my tour in Florida so a little late to the party. I like both Kens ideas and Norm's. Both would work IMO. Good news is you nailed the lighting.....so just a hair more DOF would have really made this shine. Overal.....I think you did a nice job with this and isolated it very nicely!
Hi Mike. I just returned from Belize so I'm a little late to comment on this image. You already have some good comments to consider - lots of ways you could tweak what is already a very nice image. You have very nice soft light that really brings out the texture in the flower and the fuzziness of the sepals. The clean background will allow you to easily add canvas, if necessary, as you explore different crops and rotations.
I love this image!
Wonderful color. I like how the bud stands out from the blurred background. I love the detail of the little "hairs." I love that the bud is perfect--not easy to find. Wonderful soft light.
I don't mind that everything isn't sharp, and I like the little white things on the stem.
Norm's rotation does add dynamism to the image, but it is a personal preference. The original could use cropping from the right and a bit more space at the top.
Regarding your photoshop--what version do you have? I use Photoshop 7 and find I can do most everything I need with it, and with Elements which is quite inexpensive and incorporates many of the newer features of CS. PS7 has sharpen edges, under >Filters >Sharpen >Sharpen Edges. Another sharpening option is High Pass. Here is a tutorial on using this easy method: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...arpening.shtml
Anita,
I'm currently working with the basic IPhoto software that came with the Mac I'm using. I am thinking Elements is the next step for me considering my somewhat novice status. I'm anxious to move forward.
The few days of warm, dry weather we had drew me outside with the camera. Now, several days of cold, wet weather have kept me homebound. Hopefully, more macro opportunities are just around the corner.
Thanks for your help.
I think you will be happy with Elements!Originally Posted by Mike Wilhelm
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