Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: Calla Lily

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default Calla Lily

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I loved the graceful shape of this Calla Lily seen from above. Taken indoors in the Longwood Gardens conservatory several weeks ago.

    Nikon D300, Sigma 105mm macro, tripod, f40 ("relative"), 1/6 sec., ISO 160; manual focus with Live View, manual exposure, diffuser above flower to cut bright light.

    PP: PS7--basic adj., crop, add canvas to top, green & yellow color layers on some areas, heavy dust and scratch removal from leaves, burn.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southern Illinois
    Posts
    2,615
    Threads
    383
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Based on your description of PP work, it was indeed a bit of work set up and to to get the scratches, etc from the leaves but oh so worth it. I like the overall softness, which I assume was helped a lot by the diffused light you created. At first that little vertical at the end of the flower bothered me but then I decided it really gave a connection to the leaves and rooted it. Well caught.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,991
    Threads
    192
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Anita, a good eye for the lovely curling shapes in this image. I'm not sure if it will blow the whites , but I would like to see this a bit brighter. On the other hand, you may lose some of those lovely details on the flower.
    I notice that you always state a "relative" aperture. I'm not sure what you mean by that and can't judge if you could have stopped down more, but I would have liked the flower center to be less soft.
    All in all a very pleasing image anyway!

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hazel Grant View Post
    Based on your description of PP work, it was indeed a bit of work set up and to to get the scratches, etc from the leaves but oh so worth it. I like the overall softness, which I assume was helped a lot by the diffused light you created. At first that little vertical at the end of the flower bothered me but then I decided it really gave a connection to the leaves and rooted it. Well caught.
    Thanks for you comment! Actually, I didn't have to do all that much work--I let the filter handle most of the spots on the leaves, while I omitted the blurring on the flower itself.. :-)

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry van Dijk View Post
    Hi Anita, a good eye for the lovely curling shapes in this image. I'm not sure if it will blow the whites , but I would like to see this a bit brighter. On the other hand, you may lose some of those lovely details on the flower.
    I notice that you always state a "relative" aperture. I'm not sure what you mean by that and can't judge if you could have stopped down more, but I would have liked the flower center to be less soft.
    All in all a very pleasing image anyway!
    Thanks for commenting.

    Re. the f stop. I should probably write "effective" f aperture. On my lens, the aperture changes when I get close to a subject. I can't really explain it, but a good explanation can be found here (scroll down to "When I focus close, the f number on my Nikon SLR body increases." The short answer is that I could not have stopped down any more.

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Southwest Michigan
    Posts
    1,359
    Threads
    152
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Anita, nice eye on this. My eye is drawn through the spiral. The large lines in the background from the leaves is very pleasant. Very nice work.

    Gary.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    Anita, I really like this. The rich green background makes your Calla Lily pop. I think it looks nice a little soft-some images don't but I think this one does. I might take a sliver off the top if it were mine.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    586
    Threads
    35
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Very nice, Anita. Calla Lilies make interesting subjects, and you selected an excellent one for this composition. I really like all of the combination flowing, curving lines.

  9. #9
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Anita. Nice use of the diffuser. I like the muted light on this one, the diagonal comp of the flower, and you have good detail in the whites. That spiral draws your eye right into the center of the flower. The sharpness, as presented, works for me, but you might also consider some additional selective sharpening on just the yellow center to see if you like that better. Well done.

  10. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I appreciate the comments! I have cropped some off the top, brightened it up a bit and sharpened the center yellow a bit. All improvement suggested her. :-)

  11. #11
    Forum Participant OvidiuCavasdan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Romania
    Posts
    1,054
    Threads
    237
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good eye on this one, I like the composition, the leaves in the bg are also very nice. Well done.

  12. #12
    Brendan Dozier
    Guest

    Default

    Very nice composition, Anita. Like the soft light, lines, and shapes to this. Really like how the edges came out on both the petal & the dark green leaves. Was wondering, what part of the processing helped to create those edge?

  13. #13
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brendan Dozier View Post
    Very nice composition, Anita. Like the soft light, lines, and shapes to this. Really like how the edges came out on both the petal & the dark green leaves. Was wondering, what part of the processing helped to create those edge?
    Thank you for your comments. Your question is an interesting one and took me back into photoshop to see the original image and what I had done. The accented edges were there in the original image, so I think they were created by the diffused light of the conservatory and the diffuser I used, as well as the angle of the plant--all facing somewhat up. PP just made sure the edges stood out a bit more or didn't get lost. Hope that helps.

  14. #14
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mifflin, TN
    Posts
    2,799
    Threads
    379
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Anita, I love this angle and the spiral taking us down into the center of the flower looks great! There have been some good suggestions already given but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I like the idea of brightening up the flower but I wouldn't want to see the BG any brighter so if this were mine, I would boost the contrast instead of brightening up the entire image with a little extra contrast given to the yellow center. I like the lines of the BG but I'm not in love with the brightness of those lines.....they're just a bit too distracting for my tastes so I would try to tone those down. Overall this in an image you should be proud of.

  15. #15
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Childs View Post
    Hi Anita, I love this angle and the spiral taking us down into the center of the flower looks great! There have been some good suggestions already given but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I like the idea of brightening up the flower but I wouldn't want to see the BG any brighter so if this were mine, I would boost the contrast instead of brightening up the entire image with a little extra contrast given to the yellow center. I like the lines of the BG but I'm not in love with the brightness of those lines.....they're just a bit too distracting for my tastes so I would try to tone those down. Overall this in an image you should be proud of.
    Thanks for your comments. This post is the final image after making some of the suggested adjustments. I kept the bg lines because I like them--must be a matter of taste.

  16. #16
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    Very nice Anita, you really did a great job with this one.

  17. #17
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by denise ippolito View Post
    Very nice Anita, you really did a great job with this one.
    Thank you, Denise!

  18. #18
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    2,940
    Threads
    288
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wow ! Another marvelous image, Anita !!

    I think I should try shoot some Calla Lily myself

  19. #19
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Desmond Chan View Post
    Wow ! Another marvelous image, Anita !!

    I think I should try shoot some Calla Lily myself
    Thank you. Calla Lilies have been the subject for many excellent photographers. :-)

  20. #20
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    586
    Threads
    35
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great job on the repost, Anita. Definitely an improvement on an already fine image.

  21. #21
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mitch Haimov View Post
    Great job on the repost, Anita. Definitely an improvement on an already fine image.
    Thank you!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics