Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Aquiligea

  1. #1
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default Aquiligea

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Tripod cable release mirror lock up, Canon 50D Canon 180mm macro ISO 100 1/50 sec f11.

    Yesterday I went to a local pond to try to find Four Spot Chasers - no luck but I did get a Large Red Damselfly - but the light was very harsh. I went home and sulked for a few moments and decided to do a little flower photography. This aquiligea was growing in the front garden, I took several exposures and some with varying degrees of fill in flash. I settled for this one without the flash, I liked the shadows.

    All comments welcome.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,991
    Threads
    192
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jonathan, excellent sharpness and details and I love the deep purple of the flower. The light is quite harsh in this image as well, but as you say, I too like the shadows. BG is nice and smooth, but I do find the green a bit dull.
    Last edited by Jerry van Dijk; 05-11-2011 at 03:09 PM.

  3. #3
    Brendan Dozier
    Guest

    Default

    Very nice flower and comp, Jonathan. Like the clean simplicity, and how you framed the flower and the bud and both are in focus. The light was harsh, but the shadows do add a nice additional pattern to the flower..

  4. #4
    BPN Member Patrick Sparkman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    223
    Threads
    40
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The composition is nice, and so is the background. However, the light is much to harsh for my taste.
    Best

    Patrick Sparkman

  5. #5
    Roman Kurywczak
    Guest

    Default

    Hey Johnathan,
    I'm not the biggest fan of the light either....perhaps just a reflector underneath to open up the shadows a touch instead of the flash? Just an idea for next tiem out. For me....the biggest issue I have with the image is the disconnect with the bloom and the bud......I struggle with that often as there is just too much space between the two so comp wise not my favorite......but I do wonder if that is just my personal preference? I would like to see both closer together.....but let's see what others chime in.

  6. #6
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jonathan. I like the comp (I don't mind the distance between flower and bud), sharpness, and background, but the rather harsh light is not my favorite. A reflector might make an improvement, but use of a diffusion screen between sun and flower would make a substantial difference, IMO. You might also try blending in the dark LLC to better match the rest of the background.

  7. #7
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks everyone, I must admit when I posted it I was quite content, but now you have given me some food for thought, it does seem on reflection perhaps a little stark.
    I will bare in mind your comments for future submissions.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This is one gorgeous Columbine! The distance between flower and bud is not a big issue for me. You did a lovely job getting a blurred bg. The dullness of the bg doesn't bother me--it helps the flower stand out. I think I would like to see the image rotated CW a bit. You can keep those interesting shadows that you like but make them a bit less harsh. Here is one quick example--I used Shadow/Highlights and levels. I think my version needs more pop--I was just working on softening the shadows. Thanks for sharing!

  9. #9
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Anita - you have done a good job - I definitely regard it as an improvement - thanks for taking the time.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Cheryl Slechta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Micanopy, Florida
    Posts
    8,383
    Threads
    841
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Jonathan, the columbine is lovely and I think the soft bg accentuates it's beauty. Anita's repost improved the lighting issue. It's a beautiful image.
    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly" - The Little Prince

    http://tuscawillaphotographycherylslechta.zenfolio.com/

  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mifflin, TN
    Posts
    2,799
    Threads
    379
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jon,

    The op looks nice and Anita's repost takes it up a notch. I like the comp but I do agree with Roman that there's too much distance between the flower and the bud. With that simple stem and that BG, it shouldn't be too difficult to move the flower closer to the bud. Do that and add a small amount of canvas to the right side and you'll have a real winner, IMHO!

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