Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Water Lily and Pads Before the Storm

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    1,361
    Threads
    131
    Thank You Posts

    Default Water Lily and Pads Before the Storm

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Shot under a very dark sky on Saturday morning...100-400 set at 320mm, f/32@1/6. RAW image cropped and processed in LR; tweaked regionally for tone and color in Viveza. A little bit of clean up on the pads and petals. In the past I've used Helicon Focus to stack shots for greater depth of field..sometimes conditions just don't allow shooting for stacks...yet I'm finding that diffraction becomes an issue past f/11 and a real issue from f/22 on...any suggestions/comments welcome.

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    1,797
    Threads
    248
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi John, This is simply beautiful. The only thoughts I have would be a pinch off the top and consider evicting or maybe darkening the rolled up pad. That's purely my personal preference, as I enjoy looking at it as is.

  3. #3
    Julie Kenward
    Guest

    Default

    Another beautiful waterlily, john! I also think I'd take a slice off the top here.

    A minor point - but I feel its worth mentioning - is that the lily feels like you're photographing it from the back side because of the way it is leaning. A little higher angle might have fixed this, or shooting from what is the UR side of this image instead of the LL. It doesn't take away from the beauty and depth you caught here but I'd be willing to bet if that flower were leaning more towards than away from us it would have taken this image up another notch - making it nearly perfect.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    1,361
    Threads
    131
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Judy and Jay, thank you for your comments and suggestions.

    Jay, good call on darkening the rolled-up pad a bit...I did a quick curve to darken the image, filled the mask with black and then painted over that pad...I think it helps! I did take a little off the top...I think that could go either way...it will be interesting to see what others think as well.

    Judy, I couldn't agree more...just wasn't sure how to physically achieve it with this particular bloom! This one was in a very large circular basin at the Botanical Garden in St. Louis..I was as high as I could get...and couldn't get an angle that would show more of the face of the bloom unless I went to the far side...and then I was way too far, at least with my current setup, to get the image I wanted without very extensive cropping. Now if I could just afford that 800...or if they would let me wade in the basin.......but I do appreciate the suggestions! We're on the same page..and I'm hoping to work the lilies again over the next two Saturdays.

  5. #5
    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    new york
    Posts
    3,509
    Threads
    524
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Fine job on the re-post. This would make a beautiful print. The color and detail are stunning.

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Dave Leroy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Delta, BC
    Posts
    3,789
    Threads
    380
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely colour and detail in the flower. The pads add a lot but the flower is so well done I might look at a big crop to try and isolate flower. Personal preference and I am sure not what you were looking for.

    I also prefer the repost and interesting observation by Julie.

    Very well done.

    Dave

  7. #7
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi John. Beautiful colors - the flower is spectacular! Nice job of incorporating the suggested tweaks in the repost. Jules makes a good point about the flower angle - though it sounds like there was little you could do about that in this instance. Nevertheless, this is a very strong image!

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    1,361
    Threads
    131
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Jules! I misspelled your name...I am so sorry! Thank you for the comments and suggestions. Dave and Steve, I'm learning more and more about the little tweaks that can make the difference..these forums have been a blessing.

  9. #9
    Julie Kenward
    Guest

    Default

    John, no sweat...I've been called MUCH worse!!!

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
    Posts
    164
    Threads
    39
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hello John,

    Wow! Very well done in my opinion and nice improvement with the repost. I agree about the comment concerning the pov but that being said, I really like the recall of the plant without the flower in the upper part of the pic. The flower's colors are impressive and you managed very well the exposition.

    Very well done and TFS (Thanks For Sharing) :)

    Michel

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

    Default

    Hi John, nice work on the OP and the suggested tweaks definitely take this one up a notch or 2!
    I agree that these forums are a blessing.....I've learned a tremendous amount here and I'm still learning.

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