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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Terry: Welcome to group #63 close-up.
Interesting and colorful pod. Charlie has advised you on certain aspects, so I will not repeat them.
I will discuss lighting; living in Las Vegas you are going to be challenged in close up photography with clear blue open sun lighting that creates blown out highlights and black shadows. There are ways to over come this situation with lighting modifications while photographing in bright open sun.
Cloudy day lighting is far superior to bright open mid day sun type lighting. Photographing in open sun you will need to use reflectors and lighting diffusers to soften open sun lighting. I use Photoflex LiteDisc soft-gold reflectors and LiteDisc Translucent sun diffusers when needed; log onto Photoflex website and you will find all shapes and sizes, I use the round 12" and 22" sizes.
If you have further questions, please ask. |
Jun 9th |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Charlie: As always your technical work in the field is always done to perfection as well as your post processing efforts. I can tell by the quality of your work you pay very close attention to the finest of details and that is evident in the work you share with us.
A very interesting approach to this subject in regards to composition, lighting, and the setting your subject was photographed in. I think the horizontal line in the background that separates the dark brown base from the more olive brown top helps to give depth to the scene.
Really good table top type work !!
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Jun 9th |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Alane: An interesting monochrome image. You do not mention what zoom length you were using with your 50-250 zoom lens or if you had your camera tripod mounted. If you were at the upper end at 200 or 250mm the aperture of f/5.6 will not provide you with enough depth of field to adequately cover the subject with good sharpness.
Would suggest using a good sturdy tripod and setting the lens aperture at f/16 which will provide you with better overall sharpness on your chosen subject. |
Jun 9th |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Neal: You do not mention the magnification factor in this very interesting super macro image. You must be at least 2X or even 3X to achieve this kind of image. In the macro photography I have done at this magnification I know the more magnification you have the more difficult the photography aspect becomes.
Really good photo stacking technique and post processing skills, and thanks for sharing this unique picture with us. |
Jun 8th |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Barbara: Wonderful rose image with a fine soft focus mood. Your chosen aperture of f/7.1 provided just enough sharpness in the central part of the rose with the outer parts receding into a very soft focus. Exposure is just right for the feeling you wanted to create. Excellent creative flower photography. |
Jun 8th |
| 63 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Charlie: Thanks so much for your critique and ideas on Penstemon and Indian Paintbrush. I really like your version of the picture, it has a more formal approach with the cleaned up edges than my more natural random version. Your version shows the grouping to be very precise and perfect in compositional arrangement; where my grouping as presented gives the illusion the Penstemon group could go on for several feet in all directions which it did.
What really called out to me to attempt this picture was the color combinations of the violet penstemon grouping and the deep orange Indian Paintbrush, something we do not see very often in nature. |
Jun 8th |
6 comments - 0 replies for Group 63
|
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hello Gaetan: The well out of focus water lily leaves provide a good background for the white flower. The fly adds another point of interest.
Certain types of white flower petals do not have much detail or texture and it is easy to over expose and loose any detail, however you have done as well as you could in this situation. |
Jun 7th |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Reply |
Hi everyone, appreciate your comments regarding the background, I will work on the background, there are some post processing adjustments I can make to improve on it. cheers... |
Jun 4th |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Moe: Composition is artistically done in the manner in which you have laid out the flowers. Being encased in ice provides a very creative touch with a nice mood.
In my mind am not certain if the two large pearls add a special touch or not, however I like the small pearls. Think the overall image is certainly a success
I applaud you for your willingness to experiment, if we are not willing to try new things we can become kind of stale in our approach. As you mention mixed results can happen, however nothing ventured nothing gained either. |
Jun 4th |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Ray: Thanks for sharing this interesting picture as well as the text describing this 17 year event. Mother Nature is very interesting !!
Amazing very close in picture done to perfection from a technical standpoint. Detail on the "bug" is super sharp as well as the central part of the flower.
This is an outstanding nature image !! Do not want to sound like a nit-pic, I would tone down the bright greenery in the upper left corner as it is an eye catcher.
The cell phone did a fine job along with your minor edits, however I will pass on the pizza with cicada topping!! |
Jun 3rd |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Judy: This Hong Kong Orchid Tree Blossom has a very artistic design, a beautiful flower.
Some thoughts I have to improve the picture would be to darken down the background and even defocus somewhat as it is very bright and competes for interest with the flower. In doing so the viewers attention will be focused on the flower and not the background.
The main flower stalk has some projections, possibly from older flower stems that have been cut off. These cut off stems do nothing to add any grace or elegance to the lovely flower. I know you are skilled at cloning, I would do a careful cloning job and remove these cut off stems as it would do wonders for this scene in my humble opinion. |
Jun 3rd |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hi Dan: Have been thinking I should photograph this interesting plant, but have not.
This is a good nature habitat image as it shows the surroundings well where this plant grows.
From a composition stand point I see the possibility of a really nice horizontal image. If you were to crop just above short middle stalk it would bring the seed heads in for a closer view. You could also crop a little below the center stalk which would also make an attractive composition, however your format would be kind of square and not the pleasing vertical rendition you have shared with us. |
Jun 3rd |
| 75 |
Jun 24 |
Comment |
Hello Vincent: Very colorful red flower against a perfect out of focus green background without distractions that supports the flower well.
It is interesting you show the flower in two stages; I am not familiar with this flower, but would assume the tan part of the red flower petals have lost their brilliant red color due to older age and become tan.
Regarding a flower stem originating from the corner of the frame; this has been an on going discussion point for a long time. It comes down to personal preference, I try to avoid a stem coming out of the frame corner, would prefer it to originate from the bottom or side or top, however not in a direct corner. Of course this is just me !! |
Jun 3rd |
6 comments - 1 reply for Group 75
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12 comments - 1 reply Total
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