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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I am enjoying both the subject and your compositional choices here. The color and plain of focus works well here as does the color pallet employed. Generally the clarity of the subject is fine except for the point discussed below. I do wonder if cropping a bit from the right might aid the overall image a bit.
I don't disagree regarding what has be described as the "transition" of the soft to sharp areas. I do appreciate that soft areas do add a bit of whimsical or imaginative feel to the composition, and perhaps that was your intent (recalling playing with these seeds in our youth). However, when the balance between soft and sharp areas become a point of contention, then perhaps it might be more problematic than helpful. I don't always get this balance right, and striking that balance is a more challenging part of our macro photographic art, perhaps more so than other photographic forms.
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Jun 25th |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
What an interesting view of this bloom that you have provided us. Rarely are we shown this 'side-on' view, but here it works quite well. Kundos for you imaginative take on this flower. There is a level of attractive flow to this bloom as the bloom extends from the upper right to the lower right. I also appreciate your use of empty space here as well. I think that we should note that this would not be anywhere as effective is the entire bloom were not in focus, so the use of staking to increase your DOF is effective here. As we become more advanced I think that we find that the use of stacking is not an end unto itself, but a tool which allows us more freedom to capture just the scene we intend. Nice Job. |
Jun 25th |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
Good use of your equipment to give us this interesting image. We often forget that we can use our 1.4 X extenders with our macro lens in addition to our telephoto lenses. In doing so this allowed you to provide a view of this orchid that we otherwise might have missed entirely. There is a 'tongue like' quality to the image and this drives our imagination in all sorts of directions. Fun stuff ! |
Jun 25th |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
I have also attended a Mike Moats' workshop, and they are worth the time and cost. He does have many types of materials for subjects, and he enthusiastically encourages you to try different things. In this image, I think that you have struck a fine balance between the watch gears and empty space. Often we get so wrapped up in the process of capturing images of small things that we lose sight of the continuing importance of composition in the overall images. As you note, using a tripod really expands your ability to employ a varied set of camera settings. Here it allowed you to use a longer exposure to counter-act the diffused indoors lighting and small aperture (f/22). Nice Job.
In regard to the ISO discussion it used to be that 'experts' have always encouraged that we shoot as low as ISO as possible (ISO 100 or so), and while this is not a bad general thought, with today's newer cameras and the ability to deal with image noise effectively this is less of a hard-and-fast rule. Now it's should be that you can use as high ISO as you can without adding too much noise. How much is "too much noise"? That depends upon the scene, subject, your camera's capability and your ability to deal with noise in post processing. With my newer Canon R6, using the latest version of Topaz Denoise AI I now find that I can easily go to ISO 2,500 - 4,000 without any significant issues. My upper end with my Canon d5 MK IV body (a very capable camera) used to be ISO 800 in general and ISO 1,000 for sports photography. These newer capabilities have really changed my mental gymnastics regarding the exposure triangle when I shoot.
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Jun 25th |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
Often I find that macro photographers fall into one of two groups. The bug photographers and those who go running, screaming from the building when they encounter bug images. I will not admit which of those I am, but you don't see a lot of bug images from me (:)). You have leveraged the capability of the MP-65 lens and the stacking technique nicely here to generate this interesting image. This image really brings forth the detail of the head, but I find that the blurred regions contrast so much with the sharp areas that the some attention is brought to the soft areas. So, in this case I agree that expanding the DOF may improve the image some. Now it's true that not all of the image needs to be sharp, but the balance between these areas should not become an "point of contention", and striking that balance is an art unto itself. |
Jun 25th |
| 65 |
Jun 21 |
Comment |
The lens baby lenses excel in proving a soft and interesting look, and your image is a good example of this. To my eye this is most pleasing if the soft parts are matched by detailed regions. Here you have some of that but areas that contain some detail (flower head and foremost petals) needs a bit more contrast and 'depth' to balance out the image. So I agree with the earlier comments. Overall though, this is a nice image. |
Jun 25th |
6 comments - 0 replies for Group 65
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6 comments - 0 replies Total
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