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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 63 |
Mar 22 |
Comment |
I really am enjoying this image. There is both a simplicity and complexity in this image. Using the black glass to capture the reflection is quite effective. I do this a lot with my own macro close-up / images, and applaud your application of this technique here. I do also get the feeling that your subject and reflection appear to be floating in the middle of nothingness. If intentional, that is effective, but if not may I suggest that you add a slight horizon line between where the table top stops and the background begins. This can be a subtle addition, but it might add a bit more depth to the presentation and "ground" the subjects a bit more. In the comments I made regarding Priscilla's submission this moth I discuss this a bit more and show an example where this also might be the case. Let me know what you think. |
Mar 5th |
| 63 |
Mar 22 |
Comment |
What a wonderful image. I love the simplicity of the subjects and presentation as well as the composition which both isolates the main subjects and uses other leaves as framing elements. To my eye the leaves look just a bit over exposed, and as such loose a bit of their texture and character (as I noted in my comments regarding Barbara's image this month). If there were my image I might work to enhance the texture of the leaves a bit, perhaps using a levels adjustment layer (adjusting the midtone slider a bit to the right). This darkens the leave a bit, but more importantly reveals more the texture and personality of the subjects (or at least to my eye). I have included an example illustrating this . Let me know what you think. |
Mar 5th |
 |
| 63 |
Mar 22 |
Comment |
I love this image. I find that still life settings are both a challenge to set-up and to shoot, yet are so gratifying when you get it right. I really like this image in both it's simplicity and as you have captured it. The subjects are cleanly captured, and you did an effective job in capturing the subtle shadows. I do find though that the subjects tend to blend into the background a bit, and that there is a sameness between the surface that the subjects are on and the background (resulting in somewhat of a flat affect). If this were my image I would attempt to differentiate the background from both the subjects and from the table surface . By slightly darkening the background this might be accomplished. I have attached a version to illustrate what it is I am talking about. In the modified image, the subjects are more cleanly separated from the background, and the horizon line between the background and surface is more evident. In accomplishing this last point I believe that the image portrays a bit more depth as well. Let me know what you think. |
Mar 5th |
 |
| 63 |
Mar 22 |
Comment |
Shooting flowers (especially white flowers) in the sunlight is always so challenging. Bright sunlight tends to wash out colors, diminishes texture and casts hard shadows. In this image you were up to the challenge in that the subject is nice and sharp, the shadows are soft and the background complements the subject nicely. To my eye though, the flower is still a bit over exposed, and as such we are loosing a lot of the bloom's texture and character. Here I might suggest that adding additional contrast (micro contrast) to the white and pale yellow petals to allow more of the bloom's character to emerge. Applying several different curves layer to the image might be one way of addressing this. I did note though that parts of the white petals are "blown out" (so bright that there is no information for editing application to impact), so these areas remain flat and bland. Any efforts to tamp down the brightness in these elements results in a gray cast which is not attractive. When I shoot these types of subject I try to shoot a few stops low (dark) since this will tend to prevent capturing blown out areas, and I can brighten the midtones and shadows in post processing. I have edited this image to demonstrate these points. To my eye the edited image captures more of the bloom's character that you worked so hard to capture, especially in center of the bloom. See what you think. |
Mar 5th |
 |
4 comments - 0 replies for Group 63
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4 comments - 0 replies Total
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