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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Reply |
You are correct is that I don't seem to let challenges stop me (for the most part). I used several stacks during this shoot, but in this case, it appears I thought that I could get away with only one image and a small aperture. We all get lazy when it suites us |
Nov 13th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Reply |
This was taken while the top was sitting on the living room table, using ambient light. There was a window in the living room, and the refractions patterns from this window is what is making the golden tones that you see in the decanter top. I did not specifically position anything to achieve this (I am not good enough to anticipate this effect), nor was any special lighting used. I think that the reflective nature of the crystal coupled with the shape of the top yields this effect. Sometimes you just go with what happens in front of you. |
Nov 12th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Reply |
Good point about potentially blurring the termination line where the table surface meets the backwall. At times I do this and some times I don't. I am not sure which is better. Perhaps I have not figured out the right balance here yet. Thanks for the suggestion though. |
Nov 10th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
What an interesting and seasonal collection of leaves. I think that you have done a wonderful job in collecting and arranging these leaves. I suspect that here, nothing was left to chance (or is actually random). I love the contrasts in textures and colors this arrangement contains. The different orientation of the leaves is quite effective, and I like how the different stems extend into the surrounding open space. The choice of your background is also effective. The pseudo-cloud motif of this background suggests how one might see these native leaves against an open sky (or at least that is where my mind goes). The truly masterful job here. |
Nov 7th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
This is quite a stark and dramatic rendition of this bloom. The back background and colored pinstriping both serve to highlight the subject blooms effectively. In regard to the blooms themselves, I find that the blooms are a bit over exposed with a bit of over saturation. The coral-colored blooms are so bright that we are beginning to lose a significant amount of interesting detail. This is less of an issue with the green leaves included in the branch. I do like that we can see a bit of the stem at the base, and I might increase the exposure on this part a bit more to bring this element out even more. |
Nov 7th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
I am enjoying this close-up view of this bloom immensely. But only showing the central region, and not the whole bloom, you impart a greater sense of intimacy to the presentation. The detail within the image is wonderful and the colors are shot yet vibrant. While not actually needed to carry off this shot, the inclusion of the bee is a nice rounding touch. |
Nov 7th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
These is wonderful color and detail captured here. The apparent "layered" effect of the lighter elements near the top and darkening subject lower down, is quite effective. As I said there is a lot of interesting detail to feast on, almost too much. If this were my image, I would be tempted to darken the bottom row of corn ears to allow a bit more focus upon the center of the image
Warning, a Nerd Moment -
Did you know that the variegated (varied and spotted color) nature of this corn is due to "jumping genes" within the maize genome. Barbara Mcclintock was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (the first woman to be awarded the Noble prize alone) for her first ever, and life-long, description and characterization of "mobile genetic elements". This was novel and groundbreaking research which was our first glimpse into the fluid nature of our genetic material.
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Nov 7th |
| 63 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
More 'up-close and personal' encounters with the creepy world of bugs (please pardon my personal editorial slant). This is a wonderful view of this bug, showing off a lot of exquisite detail of the critter. The composition chosen is quite effective and I like the placement of the bug on the leaf, showing just a bit of soil underneath. I wonder how many 'focus slices' you employed to get this depth-of-field? The is a sufficient level of sharpness throughout the image, but there are a few, what I believe are stacking artifacts (blurry halos), present on the right back edge of the bug and on the far-left leg. Stacking can introduce this type of localized blurring, but it's generally easy to remove with some judicious cloning (easy but time consuming at times). If this were my image, I would be tempted to clone out the blurry areas on the leaf and soil on the lower left. Why have this blurry area when the rest is so sharp ? |
Nov 7th |
5 comments - 3 replies for Group 63
|
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
The cropped vision (which I think is your intended image to present) is quite a different beast from the original. I like both, but will confine my discussion to the cropped version. Here the story is the central area with this interesting detail and structure. As presented, it appears just a bit over exposed, and I would reduce the exposure just a bit and add some micro-contrast to bring out the detail in the central structures. Given the crop, this is a main part of the story, and might be presented a bit more effectively here. These adjustments might also enhance some of the detail in the while petals, which appears to be lost in this version. |
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
I respectively disagree with my colleagues here. I like the depth of field employed in this image. Not every flower image needs to have all blooms or elements in focus, and I like the balance of clarity employed in this artistic image. The upper most bloom is the clearest (and brightest), while the bottom blooms are a bit softer, and (importantly) a bit darker. In doing so you have imparted a sense of depth to the image as we interpret the darker softer bloom as being further from us. Both blooms are nicely separated from the background, although there is still some interesting character retained in the background as well. Nice Job! |
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
An interesting image. The blooms are nicely show in both clarity and color and the composition is striking. I do find that the image has a bit of a "in your face" feel to it. I suspect that the size of the rose relative to the rest of the image contributes to this feeling. Giving a bit more space around the rose with your crop might impact this to some extent. I agree that the added burlap may not be as effective as currently applied. To me this adds a sense of complexity and busyness that is not needed and as presented, appears to compete this the subject for our attention. I know that you might be pleased and proud with your efforts to capture this texture, but it appears to be a bit overwhelming here. If you were to reduce the opacity of the layer containing the burlap (if that is how you created the texture layer) or if you reduced the sharpness, that might lessen the impact of this element some. Finally, the burlap texture has been extended to the leaf at the base of the image, and this appears a bit odd to me as well.
|
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
A pleasing image with an effective representation of the blooms and a nice rendition of the depth of your subject. The stacking served you well here. I also like your treatment of the background elements, allowing some elements to retain in focus while others, blurred. Overall, the image appears to be a bit dark. If this were my image, I would lighten up the blooms and brighten a bit the leaves that are still sharp. This might enhance the bloom presentation and get a bit more separation of the bloom and attached leaves from the surrounds. |
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
I really am enjoying your efforts to light this scene. One point that seems to have been neglected here is the subtle darkening of the subject that are further back. I find that this is a critical element leading to the success of this image. In allow these elements to be a bit darker (natural fall-off of your reflected light), you add more depth to the image. I do find that the crop is a bit odd. I would have not have cropped the sides on the image in quite as much as the petals at the bottom of the image are rather constricted. Here I might try to maintain the same distance of the subject to the sides, on the sides, as you did on the top. Something to consider. |
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Reply |
One additional point. as to which reflector to use. As is true with many things photography, you try different types and colors and see what the effects are and what you find that works. |
Nov 13th |
| 75 |
Nov 22 |
Comment |
As noted earlier, nice action shot with a pleasing story. The main actors are all nicely represented. I do like the alternate crop suggested by Judy, although I might not have gone quite as far in (you ask 3 photographers and you get 5 different opinions). This this case I would have liked to have seen the stem of the Poppy in more detail. Perhaps using f/8, which would also have required a bit slower shutter speed or higher ISO (depending upon your camera's capability). I find that I can blur the backgrounds if they become too distracting, but I can't bring up detail that I fail to capture. Aside from that one point, nicely captured. |
Nov 13th |
6 comments - 1 reply for Group 75
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11 comments - 4 replies Total
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