You Old Goat
by bgslaw

Comment by rhodanig:
Would be super if sharper.

You Old Goat
by bgslaw

Comment by Retroesque:
Fantastically great subject and awesome pose, just SO disappointed by the lack of clarity and sharpness.

Future Home of the Dallas Cowboys
by bgslaw

Comment by Retroesque:
It's great you've fitted so much into this image, but the shake suggests to me that no tripod was used, which makes the image suffer.

Seeking Light
by bgslaw

Comment by macrothing:

Originally posted by bgslaw: I understand several comments state "flat lighting" and lighting could be better. I would like to know how I could improve the lighting. I shot by a window w/ indirect lighting without a flash.

Repeat my little 'caveat' in my previous comment.

I usually prefer natural light with flowers (just personal preference). You say you've used natural light, indirect, but it is barely discernible in this image. I wonder if it was more prominent before your processing.

Anyway, first thing I notice in this image is that the focus is off (could be blur too). It is a delicate yellow (I'm trying to work out if it is a day lily, amaryllis or other) - nice flower. You mention in your comments two things that intrigued me - you upped the saturation (which I can't 'see') and you applied an unsharp mask. I'm not sure if you were aiming to achieve a certain effect in this image, but it is not 'strong' either way. The background is not enhancing the colors or making the flower 'pop'. A little more distance between the subject and the background, and ensuring there is no 'crease' line visible, would have helped give the image more depth. Lastly, is the 'cut' flower at the bottom. Obviously a difficult crop, so perhaps paying more attention to your composition and 'framing' in camera, would make it easier for you once you get the image to edit.

I didn't vote in this Challenge, but if I did I likely wouldn't have scored this above 3 - because of my reasons stated above, but also because I had/have a different idea of 'flora' - and Challenge themes are important to me when I vote.

Don't pack up the camera if you 'want' to take images - perhaps see how the camera can help you 'create' an image. If these are your favorite subjects, experiment. Experiment with composition, lighting, etc. Get one of your images printed ('largeish') and put it somewhere and study it. See what could be improved. Imagine and then try. Practice makes perfect ... or so they say. Feel free to rip apart/comment on any of mine if you wish to train your eye. Commenting is educational in itself, in a variety of ways.

Neiman Marcus Yorkie Salt Shaker
by bgslaw

Comment by macrothing:
Responding to your comment in this thread. No Critique Club comment nor am I 'professional', however I'll give my honest opinion on this image. The first thing I notice is that the subject appears slightly blurry. Doesn't seem to be a focus issue (although hard to tell), just blur. The subject itself is not that interesting. No doubt it holds special value to you. If you were absolutely set on entering this subject, perhaps going for a complementary background may have given it a 'lift'. You could have also gone for a more creative 'set up' - using the 'Yorkie' as a character in your image.

For this Challenge, Macro IV, either a true macro shot or else a very close crop would probably have appealed to the voters in this particular Challenge. Having said that, that contradicts what I said above, as it is near impossible to get a close up of this subject and still retain some context. I didn't vote in this Challenge, but hypothetically, I would likely have given this about a 3. The comments given to you (while unfortunate to be a total of two), are quite good and blunt.

Future Home of the Dallas Cowboys
by bgslaw

Comment by nutzito:
nice concept for the challenge

Future Home of the Dallas Cowboys
by bgslaw

Comment by arati_halbe:
lacks clarity (in terms of image quality, not concept!)

Future Home of the Dallas Cowboys
by bgslaw

Comment by Cyclop:
Nice twist on the theme

Future Home of the Dallas Cowboys
by bgslaw

Comment by NikonJeb:
That's a MAJOR project!!!!!

Seeking Light
by bgslaw

Comment by bgslaw:
I understand several comments state "flat lighting" and lighting could be better. I would like to know how I could improve the lighting.

I shot by a window w/ indirect lighting without a flash.