Can I get some critiques on these please?

05/02/2005 12:01:16 PM · #1

Can I get some critiques on these? Thanks!

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Message edited by author 2005-05-02 12:15:48.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

05/02/2005 12:03:08 PM · #2

I saw this thread and was waiting on you to fix the other one. So we can see a full size.

05/02/2005 12:16:25 PM · #3

ok, got it fixed. Thanks!

theSaj

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

05/02/2005 12:19:22 PM · #4

The first one feels cut off at the top...I think it would have worked much better with a shallower depth of field. The rocks in the background a tad bit distracting.

I really like the second (for a flower shot)...it's full but I am drawn toward the center.

As for the last one....what beautiful flowers and what colors! However, once again I feel like it was over-cropped on the top. The bokeh is not very strong for this shot as the bricks maintain a clear distinguished form. So this would have been one that I'd have experimented with a deep depth of field to see how the flowers looked against the clear textured background (might be hit or miss). On the flip side, if you were to remove the green metal stand and lowered the branch just a 1/2 centimeter or so, such that it was within the crop I think the shot would have looked very good with the current bokeh.

Details are very good on the second two. (Was the flash used on the first? I often get the "needs flash" for flowers and grass but have decided I do not like the look and effect that using a flash on these subjects results in.

Just my humble opinions....hope you found this useful (please let me know if you did).

- The Saj

Plexxoid

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

05/02/2005 12:29:37 PM · #5

The first one's colors or contrast or something is off, and the composition is a bit distracting. Also the background is very jumbled.

Second one is ok, I'd like the see the background much blurrier.

I think the bricks in the third one ruined it. Also the curved peice of metal looks like it's stabbing the flower on the left.

Keep practicing, and also try out macro-mode if you haven't already. Might want to find a different subject, flowers are not especially intriguing unless some severe originality goes into it. Keep those backgrounds to a minimum!

Plexxoid

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

05/02/2005 12:31:32 PM · #6

Originally posted by theSaj:

I think it would have worked much better with a shallower depth of field.

Remember, this is not a DSLR taking these, shallow depth is much more difficult to acheive with such a small sensor.

Message edited by author 2005-05-02 12:33:04.

05/02/2005 02:16:22 PM · #7

Originally posted by theSaj:

Yes, this did help! I found the last flowers to be so fasinating that I completely forgot about the brick background! lol No, I didn't use the flash on any of them.

Carl Zeiss 35mm ZF f/2.0 Distagon T

05/02/2005 02:17:15 PM · #8

Originally posted by Plexxoid:

Thanks for your comments too. All of these help me to learn. :)

virtuamike

Nikon D2X

05/02/2005 03:08:41 PM · #9

#1 - You're shooting in extremely harsh lighting, got some very hard shadows.

#2 - Much softer lighting. Would like to see the purple flower on the right cropped out though. It's distracting to only see bits and pieces of its petals.

#3 - Interesting flowers. Don't like the brick background or the part of the fence curving back into the left flower.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

05/02/2005 03:47:28 PM · #10

Originally posted by pianomom:

Nice flower shots. Flowers will always make good subjects for photography.

1-First image is overexposed. Lighting is very harsh. There are things to try to fix this image, but reshooting is probably the best idea.

2-The second image is best overall and has a pleasant color combination. If you move the lavender backdrop further back and shoot with shallow DOF the wrinkles will disappear and remove that as a distraction. You can also use selective gaussian blur in post to accomplish the same thing.

3-The plant holder on the left competes with the flowers for attention and should be cropped out as much as possible.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when imaging flora:

A-To capture all the detail in the petals outdoors it is usually best to take flora in full shade or under cloudy skies. A tripod is recommended. Direct sunlight tends to both overexpose the petals and darken the shadows to much.

B-The stamine are like the flower's eyes and generally speaking should be in sharp focus. Often the most attractive flower images are those that show the most floral detail within the blossom.

C-Have a spray bottle handy capable of creating a fine mist. Spraying a fine mist on flowers prior to imaging makes them more attractive.

D-Applying the rule of thirds to flora photography is particularly effective.

E-As in all photography trying different angles and perspectives can dramatically improve what you ultimately capture.