Christmas Cactus - DPChallenge Forums

Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Canon EOS

11/18/2003 01:36:24 PM · #1

My christmas cactus is blooming nicely right now so I decided to try a few photos with it... any suggestions on improvment would be appreciated...

File: Cactus_0954-m1-640.jpg
File size: 80KB
Image Serial Number: 109-0954
Camera Model: Canon EOS 10D
Camera serial number: 1020300016
Firmware: Firmware Version 1.0.1
Date/Time: 2003:11:18 12:14:12
Shutter speed: 4 sec
Aperture: 22
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Evaluative
Drive mode: Continuous: frame 1
ISO: 100
Lens: 105.0 mm
Focal length: 105.0mm
AF mode: Manual Focus
Image size: 417 x 640
Rotation: none
Image quality: Fine
White balance: Auto
Color space: sRGB
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Tone: Normal
Custom Functions:
Default settings

MWitt

Canon EOS-5D

11/18/2003 01:48:29 PM · #2

Beautiful shot John, I wouldn't change a thing...except maybe quantity!
Lets see some more!

I was just home for the weekend and our Xmas Cactus was in full bloom also. It was beautiful! Unfortunately I didn't bring my tripod and so my one shot that I took came out blurry.

11/18/2003 02:01:51 PM · #3

Do I dare to criticize Master Setzler? I don't feel worthy :-))

But since you asked... I love the colour saturation and the contrast against the pure black background. Lovely composition. The touch of backlighting in the upper right corner ads nice sparkle to the flower. But I think it needs to be a tiny-bit itsy-bitsy more in focus. Especially the lover middle part with the seed-carrying pistils since it somehow leads my eyes to it.

In case you intended a softer look, then the whole photo is just great.

11/18/2003 02:26:21 PM · #4

//www.pbase.com/image/23426998

Here's a 1:1 macro view of the pistils and stamen...

11/18/2003 02:38:36 PM · #5

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

//www.pbase.com/image/23426998

Here's a 1:1 macro view of the pistils and stamen...

Now, that is absolutely gorgeous. I am a macro lover :-))

11/18/2003 02:41:45 PM · #6

I'm impressed with the macro lens.. it does a great job :)

11/18/2003 02:42:56 PM · #7

John, I just noticed something on one of your images in PBase.

This image Cactus_0954-m1-640.jpg (basically a copy of the one you originally posted here) looks so much clearer. I think it might be the way DPC shrinks down images to the 640 pixels limit. Or did you re-size it yourself for here and that what caused the softness?

Or am I just seeing it wrong way?

11/18/2003 02:44:32 PM · #8

May I ask what you use as a background? I usually use foamcore black board, but I can never get it so beautifully black. It comes out grey and fixing it in Photoshop usually takes away from the main subject.

11/18/2003 02:50:09 PM · #9

Originally posted by timmi:

This is black foamcore :) The trick is to pose it at an angle where the ambient light does not hit the surface of it.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/18/2003 02:58:26 PM · #10

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by timmi:
May I ask what you use as a background? I usually use foamcore black board, but I can never get it so beautifully black. It comes out grey and fixing it in Photoshop usually takes away from the main subject.

This is black foamcore :) The trick is to pose it at an angle where the ambient light does not hit the surface of it.

That's great to know. I just need more practice to do it properly.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/18/2003 03:03:40 PM · #11

That foamcore is awesome stuff. I love it. Just wish I could find some more subtle colors.

I agree with Timmi, there's something different in the quality of the image at PBase vs. the one you linked here at DPC. Don't know what it is, but it lost something in the translation. :(

Excellent shot.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/18/2003 03:18:45 PM · #12

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I'm impressed with the macro lens.. it does a great job :)

I like this one better then the one posted here for the same reasons. It's cleaner, very sharp. I also like that I'm seeing more of the flower.
Great colors on both of them.

JC_Homola

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

11/18/2003 03:49:48 PM · #13

Very nice macro's..
I can't wait for mine to bloom. They've got buds,, patience, patience.

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/18/2003 04:01:34 PM · #14

Originally posted by ScottK:

That foamcore is awesome stuff. I love it. Just wish I could find some more subtle colors.

Not sure if you have a Michael's craft store where you live, but I have purchased the foamcore board from there in black, light (sky) blue, green, white, and they have a navy blue that I haven't purchased yet.

John - Awesome shots!! I just wish I could find a Christmas Cactus! Wanted one for a few years now....

Artifacts

11/18/2003 04:07:33 PM · #15

I agree with Timmi that a little more focus, especially on the foreground petals, of the flower would be nice. The focus is in that grey area where your either want it all in focus or with lesser DOF.

Since I can see you are already shooting at f/22 you are getting as much DOF as you can get.

You have two choices.
1-Use a different lense that allows more DOF to get it all in focus, or
2-Shoot at a lower f/number to decrease the DOF further to give it an "artsy" appearance but keeping the stamine in sharp focus.

Either approach works.

11/18/2003 04:09:28 PM · #16

I think the focus issues you guys are talking about are a result of the smaller image and the resampling that DPCprints does to the images... here is what this image really looks like:

//www.pbase.com/image/23429022

Artifacts

11/18/2003 04:28:30 PM · #17

I still think the focus on the foreground petals is a little to soft, but I like the shot. Color and detail is great and it is framed nicely.

The image is technically superior. Not even a hint of "digitality".

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/18/2003 04:33:44 PM · #18

I could go to f/45 with that i suppose.. i'll try one...

soup

Canon EOS-30D

11/18/2003 04:36:57 PM · #19

the petals texture is what is making it appear to be a soft focus
its the way they refelct the light.

i have 3 christmas cacti - and they only bloom pink - didnt know you could get them in different colors...

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/18/2003 04:54:42 PM · #20

Here's one at f/45 and I think the difference is insignificant...

//www.pbase.com/image/23431071

GoodEnd

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/18/2003 05:42:24 PM · #21

John, this is a macro... the focus canÂ´t cover all the flower, correct? This new shot are a bit more focused on petals, not in the middle bulb, that is more detailed region. I prefer the original look of shot. But the way that petals is disposed sugest more focus on it. May be you can rotate between 25 and 45 degree in the z axis to get the bulb on full focus and the petals as a shallow DOF background (bit softened).

Message edited by author 2003-11-18 17:43:17.

amsmyth

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

11/18/2003 06:09:38 PM · #22

11/18/2003 06:20:07 PM · #23

Originally posted by amsmyth:

The one I posted here originally is a resampled version of the print image and is not as clear as the one i posted to pbase.