Cherry Blossom Season in Japan - DPChallenge Forums

04/07/2004 09:13:49 PM · #1

It's that time of year again when all of Japan is reminded of life's brevity embodied in the short 2-week blossoming of its national flower.

For this shot, I used a telezoom 70-300mm f4, handheld, as a macro lens. SB-800 speedlight for the light. Slight adjustments in Photoshop.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/08/2004 12:25:56 AM · #2

Is this photo so bad that nobody wants to comment?

AmiYuy

Nikon Coolpix 8700

04/08/2004 12:32:28 AM · #3

Hadn't seen it yet.

I was going to go to Japan this summer after graduation, but alas, it cost too much.

Hm, well your sakura looks kind of wilted and not very...'happy'? The colors aren't very vibrant, something I associate with all the photos I've seen of that season there. Also, the DOF makes the background seem incredibly flat and uninteresting. Lastly, the crop doesn't do it justice. I'd almost prefer a horizontal with just the top-in-focus flower and the one below it. Perhaps that would allow the 'flat' background to work as some 'positive' negative space?

I don't mean to bash it or anything, it just seemed kind of blah...

faidoi

Pentax K10D

04/08/2004 12:40:49 AM · #4

Originally posted by Koriyama:

Is this photo so bad that nobody wants to comment?

Just waiting for someone else to go first.

Hanami time. We can see the blossoms all over the place in San Francisco right now. Do you have any shots of multiply trees shots? Reminds me to go down to J-Town to get some festival shots next week. Mini-S.F. get together guys.

I would like to see more sharpness. It looks very soft.

Message edited by author 2004-04-08 00:44:29.

AmiYuy

Nikon Coolpix 8700

04/08/2004 12:42:28 AM · #5

Originally posted by faidoi:

Just waiting for someone else to go first.

-_- Thanks,faidoi, thanks.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

04/08/2004 12:50:44 AM · #6

Originally posted by Ami Yuy:

Hm, well your sakura looks kind of wilted and not very...'happy'? The colors aren't very vibrant, something I associate with all the photos I've seen of that season there. Also, the DOF makes the background seem incredibly flat and uninteresting. Lastly, the crop doesn't do it justice. I'd almost prefer a horizontal with just the top-in-focus flower and the one below it. Perhaps that would allow the 'flat' background to work as some 'positive' negative space?

Thanks for your opinion.

Actually, these are young sakura blossoms, and the colours should be subtle. I like this, which is why I posted it here.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

04/08/2004 12:54:53 AM · #7

I think it's a lovely shot. I think I would like it better with a different border and with the main flowers not being quite so vertically centered...maybe a slight diagonal? I don't know. Anyway, I think it's a traquil looking shot because of the subdued colors.

AmiYuy

Nikon Coolpix 8700

04/08/2004 01:19:34 AM · #8

*shrugs* I guess I am just really used to the full out blooms and the bright colors. I'm also one of those who likes to see less things rather than more and I think that's the other main reason...all the others are out of focus, so it doesn't seem like they need to be there.

But you know what? I'm a total novice so what do I know. ^_^

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/08/2004 01:33:11 AM · #9

If you made the crop less wide it would make for a good kakemono style print. Changing to a color closer to the colors of the sakuras instead of the black.