Tom Pickering, APSA
October 2018 - Sunflower Back
About the Image(s)
Specs: D5000, Tamron 60mm Macro, F11, 1s, ISO 200, Room Lighting
14-image stack that was merged in Helicon Focus, toned with ACR. Suggestions?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Hi, Tom,
You captured what I feel is the most interesting part of a sunflower. Much more detail from the back of it. I tried a crop of it showing less of the leaves and darken the image a bit. This eliminates the light areas of the greenery but still shows the interesting detail. Also tried to darken the one light distracting area on the petals.
I like the way you show the depth difference of the leaves and the petals.
Janet Posted: 10/12/2018 13:24:18
You captured what I feel is the most interesting part of a sunflower. Much more detail from the back of it. I tried a crop of it showing less of the leaves and darken the image a bit. This eliminates the light areas of the greenery but still shows the interesting detail. Also tried to darken the one light distracting area on the petals.
I like the way you show the depth difference of the leaves and the petals.
Janet Posted: 10/12/2018 13:24:18
(Groups 0 & 53)
Your changes finished the image nicely. Thanks! Posted: 10/12/2018 14:27:47
(Group 65)
Hi, Tom,
I agree with Janet for the most part. I do like the composition being a horizontal rather that a vertical. I feel all the parts of the flower point in a horizontal direction and makes for a flow in the composition. I would crop just a little off the left side to eliminate the one sepal along the edge. The green parts are sepals, they are the green parts that covered the flower before it opens. To my eye there are some hot areas on the sepals that are a bit too bright. Most of the time these are caused by glare due to the waxy surface on most leaves, stems, sepals and some petals. A polarizer in most cases will eliminate or help eliminate the glare. A polarizer will intensify and saturate color in all these situations improving all images. Its easy to see the results. Put a polarizer on your lens while looking through the viewfinder rotate the polarizer and see the difference. If you don't use a polarizer and get glare off the leaves or stems you can not undo this in post processing. A polarizer will let the camera see things we can not see with our eyes. It's important to use a good polarizer. I use a polarizer on probably 98% of my images. It makes a big difference. The information about a polarizer is meant for everyone. Having said all of that, I think you did a good job on your stack. Its sharp in most places. Posted: 10/12/2018 15:39:28
I agree with Janet for the most part. I do like the composition being a horizontal rather that a vertical. I feel all the parts of the flower point in a horizontal direction and makes for a flow in the composition. I would crop just a little off the left side to eliminate the one sepal along the edge. The green parts are sepals, they are the green parts that covered the flower before it opens. To my eye there are some hot areas on the sepals that are a bit too bright. Most of the time these are caused by glare due to the waxy surface on most leaves, stems, sepals and some petals. A polarizer in most cases will eliminate or help eliminate the glare. A polarizer will intensify and saturate color in all these situations improving all images. Its easy to see the results. Put a polarizer on your lens while looking through the viewfinder rotate the polarizer and see the difference. If you don't use a polarizer and get glare off the leaves or stems you can not undo this in post processing. A polarizer will let the camera see things we can not see with our eyes. It's important to use a good polarizer. I use a polarizer on probably 98% of my images. It makes a big difference. The information about a polarizer is meant for everyone. Having said all of that, I think you did a good job on your stack. Its sharp in most places. Posted: 10/12/2018 15:39:28
(Groups 0 & 53)
Yay! That is high praise from you about my stack. I'm shopping for a polarizer now. Posted: 10/16/2018 13:23:35
Hi Tom,
I like the different view of the sunflower and the amount of detail you have captured.
The thing that distracted me was the bright area on the sepals and I have noticed this on some of my own images, so I was glad t read Dick's fix! I would think though that a polariser might make it even harder to make hand held shots and get the settings right. Posted: 10/12/2018 17:09:46
I like the different view of the sunflower and the amount of detail you have captured.
The thing that distracted me was the bright area on the sepals and I have noticed this on some of my own images, so I was glad t read Dick's fix! I would think though that a polariser might make it even harder to make hand held shots and get the settings right. Posted: 10/12/2018 17:09:46
(Groups 0 & 53)
I almost never shoot handheld anymore as I have too much hand shake. I will definitely look into a polarizer when I get some extra cash. d;¬{D Posted: 10/12/2018 17:54:16
(Group 65)
For me there's no such thing as hand held and tack sharp macro images. To have a low ISO(200 to 600) and max. depth of field(f22) your looking at 1/2 to 3sec.exp. When I do stacks at f-8 and ISO of 200 my exposure is around 1/5 to 1/2sec. you can not hand hold, but not with a stack anyway.
I like B+W by Schneider polarizers they are great. Don't put cheap glass in a good lens.
I do a program on polarizers for camera clubs. When I show with and without, it will make you want to throw all your images away without. Posted: 10/12/2018 19:23:53
I like B+W by Schneider polarizers they are great. Don't put cheap glass in a good lens.
I do a program on polarizers for camera clubs. When I show with and without, it will make you want to throw all your images away without. Posted: 10/12/2018 19:23:53
(Group 41)
Hi Tom,
You also might want to underexpose to reduce the glare and improve your light source. By moving your light source closer to the subject, you can soften it a bit. You can also try to use a white reflector instead of direct light.
Posted: 10/26/2018 13:05:41
You also might want to underexpose to reduce the glare and improve your light source. By moving your light source closer to the subject, you can soften it a bit. You can also try to use a white reflector instead of direct light.
Posted: 10/26/2018 13:05:41
nice , Good image, only i feel still you can slightly reduce light
Got lots of informations about Polarizer from Stats comment, i need to buy one Posted: 10/27/2018 03:36:28
Got lots of informations about Polarizer from Stats comment, i need to buy one Posted: 10/27/2018 03:36:28