Darcy Johnson
April 2021 - Hibiscus
About the Image(s)
For the past ten years or so, I have grown a Hibiscus bush. In my part of the world, the bush needs to be over-wintered indoors for it to have any chance of survival. Between this and traveling to locales where this bush thrives, I have taken my fair share of Hibiscus photographs. When wading through a file of these photographs recently, I ran across this one from 2014 that I thought might do well in black and white.
Technical - ISO320, 300mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec. Very basic processing - crop, sharpen, slight vignette, horizontal flip.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
19 comments posted
Darcy,
I think the conversion to B&W works well with this image. The contrast of the white against the dark background made the Hibiscus really stand out. I also believe that the horizonal flip strengthens the composition. The only issue I see is with the focus. It looks like the focus is on the back leaf and I think the image would have worked better with the focus in the center.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 04/05/2021 16:11:25
I think the conversion to B&W works well with this image. The contrast of the white against the dark background made the Hibiscus really stand out. I also believe that the horizonal flip strengthens the composition. The only issue I see is with the focus. It looks like the focus is on the back leaf and I think the image would have worked better with the focus in the center.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 04/05/2021 16:11:25
I appreciate the comments Greg - I beg to differ with the comment about focus though. On my computer the focus is laterally through the middle of the flower - on the pistil and the petals to the left and right. The front petals are slightly out of focus and the back petal is quite clearly out of focus. Some might argue that the entire flower should be in focus. I kind of like it as is, but then again, that's why I bring it forward for comment. Posted: 04/05/2021 20:14:20
Sorry Darcy, it must just be my monitor. All in all, a well composed image.
Regards,
Greg Posted: 04/05/2021 23:33:31
Regards,
Greg Posted: 04/05/2021 23:33:31
No worries - It could just as easily be my monitor or my eyesight :) Posted: 04/05/2021 23:55:59
Hi Darcy
A nice image in the black-and-white conversion works well contrast in luminous levels on the leaves is very pleasing the darkness of the stem coming in from the left is a nice contrast to the flower itself and I agree with the diagonal presentation top left to bottom right is a great way to present it. There is a softness about the stem itself but I don't believe this is a focus issue, not sure if it's something that occurred in processing but it seems to be a form of halo around parts of the little bugs on the stem, (copied image and zoomed in). I actually believe that this adds to the image not detracts. as a suggestion, I placed a levels adjustment layer in photoshop on your image and using a mirrored gradient filter from photoshop on your image I darkened the extremities which gave a more pronounced look to your stem, purely a suggestion if you care to try. image attached and very subtle change hope you can see it. Posted: 04/06/2021 23:28:49
A nice image in the black-and-white conversion works well contrast in luminous levels on the leaves is very pleasing the darkness of the stem coming in from the left is a nice contrast to the flower itself and I agree with the diagonal presentation top left to bottom right is a great way to present it. There is a softness about the stem itself but I don't believe this is a focus issue, not sure if it's something that occurred in processing but it seems to be a form of halo around parts of the little bugs on the stem, (copied image and zoomed in). I actually believe that this adds to the image not detracts. as a suggestion, I placed a levels adjustment layer in photoshop on your image and using a mirrored gradient filter from photoshop on your image I darkened the extremities which gave a more pronounced look to your stem, purely a suggestion if you care to try. image attached and very subtle change hope you can see it. Posted: 04/06/2021 23:28:49
Tried to attached a Photoshop document, didn't work. OH Well here is a JPEG Posted: 04/06/2021 23:31:51
Hi Tom - As I have time to explore and as others, such as yourself, recommend a procedure in Photoshop I give it a try, but otherwise find I gravitate to Lightroom CC for most post work. I really should work harder at getting to know Photoshop's offerings better. I appreciate your sharing your observations and efforts to produce a better image. Posted: 04/07/2021 07:56:51
(Group 46)
Beautiful image! I like the lighting, very attractive! The background is nice, very blur and soft, but I don't know what the background is, and I think if the background can indicate the flower's location or environment, such as natural environment, that would be great. Also, I don't like the flower's position, a diagonal position seems unnature to me, and the whole image seems too full. Posted: 04/07/2021 14:17:46
Hi Xiao - Thanks for commenting. While I find it is quite common with botanical photos to be taken close up and fill the image, perhaps I pushed the petals too close to the edge in the crop. As for the positioning, what attracted me to this angle was how the photograph showed off the bloom and in particular the petals in a way that facing forward didn't do. Best - Posted: 04/07/2021 21:26:09
Hi Darcy,
Beautiful image!
Being a "newbie", I liked reading the other comments to see if what I thought was shared by others.
I do like the diagonal placement, but agree that the crop might be a bit too tight. The focus seems good, but there is some haloing as Tom mentioned - although I don't have a clue how to fix it.
You've inspired me to try some "flower portraits"!
Karen Posted: 04/11/2021 09:05:50
Beautiful image!
Being a "newbie", I liked reading the other comments to see if what I thought was shared by others.
I do like the diagonal placement, but agree that the crop might be a bit too tight. The focus seems good, but there is some haloing as Tom mentioned - although I don't have a clue how to fix it.
You've inspired me to try some "flower portraits"!
Karen Posted: 04/11/2021 09:05:50
One should always go with their first instincts . . . not sure why I haven't learned that lesson. Thanks for your input. Posted: 04/15/2021 10:36:04
Hi Darcy,
Greetings my friend.
I hope you are keeping safe while taking hibiscus photoshoot.
In my point of view, the image you have presented is a good one but the composition is little bit too tight. Though I agree with you in the floral photography and close up perception.
This could very well be accompanied with a leaf or two from the side to complementing the well captured flower in the composition. But that's only my taste/opinion. The image is tack sharp and Black and white went good with the image. Next time you may try to include 2 or 3 leafs along with the flower; to see how does that look.
Over all a nice image to share.
Thanks & Cheers.
Kamal.
Posted: 04/13/2021 00:26:43
Greetings my friend.
I hope you are keeping safe while taking hibiscus photoshoot.
In my point of view, the image you have presented is a good one but the composition is little bit too tight. Though I agree with you in the floral photography and close up perception.
This could very well be accompanied with a leaf or two from the side to complementing the well captured flower in the composition. But that's only my taste/opinion. The image is tack sharp and Black and white went good with the image. Next time you may try to include 2 or 3 leafs along with the flower; to see how does that look.
Over all a nice image to share.
Thanks & Cheers.
Kamal.
Posted: 04/13/2021 00:26:43
I agree that it is helpful to have foliage included in botanical photographs. It is many times helpful to have buds included as well. There weren't leaves competing for attention in this particular shot even before the tight crop. I appreciate your input - Thanks
Posted: 04/15/2021 10:44:10
Posted: 04/15/2021 10:44:10
(Group 88)
Hi Darcy, I agreed with others about the cropping is too tight. It is a beautiful photo. I would admire your lighting of the image, so it added the softness of the flower. It is attractive. B&W Color is well balance. In my first look, for the macro photo, I would find where is the focus point. I would suggest you may lower the open aperture (f5.6 to f4 or f2.8) to blur the thing around the center. Thanks and best regards Posted: 04/15/2021 00:08:17
I am not sure I would have thought to blur the image to the degree you mention, but I'll give it a try and see what results come of it. I'll fix the crop. I appreciate your suggestions. Posted: 04/15/2021 10:47:07
(Group 88)
Thanks for your thought. In my macro photo, in this picture I may try to blur the petal on the right and stem/sepals then stigma is main focus point. It can be done by post processing or when taking photo in different angle. Seem to me this picture very sharp on few area: stem, petal and stigma. Thanks Posted: 04/15/2021 14:09:29
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
This is a beautiful image. but I wish I had seen the original for comparison sake. Posted: 04/18/2021 18:00:22
Hi Bev - Here is the original as requested. When I pulled the original, I was a bit confused, then checked LR and sure enough on this image I hadn't executed a horizontal flip. Doing post work on multiple images must have muddled my mind. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :) Thanks for commenting. Posted: 04/18/2021 20:46:01
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
The original is beautiful as well Posted: 04/19/2021 06:30:29