Mark McKinney
May 2020 - Texas Olive Flower
About the Image(s)
Time on my hands. How about some Macro Photography?
We have two Texas Olive trees. They are just lovely when in bloom. Pentax K 3 Camera with Pentax D FA Macro 100 f. 2.8 lens. Tripod. F 16, 1/160th second. ISA 400.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Very nice. My eye goes right to the stamens and the lighting is lovely. Perhaps a smudge of crop on the left. Good job! Posted: 05/08/2020 21:04:41
I too love the focus on the stamen. Wonderful. I like the dreamy colors of white and yellow of the flower. You could use photo stacking on this but it would loose a lot. I think the crop is wonderful as is, and nicely uses the rule of thirds to focus the eye. Even the back light of yellow through the flower draw focus to the stamen. Great macro ! Posted: 05/09/2020 10:21:50
(Group 77)
Beautiful Image. It gives me a calming feeling. I did just try it at a different angle. I also sharpened it a little and used levels in photoshop to give it a little more saturation. Posted: 05/09/2020 11:11:19
Sorry Linda , for me, this is now overprocesed, especially the sharpening. Posted: 05/21/2020 08:09:45
Linda, it doesn't need sharpened. It doesn't need more saturation. What I have in my image is the actual color. I am happy with that. ASs to the angle it is something I always consider. I rely on gravity. I always want my emphasis point to be pushing against gravity - not being sucked in. Posted: 05/09/2020 15:47:00
Lovely flower shot Mark, point of focus is spot on and the softness of the yellow color is very nice. I agree that it doesn't need sharpening as that give a "crunchy" look. I find that focusing on stamen is not as easy as it looks. You have done this perfectly. My only suggestion would be to darken the left corner a bit, not that it is blown out but it is just so bright compared to the subtleness of the rest of the shot. Posted: 05/10/2020 09:49:12
Thank you Bruce. I will try darkening the left corner. This is a Texas Olive blossom. We have two of these trees. I like the bright yellow and the the pure white. These flowers are quite small! I don't do much macro and and still learning. I have learned that the camera lens must be aligned directly opposite the subject. These blossoms photograph well when they are backlite. Posted: 05/10/2020 10:35:36
I think you have done an excellent job with this image. You have the stamens sharp and the main focus and the colours, especially the whites, are spot on. I agree with your thoughts on the composition as well, much better to be able to approach the flower and look into it. Posted: 05/21/2020 08:12:50