Bill Foy
December 2019 - Scarlett Powder Puff Tree Flower
About the Image(s)
Title: Scarlett Powder Puff Tree Flower
How I Did It: This image was made at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. These flowers always remind me of bottle brushes. This is the start of something new for me. I took Adobe's Black Friday offer for Photoshop & Lightroom 2020 and this is my first time using PS. Slightly terrifying!! Especially Lightroom, which I haven't touched yet. I think this may be the first image I've submitted anywhere that I didn't crop because I was so on top of this flower. I blurred the background. Thought about a vignette, but couldn't figure out how to apply one. Nikon D500, Sigma 150mm macro lens, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO-100, hand-held, no flash, Exposure Program-Manual, Metering Mode - Center Weighted Average. I also burned the highlights in the background.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
(Groups 80 & 95)
Soft and ethereal in impact; love the colors! Vignettes are easier to add in Lightroom IMHO. The lighting works well for this; I would suggest that you try to apply a gradient to the bottom third (so its gradual....maybe even 1/8th?) to raise the shadows just a bit....the stem disappears too much for my taste. The crop works quite well so that I don't feel at all crowded. Posted: 12/11/2019 13:08:55
(Groups 29 & 74 & 95 & 80)
I'm not far enough into my Lightroom lessons to know how to apply a vignette, apply a gradient, or decrease/increase luminance. Instead I tried a couple of things in PhotoShop that I've messed around with before - burned the background to try to bring the flower out and dodged the stem to make it more visible. Do you think there's improvement in the attached image? Posted: 12/16/2019 12:57:37
(Group 57)
Nice capture, Bill. The 2.8 aperture is perfect for this shot, and as Carol mentioned, the color is nice. I like that backlighting effect, gives it a nice glow. For sure a vignette would help tone down some of the bright background and pull the viewer more into the center of the flower. I agree that the bottom of the flower and stem could use brightness boost; would give the flower a little more depth. Posted: 12/13/2019 14:44:31
(Groups 29 & 74 & 95 & 80)
I'm not far enough into my Lightroom lessons to know how to apply a vignette, apply a gradient, or decrease/increase luminance. Instead I tried a couple of things in PhotoShop that I've messed around with before - burned the background to try to bring the flower out and dodged the stem to make it more visible. Do you think there's improvement in the attached image? Posted: 12/16/2019 12:58:03
(Group 77)
I have always loved these flowers too Bill! You have this well composed. I like the softness you got with the 2.8 aperture. I find this really pleasing to look at.
As the others mentioned, adding a vignette would probably improve the photo, and it is really easy to do in Lightroom. Posted: 12/14/2019 09:50:01
As the others mentioned, adding a vignette would probably improve the photo, and it is really easy to do in Lightroom. Posted: 12/14/2019 09:50:01
(Groups 29 & 74 & 95 & 80)
I'm not far enough into my Lightroom lessons to know how to apply a vignette, apply a gradient, or decrease/increase luminance. Instead I tried a couple of things in PhotoShop that I've messed around with before - burned the background to try to bring the flower out and dodged the stem to make it more visible. Do you think there's improvement in the attached image? Posted: 12/16/2019 12:58:33
Doug Wolters
(Group 10)
(Group 10)
I am somewhat the odd man out. I have always found things like this to be challenging to shoot. Yes, the composition (it should be centered) and softness are nice. But I would like to see a bit more in focus. Did you try this at other f stops?
You could try pulling down the green luminance. and increase the red luminance in Lightroom (or use the eye-dropper). That would make the pink pop even more. And a slight vignette might be very nice. Posted: 12/15/2019 21:35:42
You could try pulling down the green luminance. and increase the red luminance in Lightroom (or use the eye-dropper). That would make the pink pop even more. And a slight vignette might be very nice. Posted: 12/15/2019 21:35:42
(Groups 29 & 74 & 95 & 80)
I'm not far enough into my Lightroom lessons to know how to apply a vignette, apply a gradient, or decrease/increase luminance. Instead I tried a couple of things in PhotoShop that I've messed around with before - burned the background to try to bring the flower out and dodged the stem to make it more visible. Do you think there's improvement in the attached image? Posted: 12/16/2019 12:58:52
Doug Wolters
(Group 10)
(Group 10)
Yes, I think it improved. Pulling down the luminance in LR is very easy; just go to that module (right hand side) & look for Luminance. There is a "tool" at the top; just drag it up or down. It affects the colors LR sees. Or just work with the individual colors
While I like the new image better, perhaps the Luminance in LR would have not lessened the intensity of the green. The new image seems much more in focus, just enough to make it really work for me. Posted: 12/16/2019 15:12:26
While I like the new image better, perhaps the Luminance in LR would have not lessened the intensity of the green. The new image seems much more in focus, just enough to make it really work for me. Posted: 12/16/2019 15:12:26