Bill Foy  

Crocus by Bill Foy

April 2021 - Crocus

April 2021 - Bill Foy

Original

About the Image(s)

This image was made a couple of weeks ago at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA., where large portions of the grassy areas were sprouting crocus, mostly white - which is why I opted for blue! I included the "original" to give you an idea of just how small these flowers were that day. With the exception of a small crop and some burning of the background, which was done in PS, all adjustments done in ACR - exposure, highlights/shadows and vibrance. Nikon D500, Sigma 150mm macro lens, f/8, 1/250, ISO-100, handheld. For those who wonder about my ability to handhold the camera/lens directly above the flower, for this shot I was kneeling on my right knee, and steading the camera by planting my left elbow on my left leg, bracing my right arm against my side and holding my breath.

8 comments posted

Bev Caine   Bev Caine
(Groups 48 & 80)
The only thing I might have done to this was further blur the background. The flower is not only my favorite color but it is gorgeous and sharp as sharp can be.   Posted: 04/04/2021 06:57:08
Comment Image
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
Agreed, Bev! That finished the image nicely.   Posted: 04/17/2021 13:11:20
Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
Hi Bill,
Now I understand why you are a good photographer. You also are a contortionist and are able to capture impossible shots with great success. I know that crocuses are very small. Your little flower is well exposed and tack sharp. The colors are striking. Maybe I would darken the background a bit to give more attention to the flower.   Posted: 04/06/2021 17:07:56
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
If I had gotten down like that, I would have spent an hour getting back up again! d8¬{O   Posted: 04/17/2021 13:12:22
Carol Sheppard   Carol Sheppard
This is a well-captured image: sharp, vibrant, with a lovely blurred and uncluttered background. The angle you captured it with worked very well for this; I have photographed these flowers, but none of them ever looked as good as this! Kudos!
  Posted: 04/08/2021 18:12:28
Stuart Ord   Stuart Ord
Very attractive colour and detail. It's difficult to get one exposure in this situation, so I won't suggest a bracket at larger aperture to oompress the sharp area! However more blurring of the background can be done in post.
It's very square and tight in the frame; I wonder if a little more space to the bottom and right might have given it room to breathe and enhanced the leading line effect of the leaf below?   Posted: 04/09/2021 01:56:18
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
If more space was added to the bottom right corner, the flower would have seemed crowded against the opposite corner:   Posted: 04/17/2021 13:23:05
Comment Image
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
Excellent shot, Bill! Holding your breath while taking this seems to have worked quite well for you, though I was taught to slowly exhale and take the shot before starting to inhale. I may have to experiment with the latter now. d;¬{D

I think Bev is right about blurring the background to remove the distractions. I also think your crop works well for this subject.   Posted: 04/17/2021 13:10:52

 

Please log in to post a comment