This image is a close-up of a rose, backlit by a light panel similar to those used for viewing X-ray films in doctors' offices. The goal was to capture the rim light at the rose's edges while darkening the rest of the flower. Although this particular image didn’t fully achieve this intended effect, it did produce an almost 1:1 close-up that highlights the details of the petals.
The second image is presented with normal front lighting.
Camera: Lumix G9ii with Leica 12-60 mm lens
Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/4
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 60 mm
Post Processing: Lightroom for general tone adjustment and Photoshop for adding a red layer as background
This round’s discussion is now closed! 6 comments posted
Karen Botvin
Hi Tom, when trying to achieve rim lighting, one must hide the subject from the light by using a slightly smaller outline of the subject made out of poster board or something similar and propped behind the subject. This will force the light to fall around the subject, thereby producing the rim lighting. Your second image on the red background looks as though you may have applied the red layer over top of the flower and then masked away some parts of the flower. Another way to have done this would be to have PS select the subject (the flower and the stem with leaves) and put that on a separate layer on top of the red layer.
Your aperture of f/4 gives just the right amount of focus to the bud with the focus dropping off around the base of the bud, which is my kind of flower photography.   Posted: 11/04/2024 12:28:25
Tom Lee
Karen, thank you for you input and I'll try with you suggestion when I shoot with light panel for rim light.   Posted: 11/14/2024 01:47:42
Charissa Lansing
Hi Tom,
To my eye, the DOF and aperature used to register the revised image work well to reveal the lovely textures and delicacy of the rose. Well done!
I agree with the helpful suggestions that Karen has offered.
The rose stem and leaf at camera left and bottom of the frame pull my eye away from the lovely rose.   Posted: 11/14/2024 01:34:52
Tom Lee
Sorry everyone ...
The one with red background is the one to be presented here and the other one is the original.   Posted: 11/14/2024 01:45:10
James Silliman
Tom, sorry that I misunderstood which image you were presenting for discussion. I must admit, of the two images I think the original is the strongest. I like the contrast between the red background and the white rose. Although I think the image would fair better if the leaf in the background were eliminated. The texture in the rose is more vivid with the red.   Posted: 11/20/2024 05:23:35
Tom Lee
Hi James, the one with red background is presenting for discussion and the other one is the 'original'. Sorry for the confusion.   Posted: 11/20/2024 05:58:21