Bob Legg  

Rose Float 149 by Bob Legg

December 2025 - Rose Float 149

December 2025 - Bob Legg

Original

About the Image(s)

Metadata is ISO 3200, handheld, Nikon 28-300 taken at 250 mm, in rain, f 11 @1/320sec. I won’t bother you with all the details all the time but generally find the shutter speed and f-stop to be of assistance at least when I review images and since this is my first submission I included all the data. No sure if you would like to see the original image or not. I rarely use the original image as my final. I'm withholding my seafood originals as I’m not finding any others using this type of background. You’ll see why as we go down the proverbial rabbit hole. As you have guessed this is a composite image. The background has been removed from the rose and replaced with the background which I have coined “Seafoam”. Taken from an upper elevation of a cruise ship in the Norwegian Sea using a very wide compass as no way to record exactly with slow forward motion of the ship because of low fog. Foam was taken at iso 800, 45mm@ f7.1. I combined the images in LightenBlend mode. Yes, I used the remove tool to cleanup.
Suggestions or questions?

3 comments posted

Donna Sturla   Donna Sturla
Hi, Bob, I love flowers and these are really pretty. That said, I'm not sure I understand why you wanted to put the roses on seafoam -- I would think a textured background that looks more like a garden would work quite nicely.
I notice around the edges of the flowers a blu-ish line, which really gives away that it's a composite. I would omit that (cloning maybe?). Also maybe add some shadowing beneath the flower or some other clue that makes it look like it's really floating on water. Composites are tricky, I've made many poor ones ! Good try, keep it up.   Posted: 12/11/2025 02:55:38
Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Thanks Donna for your comments. I don't expect you to understand me as we have known each other for only a minut period of time. I rarely use made backgrounds and have resorted to black or reduced exposures. I therefore have very little to choose from when needing a lighter color background. I shoot and make many different images and if I get 50% or more approval then it's a win. I also get positive comments that allow me to improve the image. It's almost impossible to get camera club judges to give you a winning score for a black or flat background. But something different increases the odds. Yes that bluish line was caused by Ps when I did "remove background" on the rose. But it only shows on some of the edges. You are the 3rd or 4th to spot that defect and it's on my list to fix. Yes, cloning might work. You're suggesting using shadows. I had removed tool the shadows that went up into the center. I have to conquer the flower background against the different colors of the water & seafoam along with your suggestions. If someone doesn't spot them then I have a good idea they don't do good looking. Well done on your part. Thanks   Posted: 12/12/2025 17:34:32
Meredith Bain   Meredith Bain
An unusual combination of background and subject Bob. Because of that and with your clear skills, would you consider blurring the sea foam so it is not recogniseable as such and becomes more abstract?
I'm no Photoshop expert but guess that there is a way to eliminate the bluish line that others have mentioned. A little more exposure on the bottom right rose would make it similar to the others in its exposure.
The colour combination of subject and background is appealing. Thanks for challenging my senses   Posted: 12/14/2025 18:17:52

 

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