Darcy Johnson
May 2022 - Looks Like Spring
About the Image(s)
This is a photo taken from my garden in early morning, late in May several years ago. This Allium plant is an ornamental onion. Cut the stem or crush a leaf and the connection will be obvious. The flower head is a cluster of individual forets and some varieties can grow as large as 5 feet tall.
ISO 400, 24mm, f4.5, 1/60 sec.
12 comments posted
Hi Darcy nice choice to use selective focus on the bee, allowing the detail and colour of the bee, particularly the wing to come through.
Background is diffused enough to allow a sense of presence and depth without distracting from the image.
Might I suggest a harder crop of the image getting rid of most of the stem and see if you can turn down the top of the plant to me it looks a tad overblown, drawing away from the the bee and the colour of the flower itself.
Well seen and captured Posted: 05/08/2022 19:40:35
Background is diffused enough to allow a sense of presence and depth without distracting from the image.
Might I suggest a harder crop of the image getting rid of most of the stem and see if you can turn down the top of the plant to me it looks a tad overblown, drawing away from the the bee and the colour of the flower itself.
Well seen and captured Posted: 05/08/2022 19:40:35
Both are great suggestions - thanks Tom. Posted: 05/13/2022 22:09:54
Hi Darcy,
Just a wonderful color palette. Your composition works well, and the bee looks like it is enjoying Spring. I agree with Tom's comments that the top could be toned down just a little.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 05/09/2022 20:19:07
Just a wonderful color palette. Your composition works well, and the bee looks like it is enjoying Spring. I agree with Tom's comments that the top could be toned down just a little.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 05/09/2022 20:19:07
Hi Greg - Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Best - Posted: 05/13/2022 22:11:15
Hi Darcy,
I wish I had taken this photo! Capturing little critters is HARD! You did a wonderful job.
I do find that my eye keeps getting drawn away from the bee because of the brightness in the top of the flower. And, I think I'd like a little less stem.
Great shot!
Karen Posted: 05/15/2022 17:27:06
I wish I had taken this photo! Capturing little critters is HARD! You did a wonderful job.
I do find that my eye keeps getting drawn away from the bee because of the brightness in the top of the flower. And, I think I'd like a little less stem.
Great shot!
Karen Posted: 05/15/2022 17:27:06
Hi Karen - I appreciate your sharing your insights. Thanks - Posted: 05/20/2022 21:11:05
Hi Darcy. This is a great capture of a bee enjoying spring and I love the detail and texture of his wings. I agree that the almost blown out brightness of the bloom distracts from the bee and maybe bringing down the highlights would diminish this effect. I love the indistinct blurred plant shapes in the bottom behind the stem and would not crop out the stem to preserve this feature. Realizing it could be defficult, if you could select the grey area behind the flower and bee, cloning some of the blurred green into the grey space at the top might also simplify the composition emphasize the subjects. Thanks for sharing this slice of spring. Posted: 05/15/2022 17:39:08
Hi Ingrid - Thanks for your suggestions. I'll see what I can do. Best -
Posted: 05/20/2022 21:15:01
Posted: 05/20/2022 21:15:01
Hi Darcy, an interesting image! You are trying to focus on the bee, but it is very difficult to shoot it well using a 24 mm lens. I think it would be better to use a zoom lens to do a close-up shot or use a macro lens. I don't like the composition to cut the part of the flower off in order to focus the bee. Thanks for sharing!
Posted: 05/16/2022 17:18:20
Posted: 05/16/2022 17:18:20
Hi Xiao - The lens focal length is 18-400mm. It's a telephoto all-in-one zoom lens and typically my go-to lens. I wish I did have a macro lens . . . it's on my wish-list. Anyway, this lens is capable; I'm afraid the operator could have done better :) Thanks for your input. Posted: 05/20/2022 21:23:27
Hi Darcy,
An well composed image. I like the way you have tried to focus on the bee but it's not easy eh.. ?! I love the way you have handled the post processing. Like other's mentioned the top of the image could be more of blurred or defused a bit.
Loved it. Stay safe and stay blessed as always.
Cheers.
Kamal.
Posted: 05/17/2022 15:18:23
An well composed image. I like the way you have tried to focus on the bee but it's not easy eh.. ?! I love the way you have handled the post processing. Like other's mentioned the top of the image could be more of blurred or defused a bit.
Loved it. Stay safe and stay blessed as always.
Cheers.
Kamal.
Posted: 05/17/2022 15:18:23
Hi Kamal - As always, I look forward to your comments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on my image. Best - Posted: 05/20/2022 21:28:05