Bob Wills
July 2025 - The Garden
About the Image(s)
I took this image of a container garden at Patriots Landing. It was just part of a practice outing with my Nikkor 135 mm Plena lens. I practiced with handholding and on my tripod. This image was on a tripod. I used the camera matching landscape profile in LRCC 2025 that Adobe gets from Nikon. I took it into PSCC for color and tone adjustments and added a small radial spot.
Nikon Z8, Nikkor 135mm Plena lens, Manual exposure, 1/500 sec @f1.8, ISO 64, spot metering.
I like the ethereal bokeh, depth of field and soft colors of this lens. While there isn't a subject or story, it does make me feel calm, in touch with nature, and relaxed. I should print it and donate it to a VA counselor. All your help will be appreciated.
15 comments posted
I like the soft focus and calming effect this image gives. I do find my eye goes to the red spot on the right side of the image and wanders out. I removed the majority of the red and left just some soft colors behind in that area. You may want to try a composite with some soft flowers in the middle. Posted: 07/04/2025 00:42:05
Thank you, Kathy. Ultimately it is destined for my Backgrounds folder. I left in the red/yellow you took out because I thought it might be balanced from the tringle made by the red/yellow combos on the left edge. Since they are sharp and the area you removed is blurred, I think I was wrong. Posted: 07/04/2025 15:45:46
I agree with Kathy about your red flower edit. Posted: 07/06/2025 16:38:43
me too. Posted: 07/06/2025 20:21:26
Bob, the description above is an excellent idea as to why you chose the composition and calming effect. Without your reasoning I would state that it was too green and lacking a subject. This image does make a very good choice for a background. Leaving the red flower on the right might work very well in a balanced foreground. Looking forward to seeing some foregrounds using this background. I personally struggle with finding the best foregrounds to complete the composition. Posted: 07/06/2025 16:50:27
Thank you, Bob. I sometime use my Backgrounds images as middle grounds too. I try not to limit myself too much and hunt folders when I am compositing. This will probably end up in DD18 some day. Kathy gave me a good suggestion about a composite. It is a fun lens to use and will require much more practice for me. Posted: 07/06/2025 20:29:35
For my eyes, or on my monitor, it's too much of a yellow-green. I agree it is calming and would make a nice background. I would leave the red as it might work with whatever subject you chose. Posted: 07/07/2025 13:17:45
Thanks, Elaine. Posted: 07/07/2025 14:10:06
I love the colors here. I do have a problem with the lack of a
focal point. If cropped considerably, the focus can be on the left plant. I agree with the others in that it would be a lovely background photo. Posted: 07/07/2025 16:19:45
focal point. If cropped considerably, the focus can be on the left plant. I agree with the others in that it would be a lovely background photo. Posted: 07/07/2025 16:19:45
Thanks Karen. As I said this image was more for practice, seeing what this lens could do, and then I just decided to put it up as a background test too. Your idea is a good one. Posted: 07/07/2025 17:00:12
Well it is very green Bob and green is meant to be calming. From your explanation it should make a good base image for composites Posted: 07/07/2025 22:13:35
Thanks, Tim. Time to go back to shooting real images. Posted: 07/07/2025 22:15:53
Bob, Now you made me research since I never heard of this lens. I have always been a Nikon user, but they were late in the mirrorless game so I got an Olympus system before they became OM. At this stage I hesitate changing my gear since I am not using any of it much. I agree this is more of a background image, but like Karen's version. This group is a good way to practice new techniques or gear. Posted: 07/09/2025 18:01:36
Thanks, Judy. I had given up hope of ever shooting again after my tremors started. But since I was diagnosed and treated for PD, I bought gear again. Living here and having pool therapy has made me active again. I still don't have as much energy, but am doing so much better. Just can't figure out why my LRC is balking. Posted: 07/10/2025 02:05:45
Bob, you should be using modern shooting techniques to match that Z8. Checkout Steve Perry, Nikon guides. Shoot at min of iso 800+ when handholding and learn back button focus and hold it in to focus as you rock back and forth and shoot a group of 2-5 shots and you find that you percentages are close to 100%. Posted: 07/17/2025 22:42:21