Howard Frank  


Flower and Friend by Howard Frank

May 2022 - Flower and Friend

About the Image(s)

I took this image at the Chicago Botanic Garden handheld with my Nikon Z9 and 34 to 200 Z lens. I am experimenting with this great camera to see what it can do. I set for aperture priority at F8 1/4000 of a second, ISO 800 and 115 mm. I cropped, adjusted color, and sharpened in Lightroom and Topaz Sharpen AI.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




 
Howard, Lovely image with high impact. The lighting and composition give a real feeling of depth and my eye-mind thinks it is standing right next to the wasp. To me this is really alive! A minor point: the green foliage on the perimeter is a tiny bit distracting to me. Wonderful and awesome!   Posted: 05/05/2022 21:51:13



Lee Ann Stamm   Lee Ann Stamm
Hi Howard: I love the composition of this image, with the fly contrasting with the yellow and white. The little squiggles of white in the center as so fun. The focus is right in the center where it should be, but the slightly blurred, tube-shaped petals make a perfect frame for the subject. Your use of Topaz was not overdone, which is a common problem. Like Ham, I find the green outside the flower to be a little distracting and perhaps changing the entire background to black would work better. Nice image.   Posted: 05/06/2022 17:32:16



Bev Caine   Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
WOW! Lovely image...tack sharp and the fly just adds to the final image. Topaz has turned out to be a photographer's dream for me   Posted: 05/13/2022 20:52:06



Bob Scott   Bob Scott
Excellent sharpness on the wasp and good color, I agree on getting rid of the bit of greenery. The focus seems to fall off before the wasp and especially to the right. I might crop out the bottom of the flower, cutting off 25-30 percent of the yellow center, leaving it to concentrate more on the wasp   Posted: 05/15/2022 23:59:59



Peter Curcio   Peter Curcio
(Group 10)
Howard, great capture especially hand held. I think the cropping works very well. Beautiful detail for the fly.   Posted: 05/22/2022 10:34:22



Peter Cheung   Peter Cheung
Great details and sharpness. The colors contrast is excellent. I think you can try even smaller aperture to make the edges of the flower in focus also. I also agree the green foliage a little distracting. Great capture and well done.   Posted: 05/26/2022 10:20:44



Helen Sweet   Helen Sweet
Do you know what this flower is? Its unusual petals provide a frame for the black wasp on the yellow center. A graphically strong, sharp, striking image.   Posted: 05/29/2022 00:31:28
Howard Frank   Howard Frank
Hi Helen,

It is some type of daisy, and btw it is a common house fly. (grin)   Posted: 05/29/2022 09:42:44