Blair Roy
September 2023 - Dogwood Flower
Original
About the Image(s)
For the metadata:
Apple iphone 12
Focal length: 4.12mm
f/2.4
Exposure program: normal
Exposure time: 1/140
I planted a dogwood tree a few years ago and was counting each flower that bloomed those first few years. It was a very small tree, with only five buds the first year. This is one of those first five flowers, before it opened. I cropped the original and have included it as well. I look forward to hearing how I could improve upon this photo or if it is worth trying to improve it.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Blair,
It is a lovely flower. I like the way the petals curve over the center. Using the flash to make the background dark is a good technique but I think the flower has a bit too much exposure because some of the highlights are blown out.
Posted: 09/07/2023 19:42:44
It is a lovely flower. I like the way the petals curve over the center. Using the flash to make the background dark is a good technique but I think the flower has a bit too much exposure because some of the highlights are blown out.
Posted: 09/07/2023 19:42:44
Thank you, Dean. I will work with your suggestion to see if I can adjust the exposure. Good idea. Posted: 09/26/2023 10:20:34
(Group 65)
Hi Blair,
Lovely! The white dogwood flower pops against the black background. Sharp details and nice texture. I like the slight inward curve of the bloom. It's a keeper.
I would prefer a clean black background. Also, I agree with Dean the highlights in the flower are a little bright. I reduced the highlights and darkened the background. See if you like it. Posted: 09/09/2023 09:48:55
Lovely! The white dogwood flower pops against the black background. Sharp details and nice texture. I like the slight inward curve of the bloom. It's a keeper.
I would prefer a clean black background. Also, I agree with Dean the highlights in the flower are a little bright. I reduced the highlights and darkened the background. See if you like it. Posted: 09/09/2023 09:48:55
Barbara, thanks so much! I love what you have done. Now for me to learn how to do that. Thank you so much. You have given me something to work towards. Posted: 09/26/2023 10:22:12
Hey Blair, I think you might have already read that I think still life is a great genre for improving your skills, so I'm glad you've jumped into it. In this case, I think the focus and depth of field (DoF) are spot on. Colors look realistic to me, which is good. As a first step into still life, this is a great, charismatic subject, and one you can spend the rest of your photographic career working with (I'm putting together a whole project of flower shots, styled in ikebana arrangements, by my wife), so keep it up.
My suggestion would be to consider that if you're going for a black background, then make it a black background. In this case, there's other stuff going on back there. For me, learning to pay attention to whatever is behind my subjects, and thus will be in the image, took a long time, and I still fail to do so sometimes. But, getting that skill down will save you big time. Just a suggestion... Posted: 09/09/2023 19:31:33
My suggestion would be to consider that if you're going for a black background, then make it a black background. In this case, there's other stuff going on back there. For me, learning to pay attention to whatever is behind my subjects, and thus will be in the image, took a long time, and I still fail to do so sometimes. But, getting that skill down will save you big time. Just a suggestion... Posted: 09/09/2023 19:31:33
Damon, your comments are most helpful. Thank you very much. I appreciate your perspective and will take them into consideration with future photos. I would love to say I had considered the background, but it would probably be a dishonest statement. :-)
Hearing all of the suggestions here has been most helpful! I already have much to consider going forward. Thanks so much. Posted: 09/26/2023 10:28:22
Hearing all of the suggestions here has been most helpful! I already have much to consider going forward. Thanks so much. Posted: 09/26/2023 10:28:22
Blair, lovely presentation of this flower. I agree with Damon that the background should be all black. You could crop it even more, and just make it all about the flower. Posted: 09/09/2023 20:06:48
Rita, I will give a new crop a go. Thanks for your suggestion. I have so much to learn and look forward to the next round. Thanks! Posted: 09/26/2023 10:29:31
I can't believe you took that picture with an iPhone. Amazing detail, beautiful. I agree with Damon if you're going to do a black background go all in. Do you use a post editing tool, You can accomplish the black background very easily with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop or Adobe Elements. All good tools to isolate your subject. Posted: 09/28/2023 15:36:57
Debbie, thank you for the comments. I have not done much with editing. Damon sent me a great link to learn Lightroom Classic, so I am working on that. I have a great deal to learn and appreciate all of the input. Posted: 09/29/2023 13:00:05