David Terao
May 2025 - Tulip
Original
About the Image(s)
A friend of mine grows unusual varieties of tulips, and I was fortunate enough to be allowed to pick a few to photograph this year. It's a lot easier to shoot tulips in a studio environment than outside. This particular variety caught my attention when it fully opened. I put a printed background behind it and shot it with two strobes in softboxes. I shot 13 images at different focal points and focus-stacked them in Helicon Focus. I then used Lightroom and Photoshop to clean up the image. Shot with a Canon R5 and RF100mm macro lens. Exposure was 1/60 sec @ f/11 and ISO 100.
8 comments posted
Hi David,
Your wide open tulip is lovely. Pretty pink color. Great job achieving sharpness throughout with the focus stacking. However, the image appears flat. I think it needs more dimension.
Posted: 05/07/2025 21:23:15
Your wide open tulip is lovely. Pretty pink color. Great job achieving sharpness throughout with the focus stacking. However, the image appears flat. I think it needs more dimension.
Posted: 05/07/2025 21:23:15
Thanks, Barbara. I agree, the even lighting created a somewhat flat image. Not sure what I can do. Any suggestions? Posted: 05/07/2025 22:03:55
Hi David,
I processed your image in Photoshop. First, I applied the "color burn" blend mode. Then, I went into Camera Raw or Lightroom and applied a radial gradient lightening the center and also adding a little warmth to the center.
You can play around with the different blend modes and see which ones you like. Also, you can decrease the opacity of each blend mode. Posted: 05/08/2025 00:04:34
I processed your image in Photoshop. First, I applied the "color burn" blend mode. Then, I went into Camera Raw or Lightroom and applied a radial gradient lightening the center and also adding a little warmth to the center.
You can play around with the different blend modes and see which ones you like. Also, you can decrease the opacity of each blend mode. Posted: 05/08/2025 00:04:34
Thank you, Barbara. I like your suggestion, and I'll play around with the blend modes. Posted: 05/08/2025 01:53:13
I love you stack of 13 images with sharp details in the petals of the tulip. I also like your background. I agree with Barbara the image is flat due to your lighting.
I have found when shooting in a studio set-up you will get flat images using two main light sources with equal placement from the subject. I find it best to use one main light somewhere around 45 degrees from the subject. I then use a secondary light source, which for me, is a reflector called sun. This will reflect some light into the shadow areas but less than the main light giving the subject depth. I also use this same reflector when shooting close-ups outside. When we shoot outside there is always one main light source, the sun. Try using one main light as I have explained along with a reflector. I like to get it right in the camera and not post. Posted: 05/08/2025 15:51:28
I have found when shooting in a studio set-up you will get flat images using two main light sources with equal placement from the subject. I find it best to use one main light somewhere around 45 degrees from the subject. I then use a secondary light source, which for me, is a reflector called sun. This will reflect some light into the shadow areas but less than the main light giving the subject depth. I also use this same reflector when shooting close-ups outside. When we shoot outside there is always one main light source, the sun. Try using one main light as I have explained along with a reflector. I like to get it right in the camera and not post. Posted: 05/08/2025 15:51:28
Thanks for the tip, Dick! For this shot, I was trying to get even lighting, but I didn't realize how flat the image would look. Posted: 05/08/2025 16:19:38
Hi David,
Lovely composition, and you've captured all the details in this tulip very well. Perhaps the lighting setup could be adjusted, as Dick suggested, a lateral light might enhance the textures even more. I also agree with the idea of slightly boosting the colours to make the image more vibrant.
That said, I really like the point of view you chose to photograph this beautiful tulip.
Posted: 05/13/2025 12:29:55
Lovely composition, and you've captured all the details in this tulip very well. Perhaps the lighting setup could be adjusted, as Dick suggested, a lateral light might enhance the textures even more. I also agree with the idea of slightly boosting the colours to make the image more vibrant.
That said, I really like the point of view you chose to photograph this beautiful tulip.
Posted: 05/13/2025 12:29:55
Thank you, Maria. Posted: 05/13/2025 12:52:09