Haru Nagasaki  


  Carpet of cherry blossom petals by Haru Nagasaki

June 2021 - Carpet of cherry blossom petals

June 2021 - Haru Nagasaki

Original

About the Image(s)

Goal: To present a beautiful fallen petals of cherry blossoms as a main subject. It is piled in layers in the river and it looks like a carpet.
The shadow created by cherry tree add another uniqueness/character in conversion to BW, I thought.
Used the cherry trees as a frame so I blurred it on purpose. That way viewers would be guided to the petal carpet with shadow.
Equipment/Source: Nikon D850 24-70mm lens @63mm f/9 1/125 ISO100, Handheld

Hi Group, please look at the image and comments on the following points and perspective;
Do you think that the petal carpet with shadow can be a main subject?
Do you think that blurring cherry tree (foreground frame) was a mistake? (It was handheld and I realized that I could not get both background and foreground focused at one shot. I shot another version focusing on the tree branches, but I dare to select this for your comment)


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




 
Hi Haru, thanks for sharing this very interesting image. I wouldn't have known it was a river if you hadn't told us. Nevertheless, -in my opinion- cherry tree must be sharp and main subject; cuz, tree has many impressive details; but petal carpet is only an extraordinary fact.   Posted: 06/01/2021 02:59:28
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Hi Ata,

Thank you for your comments.
I am attaching the another version with cherry trees in focus.
Please take a look at this. Is this better for you?   Posted: 06/02/2021 20:03:15
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Definitely, much nicer. Thanks Haru.   Posted: 06/03/2021 07:35:47



 
Greetings Haru. You had a very unique vision to convey the fallen petals. Congratulations. I enjoy the framing of the flowered branch at the top, and very much enjoy the arcing branch and shadow that mirror the top branch and complete the frame. The blurred branch on the right is a detraction, as it is the only element that is OOF. I tried a crop of right and a sliver of the top. I hope they help to convey your intent.

  Posted: 06/02/2021 18:59:17
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Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Dick, for your edit.
Your are right - right branches are out of focus. I could not control blurriness evenly throughout the branches in the frame. I attached the different version with the branches in focus. However, petal carpet is OOF. Please take a look at it. Let me know if that is better or not.
Thank you for all your support.   Posted: 06/02/2021 20:06:31



Arne Skinlo   Arne Skinlo
(Group 36)
You have made a great challenge for yourself in this picture. Sometimes the reality is very difficult to capture on a picture and I think this is one of the instances.

To answer your questions:
Do you think that the petal carpet with shadow can be a main subject? No, I don't think that will work as it is too uniform and has no distinct focal point.
Do you think that blurring cherry tree (foreground frame) was a mistake? Yes, I do. In my opinion the tree should be sharp and lighter and be the main object.

I like the way you are using the group to try out pictures and make specific questions. That is how we improve ourselves.
  Posted: 06/10/2021 01:15:44
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Arne, for your clear answers.
It helps me a lot to structure of my thought process.   Posted: 06/11/2021 20:00:05



 
I agree with Arne's answers to your questions. I also agree with and applaud your challenging yourself. Arne's also correct that this is how we improve ourselves.   Posted: 06/11/2021 14:01:48
Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Bill. Appreciate your comments.   Posted: 06/11/2021 20:00:28



Trevor Harvey   Trevor Harvey
I too would agree with Arne's comments. I love that you photograph things that others would walk past and that you have looked at the shadows rather than just the tree. I think the conversion to mono worked well, but again I wouldn't have known that there was a river under the petals.   Posted: 06/20/2021 02:13:45