Murphy Hektner, APSA
December 2024 - Oriental Lily
About the Image(s)
Nikon D850 with Nikon 24-70 zoom @ 70mm - on tripod - ISO 1600 - 1/200 second @ f/22 - cloudy -no wind - one image - post processed in Elements.
Photographed at home in our flower garden. I had distractions in the background so made it black, the colors of red and black create high impact used together. I was very careful in setting this up as to not have any of the stamens merge together.
8 comments posted
Murphy, a lovely image and one I have taken many times - you did great on the stamens as it is so easy not to get them separated. Colors along with the black background are outstanding, The end of the upper right petal looks a little soft. Was there any thought to doing focus stacking, which th D850 does really well? Ray Posted: 12/05/2024 21:18:18
Ray: I should have selected and sharpened that upper right petal just a little, but did not.
The entire Lily family makes good photo subjects, the wild Lilies out in nature and also in our flower garden.
Did not think about stacking, just stopped the lens down to f/22 which is pushing it regarding diffraction issues.
Cheers... Posted: 12/07/2024 07:30:14
The entire Lily family makes good photo subjects, the wild Lilies out in nature and also in our flower garden.
Did not think about stacking, just stopped the lens down to f/22 which is pushing it regarding diffraction issues.
Cheers... Posted: 12/07/2024 07:30:14
Murphy - don't get me wrong - I greatly like the image - the color difference between the background and the flower is dramatic, the crop does well so that the center is large with the stamens very well positioned while leaving the twisting of the upper petals sets offers pleasing shapes. I appreciate we strive for perfection thus my comment but not sure that getting the end of that petal in focus makes a significant difference. Ray Posted: 12/07/2024 15:44:10
Hi Ray: YES!! I can tell by the photography you share on the circuit you strive for perfection as I do. In your work everything is well thought out before you even think about clicking the shutter. You never leave any loose ends dangling as they are all tucked away neatly.
It is hard to achieve total perfection; in order to do so all of the stars have to be in a perfect alignment, if one star is a little off your image is compromised in some way.
In order to achieve perfection our subjects have to be perfect in all ways to begin with. It can be difficult to find just the perfect specimen, but that is part of the challenge. Posted: 12/07/2024 18:53:18
It is hard to achieve total perfection; in order to do so all of the stars have to be in a perfect alignment, if one star is a little off your image is compromised in some way.
In order to achieve perfection our subjects have to be perfect in all ways to begin with. It can be difficult to find just the perfect specimen, but that is part of the challenge. Posted: 12/07/2024 18:53:18
Nice picture . Beautiful colours with the black background. Good colour contrast: black, green, fuchsia. Posted: 12/13/2024 13:12:15
I also like very the contrast between the colors and the background. Just outstanding.
About the background, near the top of the stem, it is still the "old" one and it is a little disturbing once you gave seen it.
Some petals are cut, and I like it, it is maybe form some "out of the rules", and it well done, as two petals are not.
The stamens are well sharped.
Maybe a suggestion: a little bit more on the right , if its is possible, to have a petal as background for the stamens. Posted: 12/19/2024 09:42:22
About the background, near the top of the stem, it is still the "old" one and it is a little disturbing once you gave seen it.
Some petals are cut, and I like it, it is maybe form some "out of the rules", and it well done, as two petals are not.
The stamens are well sharped.
Maybe a suggestion: a little bit more on the right , if its is possible, to have a petal as background for the stamens. Posted: 12/19/2024 09:42:22
Hi Vincent: Thanks for your input on Oriental Lily, glad to hear everyone's ideas. You mention "out of the rules". There are many so called rules regarding composition, we all know about the well worn "rule of thirds" which does not always work for all scenes. Then some will say never "dead center" a subject in the middle of the frame. For instance on some architectural type images dead centered works well.
In our flower photography it is perfectly acceptable to cut off petals to move in closer for more impact which I have done with the Lily picture. Our other members may also have their own thoughts regarding cropping flower pictures.
Just one guys humble opinion... cheers. Posted: 12/21/2024 20:03:23
In our flower photography it is perfectly acceptable to cut off petals to move in closer for more impact which I have done with the Lily picture. Our other members may also have their own thoughts regarding cropping flower pictures.
Just one guys humble opinion... cheers. Posted: 12/21/2024 20:03:23
Another excellent flower photo. I agree with the others. The contrast with the background really makes it pop. Good job Posted: 12/19/2024 12:55:31