Murphy Hektner, APSA
February 2025 - Red Flowering
About the Image(s)
Pentax body with 135mm Pentax prime lens tripod mounted - ISO 100 - 1/60 @ f/16.
Due to windy conditions used two Pentax flash units as fill flash at minus 1.7 at TTL setting on the flash units. I set the camera body on 5 seconds delay and held the flash units on each side of the camera.
Red Flowering Currant is a medium size native shrub that blooms in very early spring in our region. When in full bloom it is a very colorful shrub. Photographed at home as we have one planted in our landscaping.
6 comments posted
Murphy, for me, I wish the small 2nd leaf up from the bottom as well as the darker small leaf facing left further up were in focus or gone, and the composition is just a tad too tight on both sides, and am not sure about the cut-off leaf at the top but I am sure that was intended. Given all that, I like the background, that the branch comes out of the lower left, and the color palate. Ray Posted: 02/03/2025 21:57:06
Hi Ray: YES, I agree the image is a bit tight on both sides, easy to fix and I will do so. Thanks for the tip. Posted: 02/04/2025 03:56:22
At first look I really like the 2 main colors with the dark background.
I agree with the comments of Ray. With f/16 (not the aircraft... sorry...), we could expect to have enough DoF. The background of the upper right corner has been processed and we can still see some "traces" (not completely black). Posted: 02/10/2025 17:48:49
I agree with the comments of Ray. With f/16 (not the aircraft... sorry...), we could expect to have enough DoF. The background of the upper right corner has been processed and we can still see some "traces" (not completely black). Posted: 02/10/2025 17:48:49
Gosh I am so jealous, Murphy, that you have plants actually awake and blooming since we have a typical 5" snow.
It is a nice shot and the blossom are all screaming out for attention it seems. I'd love to see a follow up that goes a bit closer to one or a small group of them however thats preference. Nice colors! Posted: 02/15/2025 20:35:11
It is a nice shot and the blossom are all screaming out for attention it seems. I'd love to see a follow up that goes a bit closer to one or a small group of them however thats preference. Nice colors! Posted: 02/15/2025 20:35:11
I think that rather than going for a blackout look I would have lightened some of the out of focus lighter areas. Also, I think it would have benefited with a little more contrast in the leaves and flowers. It looks a little flat. I think it would have helped the background you chose. Posted: 02/19/2025 15:51:34
Hi Mo: Thanks for your comments. One problem with using flash on this type of image with out anything in the immediate background to catch the light from the flash units is a black background which I experienced here. Will try to lighten the background to see if I can get a little more information back there. With this type of a flower picture my preference would be a dark green out of focus background. cheers. Posted: 02/20/2025 07:48:07