This is a beautiful new daylily to our gardens in 2025, It blooms mid- late summer up here in Zone 5b. Like many of my flowers I shot this image with my 28-300@ 300mm but used f7.1,vs f 11 @ 1/2000 sec at iso 640. What that tells me is that I was hand holding and there was some wind. I processed in Lightroom Classic using normal editing…but then, this late winter I tried to get more up to date using select subject and edited a lighter background vs the greens on Original #2. I used Ps Gaussian Blur so I had a hint of detail and soft (about 3/4 to the right on slider. I used a lighter blending mode. Sorry forgot exact. I have come to conclusion that it is quite difficult for me to use a dark background under a dark subject. So what do you all think?
6 comments posted
Marti Buckely
The background is perfect. I would like to see the stem of the flower to kind of anchor it. Also there is a dark spot between the bottom petal and the left petal. Otherwise it's a very nice image. Posted: 04/04/2026 15:26:55
Rich James
What an interesting color daylily. The background you created is great but I'm having trouble identifying the two flowers in the image as they blend together. Also, the further flower is a bit out of focus compared to the front. I do agree with Marti, that some kind of anchor would go a long way in helping the image along. Posted: 04/06/2026 21:33:07
Bob Legg
Thanks Marti and Rich. I'm not sure how familiar with DayLily's you are, especially if they are in the Legg collection and I don't do the weeding. In peak bloom season blooms often come outdone in front of the other. Sometimes I can get both flowers in focus, but this flower was not having it. Last year was the first year and we'll see how they line us this year. Including the stem increases the depth of field even more. It depends if the stem is in the front (towards yourself) or in a cluster at the back. All good points that I was anticipating. Posted: 04/07/2026 00:25:00
Syed Shakhawat Kamal
Hi Bob,
Greetings my friend.
An amazing capture of the Lily. The color, texture is simply superb. I loved the conversion from the original that you have shared. I am curious to make more dramatic background in future with my flowers as well.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal.
Posted: 04/13/2026 03:21:16
Nadia Trevan
Bob, I like what you have achieved with this daylily. As a matter of fact I like the blurred one at the back, for me that creates interest. Just personal recommendations, I would lighten the front flower a little but only to bring out the center part which is the focal point so that the stamen stand out more; they're almost the same colour as the petals. I like the colour of the background but for me it's too smooth and looks unnatural. An easy way would be to replicate how it comes out of the camera and that is to add some noise. I would go to filter, noise and add noise and add about 3.5 px or so and that would add some texture to the background.
This is a lovely flower. I bought my first day lily this season and according to the growing instructions it would take 2 or so years to give me some flowers. Posted: 04/17/2026 10:58:33
Bob Legg
Thanks Nadia, I'll have to try your recent tips. Have to admit that I've never added noise but closer crop is a winner to me. We are trying something this year. At least one grower will email the list of flowers she is going to divide and we can go and get what we want (still dormant) and bring them home and plant with no loss and hopefully beautiful flowers in 4-6 weeks. Enjoy.
Posted: 04/17/2026 13:49:57
