A Shoe Store for Fairies

Image Critiques Flora Critiques
1

PRH_5071-6.jpg
PRH_5071-6.jpg2048×1365 935 KB

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

I’m partial to Fairy Slippers (calypso orchids) so I have a hard time disliking anything here. There are some distracting elements, but that was also part of the scene I wanted to include. The various yellow/tan grass stems are probably distracting, but also faithfully capture the scene as I found it.

Creative direction

I really wanted to capture the ethereal nature of this scene. I tend to like super sharp macro focus stacks of flowers to show the incredible details, but this scene begged to be shot differently. I sat my camera right down on the ground and tilted the screen back to compose easier. I used a 70-300 zoom lens at 240mm and f/5.6 to get most of the flowers in focus, but create some alluring blur in both the background and foreground as well.

Specific Feedback

Looking for feedback on all of the above mentioned criteria.

Technical Details

Nikon D850
Nikkor 70-300 f/4.6-5.6
ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/100th
I used Lightroom Classic CC to process this. I’ve adjusted the highlights and shadows, added a mask to make some adjustments to the flowers and to the background.

Description

A Shoe Store for Fairies

Down on the forest floor, there is a slow-motion dance occurring. Pushing through the sweet aroma of the decaying remains of last year’s plant life, Spring is coming alive. Grasses poke through withered aspen leaves, sometimes lifting them right off the soil. Branches that Winter knocked violently from the trees, are gently pushed aside as Grouseberry, Willow and others send out new stems that reach for the warmth of the Sun. From under the protection of this new growth, a show-stopping flower is beginning to emerge. A single spear emanates from within the earth. It pushes between low-laying leaves and reaches for the sky. A nondescript bud appears at the tip of the stem. Ever so subtly, the bud enlarges and then, one warm morning, in a miracle of epic proportions, it erupts into the most incredible bloom you’ve ever seen. A Fairy Slipper (Calypso Orchid) is the perfect flower to appear on this dance floor in the forest. I swear I saw a couple of fairies shopping for new footwear as I knelt low on the ground to capture this image. They darted out of sight before I could get the shot, but I’m pretty sure I heard them giggling as I walked away in awe of this place. Shout out to my favorite Forest Fairy, my wife, for bringing this meadow to my attention while I was scanning the nearby stream for the moose that others had reported seeing.

2

Nice image, and I think the shallow DOF works nicely! I would just recommend raising the luminosity of the whole image a bit more, which will probably require you to make a selection of the highlights and invert it before so you can use a mask on a levels or curves layer. This will allow the rest of the scene to get brighter and give it a more airy, peaceful, ethereal feeling. I also think you can crop some off on both sides. I would still leave some breathing room on either side of the far right and left flowers, but not as much as you have here. I would also play with cooling down the white balance just slightly, it feels a tad too warm for being a shaded scene.

3

Interesting points @Eric_Bennett raises. I wouldn’t have thought of brightening it, but do think a cooler WB would be worth a look. I think that might give a little more contrast as it has the look of a very slight color cast. For me the top feels crowded – it would be easy to add canvas if that fits your ethics. But various interpretations aside, I love the low perspective and the amazing little flowers. The clutter looks natural and doesn’t bother me. The OOF softness at the bottom provides a lovely base.

4

A nice grouping of the flowers; the one’s I’ve seen have been single, so it’s nice to see a larger bunch. I like the softness of the surroundings.

5

Paul: I’ve never had the opportunity to see Fairies in the wild so I really envy you the experience and think you did well. I commend your comp and DOF choices and appreciate you sharing your thought processes. Very nicely done. >=))>