The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Every February, I anxiously await the almond blossom bloom, the first harbinger of spring in California’s Central Valley, to capture some soft, dreamy portraits of these fragrant little beauties.
Specific Feedback
Pushing that black slider and shadow slider all the way to the right because I favor a bright, high key style, but not to the point of clipping highlights. Too high key?
Technical Details
ISO 200, 500mm, f/7.1 (as wide as my zoom will go at that focal length), 1/30 second
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Oh, definitely not too high key. You still have enough dark bits for just the right amount of contrast. Just lovely! The pops of dark pink are beautiful, as are the soft areas of purplish-blue.
Do you have any more frame at the bottom, so those bottom two petals aren’t touching the frame edge? Maybe there was something not-so-good-looking down that way.
This is lovely, Beth. I drove past some of those orchards yesterday, and they were gorgeous. This closer look lost none of that beauty and I love the high key look and how the focus fades out on the stem.
Good catch, Bonnie! And I was thinking the same thing about the composition- I wasn’t paying quite as close attention due to photographing handheld than I usually do with a tripod and composing more carefully.
Beth: This reminds me of work by old NPN master Larry Lynch with cherry blossoms. Please take that as the high compliment intended. The tight bottom can be dealt with with some generative AI. Also for me the second stem doesn’t add much and slightly distracts. The high key treatment is fabulous. Really nice find and a beautiful presentation. >=))>
Gorgeous!! And the high key is perfect! I was thinking just what @Bill_Fach suggested. The individual blossoms are so lovely that coming in close works for me. Hope to see more – it’s a short season!
Marvelous image! The soft pastels and detail are very effective. I like Bill’s comp, emphasizing the main stem, as that right OOF one doesn’t add anything.
I’d personnally allow a bit more room on the bottom, so those petals are not cut off.
Sweet image!
