Big Leaf Maple Explosion

Image Critiques
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1

-20260412-_7R56747-Hillside-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg
-20260412-_7R56747-Hillside-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg1564×2048 1.34 MB

-20260412-_7R56758-Hillside-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg
-20260412-_7R56758-Hillside-DxO_DeepPRIME 3-Edit.jpg1440×2048 1.32 MB

#2

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I saw a hillside that I wanted to photograph on the way to the freeway yesterday and went back this morning (not too happy with the light). I had been looking for Big Leaf Maple flower clusters to photograph and on the way back I suddenly realized that the old matriarch in the local bar’s parking lot was almost ideal.

There was a bit too much breeze for stacking, but I’m pretty happy with these results.

Specific Feedback

Any preference for one or the other? Should the second one be flipped horizontally? Which background do you think works better?

Technical Details

Sony A7Rv, FE 70-200 f/4 macro, iso 2500, f/20, 1/100, hand held. 200 mm and 1/100 for #1 and 174 mm for #2. Preprocessing in DxO PureRaw 5, further processing in LR & PS CC. In #2 the background is the trunk of the tree but there was a streak of light on the side that I couldn’t avoid, so I painted over it. A bit of cleanup, adjustments to the exposure, saturation, and detail in both clusters.

2

It does look like a spring explosion, Dennis. I don’t think I have seen a Maple do this before. Maybe it’s just something a Big Leaf Maple does. Anyway, it is pretty neat and you did a fine job capturing it. The vertical composition works so well for it.

3

Explosion or should I say regurgitation. Reminds me of the “Little Shop of Horrors” plant. Perhaps Seymour fed it too much. Enough of that. I’ve got to look at big leaf maples in spring. Most of the time I am interested in them in fall. The focus is fine with me. I really like both, and think the backgrounds work well. I don’t think I would like them as well if the backgrounds were switched.