Blue Bells + reworkded x 2

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

Blue Bells + Reworked X2

Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB +reworked x2
Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB +reworked x22050×2050 985 KB

Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB +reworked
Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB +reworked2050×2050 988 KB

Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB.jpg
Blue Bells Diamond Lake, CA WEB.jpg2050×2050 991 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

This was taken in April 2023 at Diamond Lake. It was a super-bloom year in Southern California.
A breeze made freezing motion a challenge. I think that is why my ISO and shutter speed are so high.

Specific Feedback

I found the background distracting and tried to minimize it.

Technical Details

Taken with my Sony a7iv on a tripod. ISO 3200, f/8, 1/8000
Processed in LR and PS using TK9 luminosity masking and actions.

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Thanks to @Jim_Lockhart and @Mark_Seaver for your feedback. I removed that stem and some other hangers-on. Your observations are much appreciated.

@Jim_Lockhart, I am slow to understand which out-of-focus stem you meant. Thanks for pointing that out.

2

Hi Barbara, what a nice presentation of Blue Bells you’ve captured. I guess they’re in several states…I’ve seen them in VA and hear TX is famous for them also. The pair you chose fit nicely in the frame and those yellow flowers compliment the violet hues. Great sharpness throughout the flowers and the blurred background doesn’t distract. I would probably like to remove that pesky stem coming from the LH flower, but a very attractive image all the same.

3

Barbara, these do look very good. They also stand out well from their yellow companions. These are clearly not the same flower as the Eastern or Texas Bluebells, which is not surprising. Removing that oof stem would be good.

4

Hi Barbara, I noticed your Bell Bells image had been reworked but when I looked, it appeared the same, with that oof stem coming from the LH flower diagonally. Perhaps you uploaded the wrong image?