The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
When I was a kid, someone gave me a wooden coin with “tuit” inscribed on it, a joke inspired by the common phrase “I’ll get that done when I get around to it.” This is a “round tuit” photo, taken in 2014 when @steve_kennedy and I camped for a few soggy wet days chasing rhodies around Mt. Hood.
This is one of those images where the line blurs between landscape and plant life, so I’m just tagging both.
Specific Feedback
Any and all suggestions are welcome!
When I took this, I wanted the contrast of the buds vs. the open flowers behind. I didn’t want the flowers to compete too much with the buds though, so I chose to leave them unfocused. (I didn’t even take an image with the flowers in focus, but I probably should have in case I changed my mind.) Does that work for you?
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 170 mm
2.0 sec. at f/11.0 and ISO 64
12 images blended with HeliconFocus for DOF
That’s beautiful John! To me, your focus choice and stacking are just right. The light and colors are excellent. I really like how you placed the background blooms reflecting and surrounding the foreground buds. I only have 1 very minor nit - I would consider removing the background bloom at the bottom behind the bottom leaf as I find it draws my eye a bit.
John, this is an excellent look at these Rhododendron buds. The magenta vs green in the subject shows off both very well. My one thought is to burn-in and maybe desaturate the background blooms. I think their presence is important, but it may be getting a bit too much attention. The “leaf cleaning” makes a big difference.
I love this one and my wife peeked over my shoulder and gasped at it, so you get an A+ on this one. To my eye, the open flowers in the background are just fine. Glad you dug this out of the archives.
Now that’s some productive digging around, John. Glad you found this one. The difference in the colors of the open and closed flowers are striking. Your framing was perfect too. I agree with @Steve_Kennedy about that background bottom bloom as it distracts just a smidgen but really, that’s just nitpicking to the highest degree. To that point I even like the frame with the smudges still in it. The fact that we can easily remove stuff these days doesn’t necessarily mean we should…but, I think this would be perfect if that bottom bloom was edited out. Beautiful “tuit” image, John!
I gave it a go on the redo. I didn’t want to take it too far, because I very much wanted the background flowers to be part of the story, but I also want them to be a supporting cast and not the stars of the show.
There’s no greater honor than the spousal drive-by approval! Thanks!
This is a great point. I’ve been trying more and more to minimize cloning and fill in my images, but I felt this one challenged the beauty of the rest of the scene. If I had wiped off those couple of dirty smudges, I would have likely stuck with the originals.
Oooh that final version is killer. Such lovely intense color and we can see how it will change once the petals unfurl. I’m always a fan of the ‘out of focus echo’ as I call it. We don’t always need to see everything as our imaginations are wondrous machines. The contrasting magenta and green really give an idea of freshness and vivacity. Plus I’m reminded of the only time I photographed Great Laurel which is quite rare in my home state of NH. I had to drop my husband off at the airport and decided to check on the blooming as I knew it was close and oh my if it wasn’t the absolute perfect time with amazing light. The photography goddesses were smiling on me for sure, as they were for you an this scene.
John: I’m late to this wonderful party but wanted to add my kudos. I love this kind of shot with that echo that @Kris_Smith mentioned. Great colors that are complemented so well by the comp and DOF. Most excellent. >=))>
