The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Years ago our Across-the-street neighbor planted some Coreopsis. They didn’t take in her yard but suddenly showed up in the ditch on our side and have been happily growing there ever since. This year one plant showed up at the east end of a long narrow bed that my wife had planted with the native Oregon Sunshine. I noticed it the other day and finally had a still morning today to try to photograph it. For once, the image I’d more or less visualized actually worked out.
Specific Feedback
I’m not totally sure whether this composition works. I took a little off the sides and top-no more room on the bottom. I’m also not sure if the flower pops enough from the background, so suggestions there are welcome.
Technical Details
Sony A7Riv, Canon 180 mm f/3.5 macro, tripod, 37 image stack in Helicon Focus at f/16, 1/160, iso 2000. Processed in LR & PS CC. Adjustments to brightness and saturation and a little microcontrast boost to the blossom to bring out the dew. Taken this morning at 7:00 a.m. This area was in light shade from distant trees at the time.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Dennis, I am in awe of your ability to successfully stack 37 images. All that spider web detail had to be lined up. Even the slightest breeze would have made that impossible. Impressive. To be honest, I prefer the background in the first image and the daisy in the second. The color values in the background of the reworked image compete with the subject to my eye. Is there any way you could darken the background just a touch? Masking the subject would be very difficult because of the lovely web details.
Thanks @Barbara_Djordjevic. I think I might be able to pull that off in LR if I’m careful about it. Some masking and the point color tool could work. I’ll have to give it a try.
Yes, I think it is doable. I just tried in PS with subject selection and just slightly darkening on the midtones. I circled the area on the web that was problematic if I made the background any darker.
The second has improved colors to my eye, but you could just take down the luminosity value of the background if you want. Isolating it by colors might help preserve the web luminosity and detail. There are a number of selection techniques you could try, but I think it works without having to do that. Terrific detail! These guys wave about in the least breeze so congratulations on the stack!
Dennis, you re-post here is excellent. I’m very impressed with your stacking. Flowers are not my main focus, so I’ve never tried stacking. You’ve inspired me to do that!
