The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is from our favorite botanic gardens in San Marino, CA. Their 13 acres of cactus gardens are simply spectacular as you can see in part from the first image here. I went back and tried to recreate the previously posted image of a smaller barrel cactus against the larger ones and in front of the smaller pincushions I posted from my cell phone camera earlier this year. I think the second try is much better with a better camera.
Specific Feedback
Composition of the first image? I wasn’t sure how to handle the barrels in the LLC. There were different types of plants on the right side that I didn’t feel matched with the overall scene. Maybe a little different crop?
Technical Details
Same as 2. except -2 EV, 105 mm.
Canon 5DMiii, f22, 1/125 sec, iso 100, -1 EV, 24-105 lens at 95 mm. Tripod.
Samsung cell phone camera previously posted.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I like the second image a lot, Ed. The first one works for showing what an incredible array of cacti they have. The layout of the garden does make for a difficult image because there’s no really good place to put the edges without chopping something off, so I’m really not sure what to do with it. I’m thinking maybe a horizontal presentation and use some creative editing to fade the edges rather than just giving them the ax?
Ed: Wow, looks like a target rich environment for sure. I’ll put in another vote for #2 but all three are fine efforts. Cacti are such varied subjects and you’ve done them justice. Nice work, >=))>
I’m going to go against the grain here and vote for the first image. I love the flow of the cactus and seeing how they all interact with each other to create a garden. The main distraction for my eyes is the shadow in the LLC. I recommend cropping it out. The tree canopy doesn’t really add to the structure of the image, consider a tighter crop overall. Here is my quickie screenshot attempt at a top and bottom crop idea.
Number 2 has the most interesting shadows of the three images and would make this one as my top choice Overall, I like the variety of the cacti in each shot. An impressive assortment well deserving of your photographic effort…,.,.,.Jim
Thank you very much @Dennis_Plank, @Paul_Breitkreuz, @Bill_Fach, and @Jim_Zablotny for your kind comments. @brandi thank you especially for taking a crack at a new crop for me. Welcome to NPN, your thoughts and work is appreciated, and it has improved the first, now second, image a bunch.
