The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
This is my neighbor’s yard, and what I look at each day from my home office. Most people don’t like dandelions in their yard, but when they are the whole yard, they have a very different feel. My neighbor was surprised I wanted to photograph them and his little windmill. This is a 5 image multiple exposure. Instead of trying to do a focus stack where everything is sharp, I move the focus point for each image, and thus each element has both a sharp and soft focus to it. And that’s what gives it this “dreamy” effect.
The second image has the dandelions above the windmill. I think it’s more distracting, but thought I would show it as an option. The last is a single-image frame my neighbor picked when I offered him a print. It’s OK, but I don’t think it has the playfulness of the other two. Again, just thought I would show it for comments.
Feedback Requested
Which version has a mood you think works best? Are there technical or other distractions that come out in any of them? I wasn’t sure if I should clone out the white areas in the trees. I thought they helped give some depth. Or are they more of a distraction? Other ideas are welcome. Thanks.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS R
Focal length: 85mm
Shutter speed: 1/332s
Aperture: f/2.5
ISO: 100
The camera was on a tripod, so I only had to worry about the focus changing – and the light as the clouds moved.
Patrick, the first image is by far the best, imho. In the other two the "flowers"compete to much with the windmill by making them so tall and large in the frame. I would probably clone out the sky hotspots. Nice effect with your technique.
I also vote for the first image. That effect reminds me of the kind of picture you can get from a Lensbaby Velvet, those glowing highlights and softened blacks give the whole scene the feeling of a memory rather than a photograph. It is a look I find genuinely seductive.
That said, it is the kind of seduction that demands discretion. Deploy it too freely and the magic curdles into a tic. Here it earns its keep completely, but the lens stays in the bag for next time.
Patrick: #1 for me as well. It is a really nice artistic expression while the other two are more documentary with the dandelions in front of the windmill major distractions. #3 might work if the OOF flower in front of the windmill was eliminated. Nicely conceived and presented. >=))>
Unanimous, I also think the first image is the strongest. I like the way that @sebastien-maloron worded it, a feeling of memory. It’s a wonderful dream-like impression. I also agree that dandelions are underrated, both the flower and the seeds.
You might try dimming the bright spots first, but if they still stand out too much cloning is a good option too.
So cool! Great technique for getting the mood right. Such a great interpretation of a common rural scene. I’d never have thought of it. Definitely better balance in the first photo and so I brought it into Ps for a little white balance tweak and to burn in the sail (?) on the windmill and a few other bright spots.
A wonderful technique, deployed very well here! (A multi-frame Orton effect – I’m going to go out and play with that!) Dreamy indeed! I also vote for the first but I could see a bit more room above the windmill. Another option would be a slightly lower camera position, to move some of the dandelions up just a bit – halfway between #1 and #2.
It’s been a good year for dandelions here, too. The guys who cut our “grass” probably thought I was a bit crazy when I asked them to leave a patch that was providing a nice OOF BG for a perch that birds sometimes use.
Very interesting and creative, Patrick. I too much prefer the first image, so I think you knew what you were doing when you created it. I could see bringing down the highlights on the two really bright and large dandelions in front of the base of the windmill as they are rather dominant for such a dreamy image, but judging from the comments, everyone has their own feelings about this image so I think it’s “go with what you like” on this one.
Sorry, I’ve been a busy busy after posting this. Thank you all. Thanks @Michael_Lowe, @Bill_Fach@John_Williams@Dennis_Plank . @sebastien-maloron I had not thought about it being like a Lensbaby, and I do agree with you about not using it too often. I have been using this in a lot of different scenes, and getting an idea where it works well, and where it doesn’t. @Kris_Smith thanks for the changes in your edit. That’s what so helpful about this forum, you all can catch those things that are distracting that I overlooked. @Diane_Miller nice thinking ahead on keeping some dandelions for a future photo shoot. Since I do the lawn work at my house, I can “work around” a few places too. And thanks for the idea to call this a multi-frame Orton effect. Much easier than me telling people, “It’s kinda an Orton effect and a focus stack, but not.”
Wonderful implementation of the Orton effect - exactly suits the subject and technically wonderful too.
First one is my preference too. White areas to distract a tiny bit - but taking down the highlights a tiny bit may be all that’s needed.
Fantastic!
Please comment on mine if you get a chance please
