The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
While back in NH for a week, I spend a few days walking alone in the woods and even though I made a really rookie mistake*, I managed to get a few close up photos that are workable like this one which is also maybe my favorite. I think this is just a group of Common Mycena, but their position and the backlighting made it really special. So because I had to, I braced the camera in hand directly on the ground and shot after working out the best background position.
*Rookie mistake was to first land on bringing a Gorilla Pod which meant I had to take the cage off the camera. Then I couldn’t find the thing and decided to take the Platy Pod with a Arca-swiss ball head instead, but guess what I forgot to put back on the camera? Sigh.
Feedback Requested
Overall I’m pretty happy with the execution and processing, but any thoughts are welcome. I’ve tinkered a lot, so more won’t hurt.
Technical Details
Camera: Panasonic DC-G9M2
Lens: LUMIX G VARIO 35-100/F2.8
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/50s
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 800
Tripod/handheld: handheld braced on ground
Focus method: SAF probably single point
Filters: none
Technique:
Conditions:
Processing software: Lr & Zerene
Major adjustments: Evened out tonalities with global adjustments - that meant turning down the whites to eliminate some clipping, but raised exposure to open things up. Some sharpening & denoise.
Blending/stacking: 2 images in Zerene - DMap final w/some PMax details
Other notes: Reprocessed TIFF in Lr for some brightening in the orange and red channels, texture in only the mushrooms and some distraction removal and a crop.
Kris: This is a fantastic comp and POV and the subjects are marvelous. If you could soften the bright central bokeh balls somehow it would make this a lot better for me. I am encouraged that I’m not the only one who still makes rookie mistakes. On my last trip to Oregon I left the camera battery charger at home. Luckily for me I could charge it directly through my laptop . >=))>
Beautiful, Kris, just beautiful! I love the POV and that back lighting. Boy, I have done stuff like that too. In fact, I am getting ready to have a photo shoot next week and you have reminded me of how easy it is to leave something that you need or think you have with you in the case. Better double check. I haven’t had a chance to shoot lately so I stand an even better chance of leaving something behind.
Wow!! What a lovely little mini-forest, with such nice lighting on the stipes! I hate to find anything in the frame that distracts me, but the lovely OOF bokeh stacks on the left and right edges do, because they are so neatly stacked. I tried a crop from the right and darkened the left. Then the bunch to the left of the mushrooms bothered me, so I tried a quick softening. That brightest bunch probably needs less contrast as well, but just to show the idea. Not a strong suggestion, as that is purely your vision-- just playing with the idea:
What a superb capture! I really like the delicateness of the scene, like a little family of mushrooms gathered close to make a life in a big dark forest! I don’t have any feedback that has not already been discussed (just the 4 bright bokeh balls).
Sounds like a pretty standard photography outing for someone who shoots a lot! Been there done that and then some! Congratulations on adapting and overcoming, well worth the effort by the image captured!
Excellent, Kris. Diane’s crops are interesting, but the dominance of that clump of mushrooms is sufficient that the looser composition you chose still works very well. Almost looks like one of those modern concert stage sets with all the silly lights.
At first I thought this was perfect, but I like Dianne’s muting of the two sides. However, I think one either loves or hates bokeh balls, and I do love them (if done well as here). So to my eye they’re a great counterpoint to the mushrooms. Aha! Gorillapod, Platypod, I must consider these for very low shots. At the moment I use a cumbersome old frying pan. But you did brilliantly without either here! Lovely shot, Kris.
You have this uncanny knack for discovering the indiscoverable… ie. you find and see these things that folks like me would be oblivious to see. Granted, I’m not out hunting mushrooms and little things… but regardless, you have a skill and vision that deserves images such as this one.
I’m hard pressed to find any nits or anything to be critical of. This not only beautifully captured, but processed as well.
The suggestion I have is subjective and not necessarily to “fix” anything. Changes, whether they improve the image or not is up to you or anyone observing this beauty.
The capture of the mushroom cluster and the log upon which it sits is outstanding. Can’t offer any suggestions there. My feedback is more about the background. The bokeh and bg in general is more than sufficiently out of focus to make sure the eyes are on the mushrooms. The comments on the bg I hope will elevate the image to the next level - which is a pretty tough task given the original is so spectacular.
So my thoughts are somewhat along the lines of Diane’s feedback. I thought the bokeh on the left wasn’t adding to the scene. And I think in general the bg could be softened; especially the cluster just above and left of the mushroom cluster.
Totally subjective and interpretive, but here’s my version.
Hard to go wrong however you slice this one. Kudos and a job well captured.
I’m one that likes the original crop with the symmetry of the lighter green balls on either side and the white bokeh balances the stars of the show
I like Dian’s first crop - but her second softening of the white bokeh has taken it further than I would (personal taste of course).
I love Lon’s degree of softening of the white bokeh, and crop too
I wondered about the bokeh and whether it was too much or too little, so I softened it a bit in Ps, but largely left the crop where it was since I like the openness of it and the stained-glass effect that it has. Had to remember how to do stuff in Ps, but got there in the end. Thoughts on revision?
. >=))>
