Grateful

Image Critiques Flora Critiques
1

Grateful-2025-02-03-13-59-13-(B,R8,S4)A7r3-25.jpg
Grateful-2025-02-03-13-59-13-(B,R8,S4)A7r3-25.jpg1414×2000 1.54 MB

Grateful-2-2025-02-03-14-01-05-(B,R8,S4)A7r3-25.jpg
Grateful-2-2025-02-03-14-01-05-(B,R8,S4)A7r3-25.jpg2000×1322 2.87 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I was delighted to see our succulents flowering already. We sheltered them in the garage during the freeze and I think they are showing their gratitude by sprouting some early blooms. We have a number of these and they are all doing well and budding. Should tide me over until the early flowers start to show up.

Specific Feedback

Both of these are stacks but done very differently. In the first I wanted to isolate the bud head and let the rest of the plant go soft. In the second I wanted to get everything sharp.

Technical Details

Grateful
Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II, 2xTC @ 236mm
ISO 100, 1/100 @ f8, 11 image stack in Helicon Focus

Grateful 2
Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II @ 194mm
ISO 100, 1/20 @ f16, 4 image stack in Helicon Focus

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

Both are lovely compositions, Bill. The first one seems to draw me more. The drop-off in sharpness really works well there. I do like the second with that super sharpness all the way through, but it doesn’t leave anything to the imagination.

One itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny nit on the second: It looks like there’s a stacking halo behind the top buds in the right hand cluster.

3

Bill I don’t know anything about stacking because when I need to merge different shots I do it manually in the levels of Photoshops but the second is my favorite because the composition is for me much better, well balanced and with the weights well distribuited in the design.

4

Bill, both are excellent - as usual - but the second one feeds my need for a little symmetry. Lovely soft colours and fine detail.

5

Both are outstanding, but the first version is the stronger rendering IMO.