The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
We had an unexpected very light shower this morning and I grabbed the camera and ran out. There wasn’t a lot to shoot but Iris, and how many ways can you shoot an Iris? But the tiny droplets on the beard were so attractive I had to try for it. I’ve never gotten a shot of an Iris beard that did it justice so here was my chance! There was a little air movement, but I managed a stack by holding my breath. : >)
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Stack of about 30. Only very minor tonal adjustments in LR; into Zerene Stacker with the PMax method, then back to PS for a crop and very minor retouching. Topaz Denoise didn’t work well – it seems to have trouble with the texture of flower petals so I left it as it was.
Critique Template
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I don’t know how many ways you can shoot an iris, but this is an excellent one, Diane. I really like the angle you chose and you even got what look like other irises as out of focus background. I wondered about noise. I think the pigment dots in the petals are probably about he same scale as the noise which makes it difficult for any software to do much with it-at least the magnified petals from the drops look that way to my eye. Depending on the look you’re going for a slight negative dehaze can sometimes help soften a grainy look.
Diane this is so pretty. The colors are amazing, the raindrops are cool, the close intimate look at the beard and petals and the overall composition are fantastic. If you can find a way to reduce the graininess just a bit, this is a definite wall hanger.
Diane, I just love the composition of this, the lines and shapes are very pleasing. I don’t have any better suggestions on the grainy look, but I hope you can find one because otherwise this is absolutely excellent. I have always had difficulty shooting an Iris up close like this. Very nice.
WOW !!! You nailed this one Diane !!! i love the depth of field and movement in your image!!! This image has foreground and background that really drew my eyes in … Beautiful !!!
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank, @Ed_Williams, @Shirley_Freeman and @Gill_Vanderlip! I went back to the original files and did as much NR as practical in the LR Develop module. The contrast came out a little lower as a result of pulling Blacks lighter instead of Shadows. Then did the stack (PMax) again and opened it in PS again. This time Topaz Denoise (Low Light mode) worked well, although the change was very slight. (Or else I overlooked something that had bothered me before.)
The remaining texture is just part of the flower. I could turn it into plastic with stronger NR but don’t think I would like it… Revision posted above.
I like the layered look to these fine images. Everything is sharp and water droplets are always a nice feature for flower macros. Repost is fine as presented…Jim
I do prefer the original. As you hinted, the graininess could almost be as much the flower’s texture as it could be noise to my eye. And the repost sacrifices contrast and clarity.
Thanks @Jim_Zablotny and @Mike_Friel – and thanks again @Dennis_Plank and @Ed_Williams! Mike you are so right – I didn’t realize the contrast reduction but seeing them side by side here, I’ve done a second revision, above. It was an easy fix – it’s much easier to increase contrast in PS than to reduce it. And no impact on grain/noise.
It was the droplets on the beard that I wanted to be the star of the show but the image above was cropped from the sides from a horizontal format at almost MFD with my macro lens (supposedly a true 1:1 but I have my doubts). The daily breeze was coming up fast and I didn’t have time to go back for extension tubes and a TC. I could crop a little more but loved the other shapes as well.
Your second repost I love - it really brings out those beard droplets - and it’s great the way the other droplets magnify the texture of the flower beneath.
I absolutely LOVE this, Diane! Very creatively seen and photographed. I could get lost in this image for hours. If I had to choose, it would be the third one; if this was my image, I might try an inverted radial gradient with SLIGHT negative dehaze. Simply breathtaking!
Holy moly! That final, more cropped repost is spectacular. The detail and lack of grain really make this one special. It’s such a sensual and intimate view of the blossom. Really stunning.
ML
