The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Pulsatilla cernua is found at this time blooming around countryside graves in Korea. They like sunny spots and hillside slopes, just as people here like such sites for graves. They may well have been planted by relatives of the deceased, but can also sometimes be found growing in gardens or completely in the wild.
Specific Feedback
Of course I did not want to pick any of these flowers, but the sloping background of stubble by the grave was disturbing; so I took the unusual step of propping up a card on the grass behind. I have several cards, and thought these colors contrasted best with the flower. But did I make everything look a bit too artificial?
Technical Details
OM-1 + 60mm macro 1/640 f3.5 ISO 200 - 17 shots stacked in Zerene.
Tonal tweaks in LR, Denoise and then Shadows/Highlights and Curves in PS. Desaturated a bit ; minor straightening and cropping.
Mike, the Pasque Flower stands out beautifully. The background is both colorful and gently fitting with the flower. Yes, the color shift do seem very hard to find in nature, but they make an excellent portrait of this flower.
Mike: I’m not sure what I like more, the flower or the supportive and wonderfully complementary BG. One could imagine the BG as a post sunset sky so while the colors are relatively strong I think they work very well. I played around with softening the BG color (quick and sloppy masking job) and like it but I think I prefer your version. Back to you. >=))>
The background looks pretty good and fulfills its artistic purpose. For some reason the photo lacks crispness in certain areas. The stack looks pretty good and I think that using a smaller aperture with the same number of images may result in a crisper image for this case. Those hairs can test a stacking algorithm for sure if they are not sharp from base to tip. Overall, I like the comp and that background works well with the subject. Overall, you produced a very nice image with a most challenging subject. Well done…Jim
Thanks, Jim. Maybe setting the stack differential at 1 instead of 2 would have helped with those hairs (also using a tripod, which I’m usually too lazy to lug around!). Appreciate your comments.
Bill, thanks for your version, which looks more “natural”. I prefer the color contrast in the original, and I guess the two versions would suit different contexts. I’ll certainly consider toning down the card more if I need to use it again.
Beautiful, Mike. the card worked very well. Much better than my standby of using a black fleece vest I’m not sure whether I like your original or Bill’s background better. As you noted, different uses of the image would call for for different treatment.
Hi Mike,
In many ways, I think the card you chose for background is what makes this image really special. The pasque flower itself is lovely, but the mood set by the card and its color gradations takes it all up a notch. Like Bill, I found the colors to be reminiscent of a sunset, so while it what not “natural” in the scene, it has a natural effect for me. Yours is sunset, and Bill’s version is sunrise. Both are very nice.
ML
I’m not sure whether I like your original or Bill’s background better. As you noted, different uses of the image would call for for different treatment.