Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Here is my 2nd try at the Cala Lily reflection. Again, this is a composite of 2 photos, one for the flower and the other for the reflection. I have a bit more space between, and this time the water is not directly below the bloom. I also suspended the bloom so it doesn’t look compressed.
Specific Feedback
I like this version better, but how can I improve it?
Technical Details
D850, 60mm macro, 5 sec, f8, ISO 64, Tripod with black cloth background
Bloom photo - 1/2 second
Refection photo - 3 seconds
Luminosity of both images adjust in Lightroom
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1 Like
I like this image better as well, Steve. The idea of getting the perfectly black background all the way across is interesting, but the lack of a horizon between them is a bit disconcerting-which may be what you intend. If not and you have just a hint of light in the water of the reflections image, I’d try letting some seep back in to create that horizon.
I prefer the first one more, and the flower shapes there are more interesting. (And agreed, Callas are SO difficult to frame!) The two flowers are so unrelated here, just two stems coming in from offstage separately. And for me, it’s not really apparent that it’s a reflection. The top flower is edging on too bright, with not enough detail in the brightest tones – the brightness of the bottom one is just right, for my taste.
I would experiment with the flowers being much closer together – even touching. I’m unclear on the setup but could you do both the flower and reflection in one exposure? That way the stems could make a V from the left, which would unify them more.
Fascinating idea – keep working it!!
Steve: I did read both @Dennis_Plank and @Diane_Miller critiques and agree with them both for the most part. For me the exposures are just about right but my first impression without reading the other comments was that I thought they should be closer together. These are great subjects and I hope you keep after it. >=))>
Thank you @Dennis_Plank, @Diane_Miller and @Bill_Fach for your comments! Dennis, I do darken the backgrounds in Lightroom, so I could lighten them a bit. I’ll try that in the next version. Diane and Bill, I agree about the images looking unrelated and too far apart. Next version coming soon.
