Lilium speciosum

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

From a trip to Sonoma Botanical Garden two weeks ago. This is my favorite time there, when these lilies bloom. The “garden” is 60 acres of wild-sourced native Asian plants, in a wild setting. There are several large stands of these lilies, all in dappled light from overhanging trees, but the stalks are 5-6 ft long and the slightest breeze is deadly for stacking. I can’t believe that these delicate stamens survived a stack, although shooting at 20 fps helps minimize motion – I only had to retouch one edge on one where there was a secondary double edge.

Specific Feedback

All comments welcome!

Technical Details

Screenshot 2024-09-05 at 3.22.17 PM

Minor global tonal adjustments in LR; into Zerene for a stack of maybe 15. (I usually shoot 20 but always start short and delete the first few.) In PS, NR and removed the tips of 2 leaves. Microsurgical cloning as described above. Added a little canvas top and bottom as it felt crowded. Full frame otherwise.


Critique Template

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2 Likes

Wow, gorgeous! Tack-sharp, lovely colours, great angle, perfect comp -
Exquisite!

Gorgeous image, Diane. I really like how the stack worked in this one.

Great job with the stack on this beauty. I love the bright vibrant colors. Nice complementary BG too, and all this with a telephoto zoom? Nice work.

Thanks, @SandyR-B, @Dennis_Plank and @Ed_Williams! I did get very lucky, for sure. Seeing the replies by email the image is on a white BG and it looks too dark. Maybe I should give it a bit more exposure?

Ed, 1000mm is a new favorite macro lens! But I had the TC off here, to get a wider aperture softer BGs.

1 Like

Diane, this is beautiful. I love the colors. Stacking is the way to go with flowers it seems. I haven’t tried it yet, but to get details throughout it seems necessary. You have mastered stacking.

1 Like