The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
A friend mentioned that there were a lot of trillium out on the trails in a local park, so my wife and I went out this morning. Trilliums there were, but there was a large Magnolia in the"rose garden" area where we parked. None of the blossoms were low enough to photograph conventionally, but I liked the looks of this cluster against the sky.
Specific Feedback
I rotated while cropping and this seemed to be the most pleasing composition to my eye. I’m interested in how other people see it.
Technical Details
Sony A7RV, FE 70-200 f/4 @ 76 mm, hand held, f/9, 1/160, iso 1000. Processed in LR & PS CC. Rotated and cropped, brought up exposure, highlights, eliminated a couple of stray leaves, and as an after thought, used the point color tool in LR to bring up the purples a bit more. Taken this morning at 8:33 a.m.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
What a beautiful shot, Dennis! The colors work well together. There’s a pleasing contrast between the hard, angular branch and the soft blossoms. Well done.
Drop dead gorgeous!! The white sky gives it a botanical illustration vibe, as does the very interesting composition. The translucency of the petals and leaves is fantastic, especially when set against the rugged branches. This belongs in a high end gallery!
Excellent high-key image, Dennis. The colours are lovely and just “pop” against the white.
The bit of green moss and leaves set off the purple blooms perfectly.
Tried rotating - 180 degrees from this was OK too, but like yours more. I suggest cloning out the smaller branch with its appendages at the top to add to the minimalism. But I love this as is too.
Thanks @Mike_Friel. Yeah, I rotated this one every which way. This is about 120 degrees from how I framed it in the camera. I should take a stab at getting rid of that small branch.
Fresh and crisp - like the perfect bowl or sorbet. It’s just a delight no matter what. Not sure the colors or form would present as ethereal since they’re just too vibrant and wild. I’ve never lived far south enough to have this kind of tree, but I imagine the bees buzzing. Do the flowers have a fragrance?
I haven’t noticed a fragrance, but I’ve never lived with one. They seem to do reasonably well in our climate, which does surprise me a bit since I always think of them as southeast plants and we do get freezing weather almost every winter (light frost this morning).
@Kris_Smith, I think they are fairly hardy and seem to thrive reasonably far north. They are widely planted here (north-central CA) and do well, but we don’t have sustained cold weather, just morning frosts. Alas, no fragrance, unlike the wonderful Southern Magnolia, which is probably more southern in its range, although it also thrives here as a landscape plant.
Dennis: I have worked with the magnolias here in Seattle for years; and I’ve tried to get this image looking up at the blossoms, but my results have never been good.
