# Midland Shooting Star in the Rain

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** plant-life\
**Created:** [May 23, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933 "2026-05-23T19:24:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933/1 "2026-05-23T19:24:25Z")

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![MidlandShootingStarEdited.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/9/d98209643d57d561f2d5d799ec6a6fd02565bc7e.jpeg)

> **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_
> 
> The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

### Description

I made four different attempts to get the best stack and 30mph gusts made it a challenge. The resulting image did have some glaring artifacts including some major dark halos and my edits appeared to have stumbled onto a solution. There’s also a few bonus aphids in the comp too. I guess that I can be happy with the results, although it was an incredible amount of work for this subject.

### Specific Feedback

These flowers are very small with each one spanning slightly over a half an inch from tip of the pistil to the apices of the petals. How do you you like the comp? I chose to have a frame-filled shot to exploit the details present. Thank you for looking…,Jim

### Technical Details

Z9 200mm f4 Micro (1/100sec at f5.6, ISO 250; Natural Light 60 image stack with PMax) Levels, Rubber Stamp Tool for artifact remova, selection wand and rubber stamp tool for taming down some stacking artifacts in BG, Luminosity Masks and curve adjustment for Midtones, reduction in exposure, full frame.

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**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933/2 "2026-05-26T00:24:14Z")

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I like the composition, Jim. Good stacking work to bring out such nice detail and the rain drops add a lot.

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**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933/3 "2026-05-26T14:32:20Z")

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Beautiful job, Jim. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but I don’t see any artifacts. The composition works for me. I’ve shot our local variety almost every spring for 20 years and this is about where I usually end up for a comp. The detail is excellent.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midland-shooting-star-in-the-rain/50933/4 "2026-05-30T18:07:44Z")

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Jim: I’m horribly tardy to this but all your effort really paid off. Beautiful flowers with the water drops icing on the cake. Many kudos. \>=))\>