The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I visited an orchid show nearLansing, MI and was hoping to use my macro flash setup. Unfortunately, I left the lens ring adapter hat home and used natural light instead. This was handheld and I maneuvered the rig around until I found the best shot for isolating the subject from the surroundings. The BG is a black cloth that was used as a background and deliberately under-exposed the image to make the BG uniform in blackness.
Specific Feedback
How do you like this one? I wish that the light was coming from the RH side, but had to use what nature was providing.
Technical Details
Z9 105mm f2.8 Micro (1/100sec at f14, ISO 1600) DeNoise, Levels for black point, crop for comp, reduction in highlights, burned in bract on LH side of frame, rubber stamp tool for distracting element removal.
The existing light worked quite well for this, Jim. I think the angle was just fine and you managed a very nice background. Well done.
There’s a huge flower and garden show in Seattle in February that I used to go to when I lived nearer and an orchid show was always part of it, but photography would have been tough as the orchids didn’t have a lot of room and no one paid attention to backgrounds (plus the mob of people).
Wow! This is amazing on its own, but combined with the adapting you had to do it is even more astounding. It’s an incredible specimen and so typical of many orchid arrangements in the way the petals have morphed and changed to suit the environment and the pollinators, gypped though they are in the process. The arc of the stem and the opposing angle of the flower is really striking. Bravo.
Holy Cow!! This may be the most wonderful image of an orchid I have ever seen – well, maybe just slightly behind Cy DeCosse’s Queen of the Night. Just slightly. I love the slightly dark exposure that give is a mysterious feel. I wonder about a little more burn on the bract and bud, or maybe a little defocus also.
I’m really late to this party Jim. I noticed your image and meant to comment but the forum seems to move so fast these days.
I have recently inherited quite a few orchids from my Dad, (Not as exotic lookingas this one.) so I thought they would give me good opportunity to photograph them. They are not easy to photograph so I take my hat off to you, because this image is just gorgeous. Everything has come together beautifully. The colours against the black background are rich, but not overdone. I like the burnt bract on the left.
Thank you @Glenys_Passier for your comments and critiques. They are challenging, but orchids grown in captivity can be moved into a makeshift studio for controlled lighting and composition. Even though this one was shot with natural light, I do prefer using multiple flashes for getting the best lighting on the flowers. Try photographing them at different angles and you will be rewarded with some interesting compositions too. I also like to use stacking to maximize depth of field.
