Red Hot Chili Peppers

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
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red hot chili peppers npn.jpg
red hot chili peppers npn.jpg1971×2300 816 KB

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

It’s difficult to see due to the internet’s inability to adequately differentiate between shades of black, but if you download the image, you should be able to see the shadow of the peppers against the BG. It made for a difficult edit.

Other Information

Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.

Image Description

The night before I shot this image, I had been shooting some jazz musicians in very dim light, thus the high 5000 ISO. I made a rookie mistake in not checking my camera before shooting, silly boy I am. There is only minimal noise reduction which for a 1/2 frame, 21MP mirrorless (Nikon Z50) is pretty dang impressive. Almost as impressive, if you allow your eyes to relax, you can differentiate the shadow of the peppers, black on black. My son grows these and hangs some of them up to dry out, while others go into making some very hot salsa.

Technical Details

Nikon Z50 w/ 24-200 @47mm

image

Specific Feedback

I went for HOT to reflect the hotness of chili peppers. Does this image make your mouth cringe?

Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
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  • Composition:
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  • Processing:
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I was torn between Abstract and Flora so I went with Macro-Close Up. Admins can change venue at their discretion.

3

No need to download to see the shadow – it is clear in the enlarged view. And a nice touch. The extreme NR has perhaps added to the plastic look these things have – before they become dusty ornaments. The look works for me. Nice differentiation of shades of reds and the interesting shapes. Nice!!

I wouldn’t have a clue where to post it either.

4

I did a very minimal NR. This little Z50 handles noise well beyond even my Z8 in certain circumstances. It was a fun shot and a reminder to me that there is always a shot just outside your front door.

5

Chris: Posting here is AOK with me. I like the subject and there is certainly a “hot” feel to it. I’m not sure what your concern is with the shadows but if you want them to go away a simple fix is to set the black point on a curves layer to the lightest area you want black and it will render the BG a uniform black. >=))>

6

Thanks for that input, but as to the shadows, I wanted them in the shot, a black on black effect. For me, that’s so much harder than just obliterating the BG altogether.