The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I put this in flora, since the lilies are the main part of the image. This is from a recent photo conference at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This was taken late one of the mornings with the bright sun – very little cloud cover the whole time we were there. I set down to watch the bees come and go around the lilies. Even with the harder late morning light, I just put on my long lens and shot across the light. I was trying to freeze the bees with a higher shutter speed, but 1/1328 of a second was still not fast enough. (Darn guys are fast!) There were a few lily pads at the top of the frame, but other than that, this is close to what the original image looked like.
Specific Feedback
I tried to give some breathing space on the crop. Does it need to be tighter or looser? Should I try to bring out some of the shadow details on the lilies? Other thoughts are welcome.
Lastly, working on the title. My daughter helped me with this one, but again, open if someone feels they have one to share. Thanks.
Technical Details
Canon ESO R
100mm-400mm at 400mm
ISO 800, f/10, 1/1328 sec
Critique Template
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Vision and Purpose:
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Patrick: This is brilliant IMO. Wonderfully conceived and superbly captured and presented. I like all of your decisions and appreciate you sharing your thought processes. Superbly crafted image.>=))>
At a first glance of the thumbnail, I thought of a flamingo with its head down feeding in the water.
Love the view when opened up though. That’s great use of black, something hard to do in a color image IMHO. It’s good without it, but the bee is wonderful icing on the cake. I think the breathing space looks just about right. Well done!
Patrick, the perfection of the reflections is amazing, especially the bee. I like the “long tall” feeling overall, the meniscus rings around the flower stems and the overall lighting. lt’s a striking look at the flowers where the bee adds a strong connection to reality.
I like the interesting lighting in this image, Patrick. It’s different in a good way. I do think it might balance a bit better if you could move the whole scene just a bit to the right in the frame. That’s my only thought for improving this fine image.
Thank you @Bill_Fach , @John_Williams , @Mark_Seaver and @Dennis_Plank. Mark, thanks for the name of the blue at the stems in the water. Meniscus rings, good to know. TY
Dennis, I had kept more black on the left, so it wasn’t too tight of a crop. But with your suggestion of moving to the right, I decided to add a little to the frame on the left – thus, shift things to the right. And I think you are right, it balances the subjects just that little bit more. Thanks for the suggestion.
