Leaf Pod after 4 days growth (not the same pod but it was at the same stage as the one in the flower image).
Leaf pod growth image was shot in very low light, so, ISO was 6400, underexposed and very noisy so this is just a documentary shot.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is another shot using my 40 year old Vivitar 70-210mm Manual Macro Focus lens.
I like the bokeh this lens produces and it has a somewhat soft feel that seems appropriate for some flora images.
We have lots of large trees around the house and that seems to help with flora lighting, my wife is huge on growing flowers around the house, it’s like having our own private Botanical Garden right here at home
Specific Feedback
I wanted to include the leaf pod at the lower right corner, in a couple of weeks that leaf pod will become another row of leaves like the ones under the flower.
My concern is that it might throw the balance off so I added the date in the lower left corner to offset it, does it work? Or should I ditch the date?
And of course any construction critique would be much appreciated!
Technical Details
a7r4, antique Vivitar 70-210mm lens, 1/250s, ISO 400 (it was windy), f11, 210mm, Lr, then into Ps for minor cloning, Topaz Denoise and Sharpen AI, sharpening was delicate because it wanted to produce halos too easy (bright color to dark color intersections are more sensitive to halos IMHO).
Beautiful capture, Mervin. Personally I like the inclusion of the leaf pod, it adds interest and information. And no, it doesn’t bother me, but I tend toward more a-symmetrical images. If you prefer your photos symmetrical, then having an element in the LLC works. IMHO it is just a question of what you had in mind and what suits your style. Wish our house was surrounds with such lovely flowers! The deer would love that!
I miss rhodies. They just don’t do well up here even though NH was dirty with them. Slight climate differences account for it I imagine. These look lovely and I like how that old Vivitar rendered them and the background. I have a feeling you won’t be selling it.
Having photographed these and Great Rhododendron before, I know how hard it is to get an isolated group like this. As Linda said, if you prefer really symmetrical images this will seem weird to you, but for me it tells the story of the plant and new growth after coming through winter. The light is so even and gives the slightest shadows for modeling. Good crispness where needed, too. The pink is so vivid and I love the “landing strips”.
Merv, this is another stunning floral image. You’ve got these dialed in very nicely. I suspect the lens you’re working with is aiding with some of these very positive images. However, one has got to know what they’re doing to even get in the ballpark no matter how fine the equipment is…
I might try bringing down the brightness on the leaf pod on the right for another look there. Just a thought on minimizing any distractions on the fine main flower here…
Gorgeous flower at the peak of perfection, framed with wonderful leaves, and that tiny water droplet is the grace note! Perfect light and beautiful BG! The leaf pod is an interesting addition but I wonder about darkening it just a bit, so the viewer discovers it rather than having it stand out so much. You might try other compositions with it further into the frame, and maybe even a little OOF in some.
Linda and Kris, thank you so much for your thoughts on the balance, I felt that it looked natural and balanced without the date placed in the LLC but I thought I’d try it and ask for thoughts!
I’m not big on making symmetrical images but I do like them to feel balanced.
Paul and Diane, thank you so much for the suggestion to darken the leaf pod, I gave it a try and I like the results! Good idea!
I posted the rework at the top above the original.
Also, I decided to get a growth image of one of the leaf pods 4 days after I shot the flower, it’s not a good image, the ISO was 6400, it was underexposed and very noisy but I wanted to capture it in early morning sunlight.
Thank you all so very much!!
This was down low and in front of a cedar picket fence.
