The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
One of the earlier of our local prairie flowers. We have a few patches of these scattered around the property and this is the first one I’ve found that has a real bloom.
Specific Feedback
How does the background look? It was something of a mess due to the stack with stuff partially in focus and partially not. This plant is only about four inches high, so it sits down in the grasses camas shoots with lots of last years dead stuff mixed in, so I spent a lot of time cleaning it up.
Technical Details
Sony A7Rv, FE 70-200 f/4 macro @ 70 mm, hand held, 70 image stack at f/4 using the built in focus bracketing. Stacking in Helicon Focus with further processing in LR & PS CC. Straightened and cropped to 4951x6968 with a touch of content aware fill in the lower left corner. As noted above lots of cleanup, some low opacity painting and a linear gradient on the background. Another linear gradient on the subject with increased luminosity and saturation toward the top of the flower.
Dennis, this is a fine look at this shooting star. While I could see cropping to horizontal and only showing the flowers, I really like how your vertical view emphasizes the way these flower grow on a long stalk. The background looks fine. There is a bit of haloing around the central petal of the right bloom.
The BG is fine and the darker lower part of the image provides an anchor for the photo. The halo does not bother me and is not very noticeable to my eyes. The lighting is very nice and I think that going vertical is the best choice for the comp. Well done…Jim
Hi Dennis,
I love the background (great bokeh and complementary color setting off the flower) and admire the sharp focus here. At least in Oregon, these little gems often move with the slightest breeze. Initially, I was thinking a shorter crop would be better, but they are shooting stars, they need room to burst and to fall. FWIW, I don’t see the halo either, but my screen doesn’t pick up on a lot of things
Nicely done,
ML
Dennis, this is a fine look at this shooting star. While I could see cropping to horizontal and only showing the flowers, I really like how your vertical view emphasizes the way these flower grow on a long stalk. The background looks fine. There is a bit of haloing around the central petal of the right bloom.
Dennis, this came out very well for a 70 image stack all handheld. What’s really neat to me is that you caught the blooms in different stages, from upright and closed, to drooping, partial then full bloom. They’re very striking flowers and I recall seeing them in Zion NP, growing near the Virgin River, back in 2019.
Dennis: I’ve never encountered these in the wild and if I’m not mistaken you’ve posted shots of them in the past that I’ve always enjoyed. I’m impressed that you could get 70 shots handheld and then sort things out in post. You’re making me covet an A7rV! I think your results are terrific and agree with @Jim_Lockhart regarding the different bloom stages. Top notch shot in every way. >=))>
