Sunburst

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1

20250814_092748_Z827872.jpg
20250814_092748_Z827872.jpg2048×1469 523 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

This is such a totally different take on a Dahlia from Jim Z’s excellent images. Shot wide open at f/1.8 in overcast light.

Specific Feedback

Any comments appreciated.

Technical Details

Nikon Z8, Z 135mm Plena, 18mm Extension Tube, 1/16000 sec (really) @ f/1.8, ISO 500.

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
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  • Composition:
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  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
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2 Likes
2

This is SOOOO lovely! Gorgeous rich colors complementing the dreamy softness, and perfect light! A teeny-tiny nit would be the petal tip almost touching the right edge, but it’s too pretty to mention it!

3

Lovely image. I really like the simpleness of the two colors, and how they work off of each other.

4

Amazing picture, at first sight I thought petals were flames. I love the short DOF that gave that effect, in addition to the color of the flowers! It made me re-consider that DOF should be all the way for this kind of pictures. Same teeny observation as Diane. Very inspiring. Thank you!

5

David: I do love the softness you achieved with the very shallow DOF which renders this more artistically than if everything was super sharp. I certainly like super sharp images like Jim’s but this effect seems to be underutilized in current circles. Another unconscious effect is that we would expect something flaming to have a softness from the heat emitted. This is extremely well conceived and captured IMO. :+1: :+1:>=))>

6

@Diane_Miller, @patrick6, @fabrice, and @Bill_Fach thank you all for the really nice comments. I truly appreciate them.

Diane and Fabrice, I wish I had a little more room on the right edge. I guess I’ll have to back and try again. :grinning_face:

Thanks again,
David

7

Oh that color is intense. We react to color very strongly as a species and that’s what this shot is all about for me. The way the colors lie next to each other rather than bleeding into each other. I don’t think I ever properly appreciated that dahlias have different colors on the two sides of their petals, at least this one does. The right edge petal doesn’t bother me since I know full well how hard it is to cut off a scene like this - no matter where you do it, there’s a compromise. Really excellent even wide open.

8

David, this is a wonderful image. Although extremely fiery in color the softness brings the viewing temperature down nicely. Upon first look it reminded me of the Soft Focus lens I have and it’s neat effect. Truly eye opening to say the lest… :+1:

1 Like
9

Totally different from Jim’s is right, but extraordinarily effective. I love the shallow depth of field and getting close enough to completely fill the frame with flower. The diffused light made the colors really stand out. A gorgeous image.

10

@Kris_Smith, @Paul_Breitkreuz, and @Dennis_Plank thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate them.

Cheers,
David

12

Oh, this is quite lovely. As others have said, this is interesting because of the contrast of the vibrant, strong color with the soft focus.

13

@Sandy_Richards-Brown and @Bonnie_Lampley thank you for the kind comments, much appreciated.

Cheers,
David

14

Very nice and a good use of shallow DOF and color which produced a very artistic shot. A well deserved EP–Congrats…Jim

15

David, huge congrats on the EP!! This is a stunning image!

16

@Jim_Zablotny and @Diane_Miller thank you for the comments. I did not know it was selected for EP. Thanks!

18

Hi David,
I am late to the party, but this is stunning! The shallow DOF works perfectly here as do the bold vibrant yellows and reds of the petals. I particularly like the way the out stretched petals direct the eye toward the yellow center. Congrats on the EP; well deserved.

1 Like