The Japanese Magnolia Four Days Later

Image Critiques Flora Critiques
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2021-02-19-17.29.34 ZS PMax-Edit
2021-02-19-17.29.34 ZS PMax-Edit2500×1667 913 KB

I went back to the same group I posted several days ago, and found the buds hadn’t changed much, but this time I decided to include two more. Another focus stack, with slight air movement causing a few edge artifacts that I cloned out. The BG got a good dose of partial opacity cloning. I also shot a closer view that I haven’t processed yet – I’m hoping it didn’t have much movement.

Specific Feedback Requested

All comments welcome!

Technical Details

Is this a composite: No
Canon R5, Canon 100mm macro at f/4, ISO 160, 1/160 sec. 7 shots processed in Zerene Stacker. Lots of partial opacity cloning on the BG.

1 Like
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I think this is my favorite of the series. I have no idea what partial opacity cloning is but it works quite well here. No nits from me. Looks really good.

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Hi Diane,

The pastel color scheme works well for this scene. The stacking looks good and I like this one as presented…Jim

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Gorgeous series you are working with here, Diane. Your stacking technique is amazing. I like how you have handled the OOF background. Looking for to the closer views.

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@Diane_Miller, a wonderful image. I might darken or do something to that oof pink area behind. What exactly is partial opacity cloning?

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Thanks everyone! @Harley_Goldman and @Ronald_Murphy, partial opacity cloning is setting the cloning “brush” to less than 100% opacity. It lets you partially obscure things – often a good way to lighten a dark blob or darken a bright spot in a BG. It’s often necessary to protect some of the subject by selecting it and then inversing the selection.

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I use the same technique to add hints of texture, etc to blown out areas. Usually at 8 to 15% opacity. It cleans up the blowouts nicely.

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Diane: Beautifully presented again. I really appreciate when someone works a subject so thoroughly and doesn’t just post random stand alone images. You may tempt me to try stacking :wink:. Marvelous work. >=))>

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Five flowers with excellent stacking made a gorgeous image. This is perfect as it is. I’m really looking forward to seeing the next shot when these buds will come out.

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Excellent image! stacking looks great. I like the velvety golden colored sepals on the buds. I like the subtle hints of background objects. Very well done overall to produce a great image. Magnolias are still 2 months away where I live. Winds of spring always make it a difficult subject to photograph and stack.

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Thanks all! Spring wind has hit here now, and the next clouds may not be till August when coastal fog rolls in. My next visit was a disappointment – calm air, but even before sunrise the light was nothing like a cloudy day. I’ll post what can do with it in a few days.

1 Like
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Another striking presentation. The magnolia trees flowers are prone to being damaged by rain, snow, cold. You’ve been very lucky to have such a long timeframe to photograph this beautiful tree. Great series.

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Thi magnolia portrait is also very beautiful. The strikes you add to the images give them a finished touch.