The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I’m just now going through more of the images I made last Friday, when I was disappointed that this Magnolia delavayi wasn’t fully open. I have posted one of the same flower shot the next day, when it was still not fully open but had been attacked by bees. I’m now thinking I like this one better. Apparently this is one that falls apart or gets trashed as it opens, or before.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome! I think I need to trim just a bit more off the right side, but it’s almost happy hour.
Technical Details
Minor global tonal tweaks in LR, then into Zerene Stacker. The DMap processed in PS with some dodging and burning, and some of better petal detail cloned in from the PMax version. Cropped from the sides.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Bees will do that sort of thing and trash flowers before they are fully open. Lighting is very nice and the dark BG shows off the flower nicely. There’s a few light rings on the branch near the leaf on the LH side that pulls my eye away from the flower. Burning that area might help with that. Other than that, a nice looking flower bud…Jim
The repeating forms and pattern here is really cool, so I don’t mind the flower being closed. The layers and slow reveal is interesting even if not fully complete. I think the only way you could preserve a flower like this is to tie dense mesh around the bud and then remove it just before you want to shoot. Maybe next year you can try it. Great light and I like the water in that lower leaft.
Thanks, @Jim_Zablotny and @Kris_Smith! I darkened those rings quite a bit but could do more, for sure, especially the distal one. Kris, great idea! I actually think I might talk a gardener there into letting me try that. They seem very tolerant or even appreciative of my stalking around with a camera.
The difference between this and the following day is amazing, Diane. This is very beautiful, though perhaps not as thought provoking as the following day. The only thing I might be tempted to change is some micro-contrast adjustment to emphasize the water pool in the petal.
