The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
My favorite cactus just started blooming two days ago and I was up at 4 am to get to the first bloom before the ravages of sunlight and wind. (Why does the sun have to rise at 5:45?) You’ll see some flowers later but I was struck by this detail and wished I had brought the macro lens to get more focus falloff. So today I went back with the right lens and got this, which may be a twofer??
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome. I think I prefer the cropped version. I hope I’ll be there the day the bud blooms! There are others but this might make an interesting composition.
Diane: I’m developing an increasingly deep love affair with cacti so this is sweet. I like both iterations but my initial reaction to both is I would like less room on the right and more on the left. I found it a little easier to work with the uncropped version to illustrate my thoughts. Perhaps it’s just my old crusty way of seeing but back to you. >=))>
I really like both Images shown here. Very Sharp and beautiful detail. Great Depth of Field Idea. I think the top image that is framed and cropped tighter may be my favorite because of the detail. BUT they both work GREAT !!!
Hi Diane. I prefer the more tightly cropped version as the second damaged area in the wider version is, to me, more of a distraction than an addition. Perhaps it could be given it’s own image if you have the pixels to crop that tightly. I do also like Bill’s version, but my eye goes straight to that upper damaged area which I just don’t find as interesting as the broken off end.
Thanks, @Bill_Fach, @Gill_Vanderlip and @Dennis_Plank! Bill, I think you pegged it with the crop! The right side was bothering me and I would have liked more room on the left but there was another trunk just to the left right in the plane of focus. I had to clone out some thorn tips. I’ll see if I have room to move around a little next time I’m out there.
Dennis, I think you’re referring to the fuzzy dark blob on the taller trunk? Hard to believe but that’s a bloom bud! I hope to catch it on the morning it blooms, but it may make an awkward composition. (The blooms only last one morning – frustrating.)
Diane, Both images tell your title story. Both are well seen and wonderfully composed. To choose the second more vertical one, I’d suggest removing the black blotch near URC. I did this with the remove tool in PS. I can see how you might think it adds to the rough life of a saguaro, but it’s more of a distraction to me. You convey your theme well in the lower part of the image.
Thanks @Larry_Greenbaum! That blob didn’t bother me as I was picturing it as a bloom! But yes, it is very distracting. After the bloom has faded I can pick it off and maybe have an easier area to patch.
I can’t figure out what becomes of the old bloom scars but they seem to disappear eventually. I’ll have to watch more closely. I’d love to know how it decides where to sprout a flower, too! And also where to grow a new branch.
