The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
A couple of weeks ago I was out in early morning light photographing various flowers and whatever struck me as interesting. I noticed that our Twinberry bush ( we had two, but one didn’t make it in our soil) was starting to bloom. It’s a fun plant as there are two flowers grouped together which will eventually produce two berries with the shield you see here above them.
I’ve added a different image with open flowers below, but don’t really care for it as much.
Specific Feedback
I am wondering if this would be better flipped horizontally. Also does it detract to have the buds unopened?
Technical Details
Sony A7Rv, 70-200 f/4 macro @ 200 mm, tripod, 35 images at f/8, 1/640, iso 640. Stacked in Helicon Focus. Further processing in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 6068x5912. Taken April 22nd.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Cute little things! I like the unopened buds, but also the open flowers – no need to choose.
For my taste, the first one could be cropped a little top and sides, and the bokeh bubbles cloned out. That would keep my attention on the buds. The stacking looks excellent!
The open blooms might use a little more canvas on the right.
Like Diane says - why choose? They both work to show how the flowers develop and I hope you continue with the seeds, too. I just read a book by Thor Hanson on seeds and it was pretty interesting. But anyway…I wonder if the square crop of the first could be shifted slightly to have a bit of the leaves removed and more open space to the left. Also, the bokeh being constrained to just that little section is a bit of an eye-grabber. I wish it was all gone or more evenly dispersed (spray bottle to the rescue!). I think giving the open flowers a bit more space to the right would be good, too.
These are so fresh and wonderfully pristine. I bet pollinators love them. The light you had really helped maximize the modeling and textures, too. Great color contrast with the dark bracts (?). Sorry one bush didn’t make it.
Dennis: A new plant for me and an interesting study of the different stages. Most of the time I prefer images moving left to right but on some like this it doesn’t seem to bother me. I have no clue why some seem to need flipping and others don’t. I’m in agreement with @Kris_Smith regarding the bokeh but it’s not a deal breaker. The crop is fine with me as is. Nice find and a fine capture and presentation. >=))>
I’m in agreement with