Upstarts

Image Critiques Flora Critiques
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2024-08-10-04.39.35 ZS retouched.jpg
2024-08-10-04.39.35 ZS retouched.jpg2024×2500 2.56 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Lately I’ve been spending time at the jewelry bench rather than in the field with the camera, but yesterday I took a turn around the yard to see what was up. Turns out lots of Indian Pipe - more than I’ve ever seen and some in new places. They are my favorite wildflowers and so I got in there with the tripod for some focus bracketing and stacking. I particularly liked this trio because they were near a tree I could use for a backdrop and they all had different aspects and positions to show how the blossoms look from various angles. Most people just think of them as white, but they have a surprising amount of color and I did my best to bring it out. These haven’t been pollinated yet, but that one facing looks like it might have been. They straighten out and stand up when this has occurred.

Specific Feedback

I think I have the stack looking good - did a lot of retouching and finessing. Thoughts? Anything else? The bg has not been additionally blurred.

Technical Details

Tripod & in-camera-focus bracketing using the 0/-/+ method
Handheld LED panel for some sidelighting and a touch of warmth
21 images blended in Zerene Stacker

image

Lr for the initial adjustments to the RAW files for contrast, color and sharpening. Zerene for the stack and then back into Lr to manage color and crop slightly. Used masking to reduce bg exposure and put some contrast and texture in the flowers.

Critique Template

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  • Composition:
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1 Like
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The stack looks very good to me, Kris. I like the various angles on the flowers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a look directly into one before and never really knew what that structure looked like.

1 Like
3

Looks great to me in all respects. I like that you have three “upstarts” each showing a different view (i really like the inside view.

4

Thanks @Dennis_Plank & @Jim_Gavin - glad it doesn’t look too confusing and that the stack looks good. They did move slightly in the breeze, but not so much that it was a problem. I’ve shot directly into the flowers a few times and you can see some of those photos in my Indian Pipe Gallery on SmugMug.

5

Nice gallery of these, Kris.

6

Thanks, I’ve been shooting them a long time after doing it really badly before that. Now I can barely pass any by without getting right down in there.

7

@Kris_Smith, the stack look good. I do find the background very distracting after I’ve looked at the image for awhile. A shallower DOF (in the background) would help.

The Indian Pipe really is a wonderful flower! We find them in this area occasionally.

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Thanks @Susanna_Euston - backgrounds are so individual, don’t you think? I know you like a high key look with a lot of your work and use a light pad, so I’m not surprised at your reaction. I guess I could blur it more, but it works for me fine since it conveys some (fuzzy!) environment information.