Yellow and Green on Yellow and Green

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

Yellow-and-Green-on-Green-and-Yellow.jpg
Yellow-and-Green-on-Green-and-Yellow.jpg922×1152 474 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

My son and I raise a variety of Sunflowers, later harvesting and selling the seeds. The plant this one flower came from is called a “Skyscraper” and can reach heights of 9 feet and sport up to 18 flowers.
I was shooting this one as an example and for a new seed packet design when this nice “Sulphur” butterfly alit for a very quick second, executing the perfect photo bomb. Serendipitous photo opportunities cannot be dismissed or ignored, though I did use a different image and camera setup for the packet.

Specific Feedback

This is a tricky response as I was shooting the packaging shots with my Nikon Z8 and 105 macro. I always take a backup camera into the field because of the variety of birds that like to frequent the area. I switched cameras when I saw this little guy flittering about.
I wonder if for the purpose of this post, I should have pushed the green in the Sulphur for a tad more emphasis. For the seed packet information, I do very little editing and never change the color. I am big on WYSISWYG.

Technical Details

Nikon D810, f 7.1, 1/1600, -.33 EV (really bright out), ISO 400
80-400 @400mm
I did some minor cleanup in photoshop for a few ants that wandered into the frame.

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1 Like
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Cool, Chris. I like the way the colors of the Sulphur blend with and mimic those of the sunflower, so I wouldn’t mess with those. It does look like your flower photography superseded the butterfly aspect as it appears the focus was on the center florets of the sunflower.

3

Ah, serendipity, in photography it truly is a blessing. They don’t come often, and for me, usually I am not ready. I think if you had bumped up the f-stop to f11 it would have given you enough DOF to make the Sulphur butterfly have the sharpness you have in the center of the sunflower. That said, I am really enjoying the colors of the flower and the butterfly immensely.

4

Chris; Having been frustrated for years by Sulphurs refusing to sit still for any amount of time I think you did great. Luck happens to those who are prepared and competent. Clearly you were both. Well done. >=))>

5

They are flittery little ones. As I had stated in my description, it was a very brief stop and I took advantage of what I had, Thanks for the comment.