There are some things that work about this shot, and one that doesn't, in my opinion at least. The colours, DoF and composition are exactly what I was after, but the clarity/sharpness leaves something to be desired. A lot of the time I'm really pleased with my camera – it's small and unobtrusive, it takes pretty decent shots, and I didn't need a second mortgage to buy it – but on occasion I do wish that it would produce slightly more detailed images. There isn't anything majorly wrong with this shot, but it is a little less detailed than I was aiming for, and no amount of sharpening will restore detail that isn't there in the first place. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Oh, and we finally got a moving date yesterday – the 19th of this month. We were originally aiming to have moved by late June, so I don't suppose the 19th is too bad, but it does seem as though the whole process has been somewhat more complicated than necessary. Anyway, hopefully – fingers crossed – there won't be any more changes of plan.
camera capture date aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO focal length image quality white balance cropped?
Canon G5
6.24pm on 4/7/04
f3.0
1/125
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
50
28.8mm
RAW
auto
no
comment bybtezra at 01:12 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
~what color! the composition makes the shot IMO, the off-center placement of the subject removes the typical center placement of flowers in teh frame, something I am guilty of in my recent attempts to shoot macros of floral subjects...~
I may not have given it a thought if you hadnt mentioned it but it is slightly out of focus..big deal. The photos color dof and compostition more than makes up for that tiny little minor detail. I would hang this.
comment byStefanie Noble at 02:50 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
The hues are very soothing. A photo like this, because of the lack of focus on the main element, is something that I would use for Photoshoppery, i.e. cropping and blowing up the main flower until all you have is gradients of color, cropping down to any portions that are in focus. Or just playing up the softness even more. Whatever the "flaws" though, this immediately grabbed me as I was tabbing through my bookmarks.
I actually think the lack of (very minor I may add) detail adds to the effect of this photo...The DOF lends itself nicely to the detail level. I imagine if it were as sharp as it could be it would take something away from this beautiful shot...Great work as always!
comment byPeter Crymble at 02:59 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
Dave
is the DOF added to in Photoshop? Just would be surprised of this level of blurring at F3. Not that I really know what I'm talking about!!
comment by• eMarquetti • at 04:48 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
That´s the summer in the north hemisphere showing the power. And I´m thankfull for your existence, who can whow it to us, that we are so far. Thanks again! ;-)
I quite like the softness of the flower in the foreground. I think it lends to a more "realistic" shot. Plus, it offers a slight "dreamy" quality. Sometimes super-sharp photos can be distracting and unnatural.
However, I also know when you have your mind set on taking a certain type of photo and something a bit different is produced it can be annoying. That happens to be all the time because of my lack of skill. :)
comment byCheeky Girl at 04:53 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
I love love love the colors and for this photo I believe the lack of sharpness works fine - gives it more of an impressionist feel. Just beautiful.
comment byJason Wall at 07:22 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
Your comments caused me to examine the piece closer than I normally would. I think you're right about the clarity of the shot and its effect on the piece. The slightly soft nature of the flower in the foreground causes it to blend somewhat with the background, losing some of its prominence.
The photo is most extraordinary due to its color, which you don't often find in nature (those particular shades of bluish green), at least not around here in the Mid West.
The composition is nice, but not great. Something is vaguely unsettling about it. I think I can attribute the feeling to me looking for something specific because you mentioned you liked it. Although not objectionable, I think the background objects could be placed better to provide a bit more focus on the subject, and draw less attention to themselves. What stands out the most is the diffused light source in the upper left corner, which feels like it would fit better if it were moved over to the right. And I think the lilac in the foreground would be slightly better suited if moved to the left by just a bit, to provide a more suitable balance between the two flowers in the back.
All in all, it’s a beautiful piece. The photo looks best when views with the light background setting on your site, which brings out the airy and natural feel of the photograph.
Best Regards,
comment bykendall at 09:56 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
I have to agree with the issue about the clarity, but hey - the colour is great and more than makes up for it. It's a very 'classical' composition. Very nice.
comment byMarisa at 10:14 PM (GMT) on 8 July, 2004
I'm often impressed with your photos, but this one blows me away! The color is awesome! I like the background a bit hazy. Just wish I had taken it! :-) Exemplary picture!
i'm afraid i won't be adding any cutting-edge commentary: the focus, or shortage of - whatever - doesn't diminish, for ME, the glory of the colours and the poetry of the composition. there is a lovely asymmetrical balance to it, and the vague lines radiating from the focal point just strengthen the whole. it touched me.
Peter: the DoF is as-shot. Don't forget that this was shot with a G5 which, due to the small size of its sensor, has a ridiculously large DoF in anything other than macro mode (which was used for this shot).
Zero: I suspect you're right: i.e. my dissatisfaction with this shot is more to do with how I wanted it to be rather than anything to do with the final image.
Jason: I'm not sure I agree with you about the compsition and would tend to go with lynn when she says this shot has an "asymmetrical balance". For me this works much better than if the three elements had been more evenly spaced.
comment byJason Wall at 05:24 PM (GMT) on 9 July, 2004
I just want to qualify my point on the composition, which wasn't that it didn't work, because I think you're right about it being asymmetrical.
Here is why I thought it might suit the subject better to have a more classical composition. The slightly off balance nature of asymmetrical composition lends it self to certain kinds of imagery, particularly the urban scene with its many contradictions and gritty landscape. Because the urban scene is often full of contradictions and things that don't work or don't fit, asymmetry seems to suit it, conveying that feeling of things being slightly off in the real world.
But this piece seemed to lend itself to a classical approach. The color scheme reminds me of some of Monet's work, and the whole piece strikes me as very impressionistic. It felt like you were reaching for a very emotionally rich scene, a kind of romantic Sunday afternoon spent picnicking at the park. Its idyllic, and from that perspective, it seemed that the piece would benefit from a more classically balanced composition, one that emphasized how well things fit, how perfect and beautiful the world is.
Jason: I think part of my reluctance to go for a classic approach is that flowers have been photographed that way ad nauseum, and if I simply replicate that style then I'm not really saying much that hasn't already been said. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with that approach, just that it doesn't really work for me.
There are some things that work about this shot, and one that doesn't, in my opinion at least. The colours, DoF and composition are exactly what I was after, but the clarity/sharpness leaves something to be desired. A lot of the time I'm really pleased with my camera – it's small and unobtrusive, it takes pretty decent shots, and I didn't need a second mortgage to buy it – but on occasion I do wish that it would produce slightly more detailed images. There isn't anything majorly wrong with this shot, but it is a little less detailed than I was aiming for, and no amount of sharpening will restore detail that isn't there in the first place. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Oh, and we finally got a moving date yesterday – the 19th of this month. We were originally aiming to have moved by late June, so I don't suppose the 19th is too bad, but it does seem as though the whole process has been somewhat more complicated than necessary. Anyway, hopefully – fingers crossed – there won't be any more changes of plan.
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
focal length
image quality
white balance
cropped?
6.24pm on 4/7/04
f3.0
1/125
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
50
28.8mm
RAW
auto
no
If only I could get this depth of field with my camera. Nice as always Dave...
I agree with everything you said, really. Perfect DoF and composition, but yeah, a little soft. I really like the overall tonality thoughh.
wonderful colours...wish I was a ladybird now :)
~what color! the composition makes the shot IMO, the off-center placement of the subject removes the typical center placement of flowers in teh frame, something I am guilty of in my recent attempts to shoot macros of floral subjects...~
beautiful...
Very pretty!
I may not have given it a thought if you hadnt mentioned it but it is slightly out of focus..big deal. The photos color dof and compostition more than makes up for that tiny little minor detail. I would hang this.
The hues are very soothing. A photo like this, because of the lack of focus on the main element, is something that I would use for Photoshoppery, i.e. cropping and blowing up the main flower until all you have is gradients of color, cropping down to any portions that are in focus. Or just playing up the softness even more. Whatever the "flaws" though, this immediately grabbed me as I was tabbing through my bookmarks.
I actually think the lack of (very minor I may add) detail adds to the effect of this photo...The DOF lends itself nicely to the detail level. I imagine if it were as sharp as it could be it would take something away from this beautiful shot...Great work as always!
Dave
is the DOF added to in Photoshop? Just would be surprised of this level of blurring at F3. Not that I really know what I'm talking about!!
That´s the summer in the north hemisphere showing the power. And I´m thankfull for your existence, who can whow it to us, that we are so far. Thanks again! ;-)
I quite like the softness of the flower in the foreground. I think it lends to a more "realistic" shot. Plus, it offers a slight "dreamy" quality. Sometimes super-sharp photos can be distracting and unnatural.
However, I also know when you have your mind set on taking a certain type of photo and something a bit different is produced it can be annoying. That happens to be all the time because of my lack of skill. :)
Absolutely Beautiful :)
I love love love the colors and for this photo I believe the lack of sharpness works fine - gives it more of an impressionist feel. Just beautiful.
Your comments caused me to examine the piece closer than I normally would. I think you're right about the clarity of the shot and its effect on the piece. The slightly soft nature of the flower in the foreground causes it to blend somewhat with the background, losing some of its prominence.
The photo is most extraordinary due to its color, which you don't often find in nature (those particular shades of bluish green), at least not around here in the Mid West.
The composition is nice, but not great. Something is vaguely unsettling about it. I think I can attribute the feeling to me looking for something specific because you mentioned you liked it. Although not objectionable, I think the background objects could be placed better to provide a bit more focus on the subject, and draw less attention to themselves. What stands out the most is the diffused light source in the upper left corner, which feels like it would fit better if it were moved over to the right. And I think the lilac in the foreground would be slightly better suited if moved to the left by just a bit, to provide a more suitable balance between the two flowers in the back.
All in all, it’s a beautiful piece. The photo looks best when views with the light background setting on your site, which brings out the airy and natural feel of the photograph.
Best Regards,
I have to agree with the issue about the clarity, but hey - the colour is great and more than makes up for it. It's a very 'classical' composition. Very nice.
I'm often impressed with your photos, but this one blows me away! The color is awesome! I like the background a bit hazy. Just wish I had taken it! :-) Exemplary picture!
i'm afraid i won't be adding any cutting-edge commentary: the focus, or shortage of - whatever - doesn't diminish, for ME, the glory of the colours and the poetry of the composition. there is a lovely asymmetrical balance to it, and the vague lines radiating from the focal point just strengthen the whole. it touched me.
Thanks everyone.
Peter: the DoF is as-shot. Don't forget that this was shot with a G5 which, due to the small size of its sensor, has a ridiculously large DoF in anything other than macro mode (which was used for this shot).
Zero: I suspect you're right: i.e. my dissatisfaction with this shot is more to do with how I wanted it to be rather than anything to do with the final image.
Jason: I'm not sure I agree with you about the compsition and would tend to go with lynn when she says this shot has an "asymmetrical balance". For me this works much better than if the three elements had been more evenly spaced.
lynn: thank you.
I think it's very beautiful.
I just want to qualify my point on the composition, which wasn't that it didn't work, because I think you're right about it being asymmetrical.
Here is why I thought it might suit the subject better to have a more classical composition. The slightly off balance nature of asymmetrical composition lends it self to certain kinds of imagery, particularly the urban scene with its many contradictions and gritty landscape. Because the urban scene is often full of contradictions and things that don't work or don't fit, asymmetry seems to suit it, conveying that feeling of things being slightly off in the real world.
But this piece seemed to lend itself to a classical approach. The color scheme reminds me of some of Monet's work, and the whole piece strikes me as very impressionistic. It felt like you were reaching for a very emotionally rich scene, a kind of romantic Sunday afternoon spent picnicking at the park. Its idyllic, and from that perspective, it seemed that the piece would benefit from a more classically balanced composition, one that emphasized how well things fit, how perfect and beautiful the world is.
Still, its great work and I love the photo. :)
Jason: I think part of my reluctance to go for a classic approach is that flowers have been photographed that way ad nauseum, and if I simply replicate that style then I'm not really saying much that hasn't already been said. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with that approach, just that it doesn't really work for me.
I appreciate the color of this piece. Lack of details makes it more artistic and I really like it.
Lovely.