Chinese Holly

[JBW]

ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed 1/1s ~ F/16 ~ Natural Light
Chinese Holly produces a flower almost perfectly sized for 1×1 magnification. Of course it’s also quite a colorful and beautiful flower. In short, a perfect model for my camera.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Brian,

If this were mine, I would crop to a square aspect ratio (removing the bright patches at either side of composition) and also dodge/burn to brighten all but the top most petal (and in so doing, reveal more texture in the other petals).

HTH,
Dave

[JBW]

Hi Brian,

If this were mine, I would crop to a square aspect ratio (removing the bright patches at either side of composition) and also dodge/burn to brighten all but the top most petal (and in so doing, reveal more texture in the other petals).

HTH,
Dave

I just tried a square crop and it really cramps the petals on the sides.

A little more work on the petals could work.

[JBW]

ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed 1/1s ~ F/16 ~ Natural Light
Chinese Holly produces a flower almost perfectly sized for 1×1 magnification. Of course it’s also quite a colorful and beautiful flower. In short, a perfect model for my camera.

Something like this Dave?

[Shadowman]

Nicely exposed with a floating effect to boot.

[JBW]

Nicely exposed with a floating effect to boot.

Dave rarely makes bad edit suggestions

[DanK]

I think the crop is better, except that having more negative space at the top usually makes an image look unbalanced. I have no idea why that is. However, it's the reason why framers routinely make the bottom side of the mat larger than the other three sides.

[JBW]

I think the crop is better, except that having more negative space at the top usually makes an image look unbalanced. I have no idea why that is. However, it's the reason why framers routinely make the bottom side of the mat larger than the other three sides.

I just didn't want to cramp the top holly petal.

[Dave Humphries]

Yes something (exactly) like that - and (in hindsight) I agree the square would cramp the sides to much.

[JBW]

Yes something (exactly) like that - and (in hindsight) I agree the square would cramp the sides to much.

I need to slow down my pp. I can take a good shot but it seems I rarely get all I can out of it. I certainly have a need for you and others to keep my feet to the fire.

[mugge]

Second edit much better Brian.
Cheers Ole