Harebell

[Clive Kirby]

I took this on a walk in Calke Abby (UK). C&C welcome.

[pnodrog]

Delicate colours and a peaceful mood but for me spoilt by the diagonal brown/yellow stem on the lower right-hand side. It would be interesting to see a version of the photograph where it has been eliminated by a mix of cloning and cropping.

[Stagecoach]

Clive,

You have captured the texture in the flower well but I agree with Paul's comment re the brown stalk.

Grahame

[Clive Kirby]

Thanks for looking and commenting. I take your point, but personally I didn't consider it to be that big a negative. I am suitably discouraged.

[pnodrog]

Thanks for looking and commenting. I take your point, but personally I didn't consider it to be that big a negative. I am suitably discouraged.

I will now have to roam around guilt stricken in the knowledge I discouraged you when I was trying to do the exact apposite. Oh well such is life.

[Stagecoach]

Clive,

Certainly not meant as discouragement or a 'big' negative but a suggestion of something that can be considered to make an already very good image slightly better.

Grahame

[Geoff F]

Basically a reasonable photo. If it was a 'stronger' flower this would work OK. But because it is such a delicate pastel shade there is a lot of 'competition' from the somewhat distracting background.

I suspect that a slight crop from the right side and bottom, or use a different size ratio will easily produce a much 'stronger looking' flower.

[NorthernFocus]

IMO the focus point detracts from the image. The stamen (or whatever the center doohickey is called) should be sharp unless it is a much tighter shot clearly intended to focus on the petal detail. And yes removing the diagonal brown stem would help.

In the name of full disclosure I've made many shots of these blooms without a satisfactory result so take my input for what it's worth...

[Clive Kirby]

I've re-posted the Harebell, re-worked a little to take into account your comments. Toning down the background certainly helps to make the bloom stand out, and helps to fade out the brown streak that you disliked. I missed the poorly focused stamen, it's a bit better now. Your comments have improved the image I think, thank you.
It was a poorly lit day and was always going to be a struggle to get a decent final result. But then you have to take your opportunities when you can.

[flashback]

In my opinion, it's not the brown stalk ( I LIKE that it has the same angled tilt as the flower) but the unopened bud to the immediate right (touching the petal) that I find distracting. But I do like the composition.

[Geoff F]

It was a poorly lit day and was always going to be a struggle to get a decent final result. But then you have to take your opportunities when you can.

With these pale subjects, strong sunlight can sometimes be worse as the delicate colour tint gets overpowered by the strong light. Long exposures are often needed in reduced light, but that of course is dependent on not having wind rock problems.

I was attempting to do something similar this summer but just couldn't get a natural looking result. Eventually I had to introduce a bit of light shadow to the scene.

[NorthernFocus]

If you want feedback on edits that you've made, it helps to post them in addition to the OP rather than replacing it. Also posting the EXIF data is typically useful. From recollection the bloom does seem to stand out a bit better than the original.