Roses

[Round Tuit]

This is my latest attempt at taking pictures of flowers. In order to get better control over the lighting and the background, I have left the garden and moved inside with cut flowers.

This first shot was taken with the rose backlit as recommended by many members of this forum. The light came through an 8 feet wide by 5 feet tall bay window on an overcast day. I place a small cushion against the window pane to serve as a backdrop. We can see the light shining through the petals. While I like this shot, I find that the centre of the flower is a bit too dark.




For this shot, I used the same setup but added fill light to the centre of the two lower flowers in post processing. Possibly an improvement?




Finally, I closed the curtain except for a one foot gap and moved the flower further inside the room. I took the shot from the side of the flower. This resulted in a side lit flower with the light coming from camera right. I must admit that consider this one my best flower photo so far.



As usual, I am looking forward to your comments and suggestions.

Andre

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[Dave A]

Very nice set, well done.

Dave

[JBW]

You can't fool an expat Canuck you moved inside to avoid the soon to arrive cold and snow! Seems to me that you are well onto a good learning curve. If I may make to suggestions? both are personal preferences and can safely be ignored.

(1) Straight up and down flowers are often not as powerful or attractive as angled flowers. A strolng diagonal in a shot can have a good effect.

(2) Depending upon the openness of the rose I have found a full side or even a shot from slightly under the flower works well.

But no one would call me a master of flower shooting so take my advice with a touch of salt.

[IzzieK]

I like experiments, Andre...and this one is one that I should take up during winter months in my studio...Thank you for the inspiration. I like #3 better of the three of them.

[Round Tuit]

John and Dave - Thanks for your kind comments.

Brian - This Canuck likes the winter. I much prefer shoveling snow over mowing the lawn. Nothing beats a leisurely cross country ski through the woods after a fresh snowfall. My excuse for moving in; brownie points for buying flowers, brownie points for taking picture of flowers.
The two suggestions that you made are definitely something that I will keep in mind. Your flower shots are what inspired me to keep experimenting with flowers. Thanks

Izzie - Experiments don't always turn out but they are always fun to do and the best way that I know to improve my skills. Thanks

[JBW]

John and Dave - Thanks for your kind comments.

Brian - This Canuck likes the winter. I much prefer shoveling snow over mowing the lawn. Nothing beats a leisurely cross country ski through the woods after a fresh snowfall. My excuse for moving in; brownie points for buying flowers, brownie points for taking picture of flowers.
The two suggestions that you made are definitely something that I will keep in mind. Your flower shots are what inspired me to keep experimenting with flowers. Thanks

Izzie - Experiments don't always turn out but they are always fun to do and the best way that I know to improve my skills. Thanks

I used to live in Kitamatt Village in northern B.C. The record snowfall was 6 feet in 24 hours. And with wind chills to -40 not many went cross country skiing. There was an old saying about staying indoors when the fish build fires.

I like my endless summer and we have a gardener.

[DanK]

A very nice series. I too like #3 best.

Was the amount of DOF a deliberate choice? It's all a matter of taste, but you have less DOF than I would want. For example, in #3, I would want the nearest petals in focus. OOF areas toward the back can be pleasing, but OOF areas in the foreground usually aren't. In #2, I don't think it is a problem that the back flower is OOF, but some of the one on the right is as well.

You shot at f/5.6, so you could add quite a bit of DOF just by closing the aperture down. This would mean long exposures, which requires a remote release, mirror lock-up, and a very still environment, but once you have that, it is easy enough. However, I find that I almost always end up using focus-stacking with deep flowers. At these distances, it isn't as important, but if you get into flower photography and start moving closer, DOF becomes more and more of a problem.

[Round Tuit]

A very nice series. I too like #3 best.

Was the amount of DOF a deliberate choice?

Yes and no. In #2, I noticed the OOF of the right bloom but decided to ignore it because my aim was to see if I could lighten up the centre of the main bloom in PP. As for #3, I never noticed it until you pointed it out. I agree that OOF in the foreground is generally not pleasing as in this shot. The only exception that I can think of is when it is done sparingly on a framing element for subject that is further back.

...but if you get into flower photography...

I don't know yet if I will ever get seriously into flower photography. I am still experimenting with different aspects of this hobby and so far my preferred targets are landscapes.

Thanks for your critique.

Andre