Chinese Holly ~ composition? technique?

[JBW]

[ionian]

These are just my opinions Brian - take what you wish from them:

Composition - the subject is well placed in the frame. Attention is slightly distracted from it by the bright point on the leaf on the left, and the bloom below it which could have been gently teased out of the frame. There seems to be a dead leaf in the out of focus region bottom left - it's a shame that wasn't removed before the shot but I fail to spot stuff like that so often so I know how tricky it can be to spot these things on the camera LCD.

Technique - I wish the whole bloom was in the light. Because the sun creates a hard light, it's not so flattering to have light and shade on your subject. You could have diffused the light with a sheet of paper to get a more gradual transition, but you would have had to add saturation in post. I wish the petal in the left was in focus, so maybe a tighter apperture needed, or a lens that allows you to get closer (I don't have exit on my iPad so can't see your settings). Alternatively if you wished the stamen to be the key focal point, a different angle may have worked better - so we see them in profile rather than top down.

Ok reading that back it sounds like a lot of (hopefully constructive) criticism, but there are many positives to take away. You've clearly thought about where you want the subject to be, you've added interest with light and your background (with one exception) compliments the image really well. It's a journey, and it's much easier for me to sit this side than it is for me to take a perfect shot, I know that much for sure!

[JBW]

These are just my opinions Brian - take what you wish from them:

Composition - the subject is well placed in the frame. Attention is slightly distracted from it by the bright point on the leaf on the left, and the bloom below it which could have been gently teased out of the frame. There seems to be a dead leaf in the out of focus region bottom left - it's a shame that wasn't removed before the shot but I fail to spot stuff like that so often so I know how tricky it can be to spot these things on the camera LCD.

Technique - I wish the whole bloom was in the light. Because the sun creates a hard light, it's not so flattering to have light and shade on your subject. You could have diffused the light with a sheet of paper to get a more gradual transition, but you would have had to add saturation in post. I wish the petal in the left was in focus, so maybe a tighter apperture needed, or a lens that allows you to get closer (I don't have exit on my iPad so can't see your settings). Alternatively if you wished the stamen to be the key focal point, a different angle may have worked better - so we see them in profile rather than top down.

Ok reading that back it sounds like a lot of (hopefully constructive) criticism, but there are many positives to take away. You've clearly thought about where you want the subject to be, you've added interest with light and your background (with one exception) compliments the image really well. It's a journey, and it's much easier for me to sit this side than it is for me to take a perfect shot, I know that much for sure!

opinions are all any of us have.

The dappled light was what attracted me to the shot.

I could have gone with a higher F/ but I thought they were all going to be in focus.

The out of focus leaf i left in to look a bit like the flower was chasing it. But maybe not such a good idea.

I could perhaps, maybe, I just don't know, have changed the angle but it was deep within the bush and it would have been difficult.

And yes your critique was constructive and positive. Thanks.