Very Structured Lilies

[mugge]

We have just been to the annual garden show in Melbourne. I spotted this lily pond, it was quite small. On downloading the image it did look rather tame. I used quite a bit of texture. Have I overdone it, I wonder?

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Ole,

I am going to challenge you to justify the shot, this may seem harsh in response to your simple question, but I think it may help you answer your original feeling with regard to the downloaded shot of the Lily pond. I do this with the intent of helping you think these things through next time before you press the shutter button to avoid the disappointment on downloading - but heck, we've all been there, so please don't be discouraged in any way.

EXIF Data:
Olympus E-M1 with OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8, Shot at 36 mm, Digital Zoom: 2×
Aperture-priority, 1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 200, Compensation: +1
Processed in LR 5.7.

What is the subject:

The pond?
The clouds and/or blue sky?
The Lily bloom?
The Lily leaf pads?

Is the composition good enough:

Is the prime subject in the best place in the frame?
Has everything that does not contribute to promoting the subject been excluded or reduced?
Can it be cropped to improve matters?
Can some things be cloned out to improve matters?

Is the exposure correct (for the subject)?
Can dodging and/or burning improve matters?

Has the best use of focus and Depth of Field been achieved?

Could anything else have helped at time of shooting:

A slightly different viewpoint? (e.g. Did you just snap it - or move around to get a deliberate combination/positioning of foreground elements in relation to the clouds and blue sky)
Using a Polarising filter?

I have answers to all those, but what are yours?
I think it would help you to explore those here.

I do hope you see this as intended; me trying to help, not simply criticise.

All the best, Dave

[mugge]

Hi Ole,

I am going to challenge you to justify the shot, this may seem harsh in response to your simple question, but I think it may help you answer your original feeling with regard to the downloaded shot of the Lily pond. I do this with the intent of helping you think these things through next time before you press the shutter button to avoid the disappointment on downloading - but heck, we've all been there, so please don't be discouraged in any way.

EXIF Data:
Olympus E-M1 with OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8, Shot at 36 mm, Digital Zoom: 2×
Aperture-priority, 1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 200, Compensation: +1
Processed in LR 5.7.

What is the subject:

The pond?
The clouds and/or blue sky?
The Lily bloom?
The Lily leaf pads?

Is the composition good enough:

Is the prime subject in the best place in the frame?
Has everything that does not contribute to promoting the subject been excluded or reduced?
Can it be cropped to improve matters?
Can some things be cloned out to improve matters?

Is the exposure correct (for the subject)?
Can dodging and/or burning improve matters?

Has the best use of focus and Depth of Field been achieved?

Could anything else have helped at time of shooting:

A slightly different viewpoint? (e.g. Did you just snap it - or move around to get a deliberate combination/positioning of foreground elements in relation to the clouds and blue sky)
Using a Polarising filter?

I have answers to all those, but what are yours?
I think it would help you to explore those here.

I do hope you see this as intended; me trying to help, not simply criticise.

All the best, Dave

Dave, thank you for responding.
What is the subject: none that you mentioned. I was intrigued by the contrast between the overcast sky, the pond and the lilies. When I saw the lily pond I thought it would be fun to play with structure. I simply did not care for the lily pond as such. I had in mind paintings by Kandinsky's Blue Rider Period.

Is the composition good enough: I think the yellow flower is in the right position. As for the cropped image I am quite pleased. As for cloning things out I would like to clone the yellow spot RHC and also the yellow spot between the two white leaves TRC. I, however is not very good at cloning yet.

As for a different viewpoint I could not find any. I wanted the picture.

I am not much of a subject matter person I enjoy shapes, sizes and anything that captures my imagination and senses.

[Dave Humphries]

LOL

See, I completely missed the point

Thanks for explaining, I am the better for it.

Cheers, Dave

[Sam W]

Nice capture and interesting in an unusual way.

[Sergio M.]

I am not much of a subject matter person I enjoy shapes, sizes and anything that captures my imagination and senses.

I can see why this caught your eye, it's very interesting in an abstract sort of way.

Sergio