Katy, I think you are getting very close with this. I just love the glass and the white background. The only issue is that the flower looks top heavy in the vase and like it is going to fall over. I can only see so far with my minds eye, but my minds eye tells me that you should keep trying with these materials but try to change the composition. You might have to blue tack, or somehow invisibly prop the flower into the position that you need.
In this one I'm thinking if the flower was up and back a bit, but still fully facing the camera it might be better - or not - I never know until I actually see it. I'd like to see the same amount of flower but more of the vase, and most certainly on the white background.
I'm interested in the oil idea too, but I'm kind of partial to white.
Keep trying, you have a beautiful subject, and nothing wrong with any that you have posted so far, but I know what you mean by wanting a bit more.
We have a few flower experts here I hope they will help out with some suggestions for composition. When I look at this one, I want to go and get a camellia and try it myself. Nice work.
Wendy
My intention was to also hand hold this shot using my 300mm f/4 IS lens and 1.4x TC. However, I realized that the distance between the subject and the lens could not be duplicated. Instead, I shot two images using my tripod. I shot in manual 1/60 second @ f/18. The coin grouping was approximately 4" or 100mm across. I did not adjust my lights to reduce reflections since I have them basically set up to shoot portraits of my rescue puppies.
300mm:
0
420mm from same distance:
Cheers Pete
The hands belong to my 'fashionista' daughter and they are what gave me the idea for this wee theme, they are so 'talon like'.
She was kneeling below the table, I don't have a black mount board yet, just black poster thin cardboard, but that actually worked, as it could curve around to hide her, but let her hands be shown.
The table was just next to the window for light.
These little guys look so cute from a distance, but once they smell your toasted smoked chicken sandwich it gets really very creepy.
Any comments about the crop in this one? I thought the leaves on the right hand side made it look like a sneaky shot from a distance (which it was - BEFORE they could smell my lunch). I tried cropping out the leaves but then I thought that was a bit boring.
Thanks sooooo much, Wendy! Good thinking!
That one photo - I tried to straighten it in pp but it chopped the composition in a wonky way. I think that you're right about propping the flower - this is the only way it would sit for me. Well, and all of your advice is good. (Just cutting to the point, here. =] ) I'll try it out! Thanks!
Katy
Thanks, Pete and Geoff, too. I just saw your comments. Okay, I have to go and do dishes, now, but afterward, Pete, I'll go and look up that word you used. =]
Last edited by Katy Noelle; 5th October 2010 at 09:38 PM.
I missed a day yesterday
So I got up early and out in the garden to snap this little fellow on our nieghbour's tree - the first tuneful Robin (UK style) of winter, singing its head off.
The intention was to use it for yesterday's PAD and shoot again this evening for today, but the working day and an extended traffic clogged journey home ensured it was too dark and I was too knackered and hungry to shoot.
(30703)
Nikon D5000 + Nikon 70-300mm VR: 1/500s f/8 at 300mm iso1600 +1EC as shot and +1EC in PP
Not wonderful, but that's 1:1 - a 692px crop from full frame
reduced to 500px to try and fool you it is sharp
Must try harder tomorrow