Almost Perfect for C&C...

[IzzieK]

I bought a bunch of flowers at the supermarket recently, just to photograph...this is the one that I like best. Will be nice to read your comments. I know...many had already done flower shots, but it is spring, so amuse me...



Also for Mother's Day, I want another bunch of cut flowers from the supermarket. Hubby saw a tv advert about sending flowers to love ones and I said, this time I only want a simply cut flowers from the supermarket, something that looks fresh......and of course the wifi extension and anew set of pots and pans, and...and...and... darn I have to dig this up before anyone noticed that I forgot my attachment...LOL

[Wavelength]

Very beautiful; great colors; dark background very much befits the colors; really well done

[rpcrowe]

Lovely image Izzie. I like how you cropped the flower... I also like how the petals are falling out of focus... Quite artistic!

[billtils]

Nice composition Izzie - if/when you get the new pots and pans how about taking some creative shots of the old ones?

[Rainforest]

Spring is busting out all over (at least around here) - great color! New pots and pans - the true path to the cooks heart. ;-)

[Cogito]

Still on spot metering, I see Nice shot, nice colours.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Stagecoach]

Izzie, whilst the composition and focusing, which are things that can be easily varied, are OK I find the halo affect on the black around some of the petals distracting.

It looks as if you have manipulated the background to black and missed some parts of it.

I would be interested to hear if this is an effect that you want?

With regard to exposure of the image, the method used whether spot, matrix or centre weighted is totally immaterial and results will vary depending upon whether you metered and re-composed or used EC (of which I see you did). What is important is that you control any method so as not to blow out important areas as has happened at the upper area of yellow. BUT, this may have happened in post processing

Grahame

[FootLoose]

+1 to Grahame's observations. I wondered if you used a plug-in to produce the softness on the petals. Regardless, I like the composition and the way you have cropped the subject to show the one non-conformist petal.

[IzzieK]

Very beautiful; great colors; dark background very much befits the colors; really well done

Thank you Nandy,,,'appreciate your passing by to comment.

[IzzieK]

Lovely image Izzie. I like how you cropped the flower... I also like how the petals are falling out of focus... Quite artistic!

Richard, thank you for commenting. Sometimes I managed to add 'creativity' to my repertoire.

[IzzieK]

Nice composition Izzie - if/when you get the new pots and pans how about taking some creative shots of the old ones?

Bill -- No pots and pans yet. I do not think it will happen … just wishing because I saw a set that I may want (not yet…) that will suit my new range. I wish for a new cooktop as what came with my range is ceramic glass top? Not good for Asians like me because I can't use a wok with it. My old ones are not really old, just a few months new because of my new cooking range. Thank you for commenting. Bugger if I know how to artistically photograph my cooking utensils. LOL Maybe photograph it like a flower or something. Hahaha

[IzzieK]

Spring is busting out all over (at least around here) - great color! New pots and pans - the true path to the cooks heart. ;-)

Susan -- No new pots and pans, it will not happen. I will have a bunch of el cheapo flowers from the supermarket this Sunday and a dinner at our favourite Hibachi restaurant. I only like the flowers for photography. I usually get a pot plant each year and a dinner because Mother's Day is just too close from my birthday but this year, I forbid it. Hubby will complain if he has to winterize another pot plant like as if it is my fault. Thanks for commenting. 'Appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

Still on spot metering, I see Nice shot, nice colours.

Tony…you remembered!!! OK wise guy…I forgot to change my meter. Now you know how careless I am…Next time which might be soon. I have to practice on all of those modes too just just lenses. At the moment I want to make use of my 105mm macro with extension tubes. I have to use these crazy fingers...I suppose thinking is not my forte. Thank you for commenting. Appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

Nicely done.

.

Thank you for commenting John…

[IzzieK]

Izzie, whilst the composition and focusing, which are things that can be easily varied, are OK I find the halo affect on the black around some of the petals distracting.

It looks as if you have manipulated the background to black and missed some parts of it.

I used the quick selection tool to separate the flower from the background. It made that halo effect on the petals and I was scared that if I touched that up, the lines will be harsh. I guess I was hurrying up again...I should had looked to changing the feathering instead.

I would be interested to hear if this is an effect that you want?

Of course not. I did not even like the shot itself. I was trying to find a distance of sharpness on the upper yellow part of the middle of the flower and I could have used the clone tool for that but didn't. On the other hand, I should have done focus stacking to get that area sharp as that was how I had envisioned it first -- centre sharpness on the stamens and going blurred around the edges. One thing that attracted me to shoot this one out of a dozen or so was the single petal that was curved and thought along the line of making that sharp too. I had the wrong light (too lazy to go upstairs to get my proper lights). I used the light from the side door to the deck and the tungsten light of the fan, hence the struggle.

With regard to exposure of the image, the method used whether spot, matrix or centre weighted is totally immaterial and results will vary depending upon whether you metered and re-composed or used EC (of which I see you did). What is important is that you control any method so as not to blow out important areas as has happened at the upper area of yellow. BUT, this may have happened in post processing

Grahame

No, I did a few shots and as I go closer the yellow got too yellow and blurred. I was wanting to use my lowest extension tube but my fingers can't do it. I have an appointment this coming Thursday with my ortho for a follow-up post op on my fingers, hopefully he can offer a solution as I have been having a hard time removing my contacts too. My index finger is OK now but my thumb which has the bigger screw put is still not too OK to hold anything or help open a can of dog food. There must be some turnaround or alternative to doing close-up. I was thinking, shoot further till I get a sharp centre then crop hard and get that flower away from the others, use a background too. This shot was hardly cropped, only for sizing upload.

Thanks, Grahame. You are a big help in also making me think...though it is too late now (I hope not...I think I had preserved that bunch of flowers for over a week to photograph it some more. What ever solution I put it in to make it last this long came from the internet.) I will do a reshoot. than re-edit.

[IzzieK]

+1 to Grahame's observations. I wondered if you used a plug-in to produce the softness on the petals. Regardless, I like the composition and the way you have cropped the subject to show the one non-conformist petal.

Yeah I know...he beats you to it. No softness plug-in on the petals. That non-conformist petal was the bell that rang on my head when I saw it. It was very obvious it was begging to be photographed. Thank you for passing by and commenting. I appreciate it very much. I will do better this week as I really want to re-do the shoot while the flower hasn't wilted yet.

[billtils]

ceramic glass top? Not good for Asians like me because I can't use a wok with it. ... Bugger if I know how to artistically photograph my cooking utensils.

Izzie - is it simply ceramic or is it an induction top? If the former - no problem at all. If the latter, no problem as long as you have (or get hold of) a steel wok. Our main cooktop is a simple ceramic non-induction, but I have a separate induction top and both handle the stainless steel wok no bother.

If you seriously want to try photographing cooking utensils, you could do worse (much worse) than look at Mike Buckley's portfolio.

[Stagecoach]

I used the quick selection tool to separate the flower from the background. It made that halo effect on the petals and I was scared that if I touched that up, the lines will be harsh. I guess I was hurrying up again...I should had looked to changing the feathering instead.

I thought so. Using the selection tool is something I hardly ever do but this pic gave me a chance to have a play and practice. I have now learnt how simple it is to correct those halos and produce a really natural looking result, thank you

I did not even like the shot itself.

But it's a good shot with a few simple things that can easily be solved on a re-shoot.

I was trying to find a distance of sharpness on the upper yellow part of the middle of the flower.............................On the other hand, I should have done focus stacking to get that area sharp

If you had focused somewhere around the middle of the 'depth' of the yellow part I think you would have got what you want (all the yellow sharp). You could have also increased the DoF by closing down from f/4 OR moving back and cropping in post. With the D800 and that lens you are quite safe cropping the image by 50% if it's just for screen viewing.

I used the light from the side door to the deck and the tungsten light of the fan, hence the struggle

The light on the flower looks good apart from the blown bit.

I was wanting to use my lowest extension tube

That would have been no advantage for shooting this image at this framing.

Good luck with your appointment and sorting your finger movement Izzie.

Grahame

[mugge]

Izzie love the composition. On a more serious note. It is going to be 8 degrees overnight in Melbourne. Enjoy spring. I'm not happy Jan.
Cheers Ole