Bleeding Hearts in the Rain

[Round Tuit]

Yesterday was a dreary rainy day so I took this photo through an opened basement window. I debated removing the faint rain streaks from the photo but decided to leave them and seek your opinions on the subject. I should also point out that I did not add a vignette to the picture. It just came out mysteriously by itself.



André

[rudi]

Very nice subject André. The rain streaks does not bother me too much.
A few observations:
- The whites seem to be blown out.
- I would be tempted to clone out the two leaves left upper corner.
- I think the flowers in the bottom left corner will make for a very nice subject on its own now and/or in a few days time.
HTH.

[Geoff F]

I was also wondering about those leaves on the left side. Ideally, I would prefer to have them included for balance, but to be in focus. As it is, I think I would go along with removing them.

There isn't much fine detail available in the white areas to start with so I suspect they aren't actually over exposed; just lacking in detail. Although the outermost white edging does seem a fraction brighter than the others.

Otherwise, a difficult scene well photographed.

[joebranko]

I like it. I too would clone the leaves on the left.

[Round Tuit]

Rudi, Geoff and Joe.
I agree that ideally the leaves on the left should be in focus. Having looked at the photo with them removed, I think that they still contribute to an overall better balanced picture. In retrospect, I should have upped my ISO to allow me to close the lens and get a deeper DOF. As for the whites, they do look blown out but they are not; that part of the flower is quite featureless.
Thank you for commenting.

[Wavelength]

I really like this image; personally i liked the inclusion of those leaves, which gives a more natural setting; if it were not there i might have thought somebody is holding it for you to shoot

[wilgk]

I love the light on the white petals, they don’t look me, perfect on them.
I find the left leaves distracting though.
Lovely work on a rainy day.

[NorthernFocus]

Beautiful shot, Andre. The water drips aren't exactly a distraction but are noticeable upon serious consideration. The bokeh is really lovely. What lens did you use?

[Round Tuit]

Thank you Nandakumar. You and I seem to be in the minority when it comes to the leaves on the left. However since it is my picture...
Thank you Kay.
Dan, my kit is rather modest compare to many users of this site. I use a Canon T3i and for this shot an EF-S 55-250 f1:4-5.6 IS II kit lens set at f/4,fl 84mm, 1/60 sec and ISO 100. I attribute the nice bokeh to the fact that the flower was about 3 ft in front of the lens while the background cedar hedge was roughly 40 feet away. Thanks for commenting.