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Dear all,
This image was rejected for publication. I would like to hear more extensive critique on this image and how the image can be improved. I took the image using my NIKON Z6, 24/70mm 4.0 lens and an external flash. Aperture was F6.3, shutterspeed 1-60 sec and focal length 35mm, ISO 250.
Grateful for your comments.
Kind regards,
Caroline
Hello Caroline
Thank you for sharing your Ceiling Flowers photo with us. It's a beautiful array of blooms with a range of colours and textures. I like the way the flowers fade into the background on the left side, but on the right side the crop seems less appealing. To try to counteract this I added a vignette. I have also increased the light in the central area slightly.
Good light, Elizabeth
Hello Caroline
Welcome to our forum. As my friend Elizabeth said you found yourself a beautiful subject. Flowers attract us all the time. Although they seem to be easy to photograph both as single or multiple subjects, flower photography is no without its challenges. When I had started using flowers in my photography, one of the first things I had learned was to shoot them with care and not light or compose them in the most common way. The most common way as I experienced it is not always the same. It depends on the story or message or what you want to show to the viewer. You have to choose something original to achieve your goals. Here I can see two main not good enough choices if I may say. One is the angle you preferred and the other is the way you used your light. To show that these were ceiling flowers I would have chosen to shoot the image from just under it without tilting the camera and with a tripod. I would also have included the ceiling to show that they are hanging down from it. Then I would have used a separate flash not mounted on the camera that came from the left side of the flowers. I think that would have been a better choice. My friend told you about some points related to the image above. I on the other hand wanted to share some other insights on taking similar images another time. I wish you good light...Cicek
Hi Caroline,
my recommendation: more color, more sharpness and a square crop that pretends a certain symmetry - so your beautiful photo is both more impressive and harmonious - at least for me - but please see for yourself:
Greetings
Udo
Dear Caroline,
The only thing helps is to exchange the lower half of this shot and for the upper half, take an other picture... That was mean, and we're supposed to be polite and of assistance. So sorry, it had to come out, it's my nature to be very direct, I'm dutch, too.
There are things to avoid in flower shots, and you included them all.
- Deep blacks - they are heavy and concurrent to fresh colors
- Hard shadows, they distract from smooth shapes
- Light fall off, caused by varying distance from a light source
- Unfortunate composition, I frankly don't see any in this
A direct flash, even if slightly off-centre, is not the light you need for a deliberate flower shot. You can use flash, I did in some cases, but enlarge the surface by a soft box or refelcting umbrella. This avoids shadows and spreads the light mor evenly.
Sorry for my harsh critique, I'm a bit surprised you assumed this is already at a level required for a publication on 1x. Your architecture shots are, floral shots are not yet yours, I'm afraid.
Best regards,
Mike
Hello Caroline
Welcome to our forum. As my friend Elizabeth said you found yourself a beautiful subject. Flowers attract us all the time. Although they seem to be easy to photograph both as single or multiple subjects, flower photography is no without its challenges. When I had started using flowers in my photography, one of the first things I had learned was to shoot them with care and not light or compose them in the most common way. The most common way as I experienced it is not always the same. It depends on the story or message or what you want to show to the viewer. You have to choose something original to achieve your goals. Here I can see two main not good enough choices if I may say. One is the angle you preferred and the other is the way you used your light. To show that these were ceiling flowers I would have chosen to shoot the image from just under it without tilting the camera and with a tripod. I would also have included the ceiling to show that they are hanging down from it. Then I would have used a separate flash not mounted on the camera that came from the left side of the flowers. I think that would have been a better choice. My friend told you about some points related to the image above. I on the other hand wanted to share some other insights on taking similar images another time. I wish you good light...Cicek
Thank you so much for your advice and insights. Unfortunately I didnot have a tripod with me or an additional flash. I made also an image from the perspective just under it but it did not look good. I will keep your advice in mind for the next time!
Hello Caroline
Thank you for sharing your Ceiling Flowers photo with us. It's a beautiful array of blooms with a range of colours and textures. I like the way the flowers fade into the background on the left side, but on the right side the crop seems less appealing. To try to counteract this I added a vignette. I have also increased the light in the central area slightly.
Good light, Elizabeth
Hi Caroline,
my recommendation: more color, more sharpness and a square crop that pretends a certain symmetry - so your beautiful photo is both more impressive and harmonious - at least for me - but please see for yourself:
Greetings
Udo
Dear Caroline,
The only thing helps is to exchange the lower half of this shot and for the upper half, take an other picture... That was mean, and we're supposed to be polite and of assistance. So sorry, it had to come out, it's my nature to be very direct, I'm dutch, too.
There are things to avoid in flower shots, and you included them all.
- Deep blacks - they are heavy and concurrent to fresh colors
- Hard shadows, they distract from smooth shapes
- Light fall off, caused by varying distance from a light source
- Unfortunate composition, I frankly don't see any in this
A direct flash, even if slightly off-centre, is not the light you need for a deliberate flower shot. You can use flash, I did in some cases, but enlarge the surface by a soft box or refelcting umbrella. This avoids shadows and spreads the light mor evenly.
Sorry for my harsh critique, I'm a bit surprised you assumed this is already at a level required for a publication on 1x. Your architecture shots are, floral shots are not yet yours, I'm afraid.
Best regards,
Mike
Dear Mike, I donot mind honesty. Thanks for your advice to use a soft box or umbrella. Unfortunately I only had a camera (with flash) at my disposal at the time I captured this image. Not enough to capture the beauty of the ceiling flowers. I didnot assume the image would be published :). It is always good to have more eyes and hear constructive criticism.
Dear friend, hello. This is a beautiful image. My vision is quite different; you may or may not like it. My thought is to lighten the dark area, crop a touch on the side and rotate it 180 degrees. I think a bit more negative space on the top and bottom l, using content aware would be help balance it also. Have a blessed day.
