Cactus Bloom

[Nu2This]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/funstuff/2234111184/" title="Christmas Cactus by Oh Me Nerves!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2234111184_93f13eae90_o.jpg" width="500" alt="Christmas Cactus" /></a>

Hi all. I love christmas cactus blooms - they are gorgeous. I am still trying to learn the macro setting on my camera and decided to post one of my better pics. This pic was taken outside. The sun was bright but to the back of the plant. I used it to try to illuminate the flower more. When I saw the sunlight streaks I liked it and tried to use it in the shot. I thought it warmed up the shot a bit. Is it too distracting? Does it draw away from the flower itself? After seeing the pic I thought it was a good contrast to the dark side of the shot as well. I cropped the pic to avoid too much of the sun and sharpened up the image a bit as well.

Any suggestions or thoughts how it could be improved?

Kathy :eek:

Canon Powershot A85
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.4 mm
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

[soniyakhan]

nice shot !

[oriolhdz]

Hi Nu2This:
For me is a well balanced shot. It has a nice composition, enough detail, strong colors, great lightening and a nice DOF. It does not come to my brain any idea on how to improve your image, and I think (Sure others will give you better critiques) is a sightly chance on improve it. I can only say, nice photo and thanks for sharing it. It's a beautiful flower.

[jiminyClickit]

Nu2This, Welcome

While some light beams might be an interesting addition in some shots, your beautiful bloom could be used to suggest the Sun, rather than show it. Anything (even the Sun) that draws attention away, is a distraction. The backlighting is a good choice, and showing that effect closer up can be dramatic.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1391/1415558333_6e69bdf5e0.jpg

Just another view, stay focussed, practice, and drink in the Beauty.

[Nu2This]

Thanks oriolhdz and jiminyClickit. I appreciate the critiques and thoughts. Thanks also for the image to look at.

I hadn't thought that the flower could hi-light the sun. It definitely does though in this pic. I had taken a few shots without the sunbeam and went back to play with them a bit but I don't like the composition of them compared to this particular one. :( I will definitely keep that in mind next time. :)

Would it be wrong to crop the flower so that the whole flower isn't showing? It's a very long flower and in order to cut the sunlight out of the pic I like, it would make the image really long. Are long images ok or do they look odd?

On the image you provided I notice the tips of the flower are cropped out - or left out of the image but it still looks nice. In order to crop my pic though, it would actually look like the flower is cut and missing part of it. I think so anyway. I'm not sure what others would think.

I will definitely keep on trying. I like the look of macro images and I find it a challenge. I haven't tried too many but want to for sure.

Thanks again...this is a great place to learn. I love it.

Kathy :)