Gazania

[thekevinmonster]

For once, I actually know what kind of flower it is I took a picture of...



Just a gazania in my mom's dock garden on our magical little island full of squirrels and a million queen ants in our cabin....

Since I really like this photo, I'm mostly looking for, "what do you think?". However, I'm wondering if the crop doesn't really work that well. The background was hard to get rid of without trying harder. I was thinking maybe square? I don't want to lose those green leaves from the rest of the plant.. I feel like they give it a really natural feel, instead of just some studio-perfect THIS IS A FLOWER look.

[porterd2nz]

Even at the size posted here it is a stunning photo. I think there is definitely enough separation of the flower from the background. The flower head seems to float well out of the other elements.

The edging in the bottom right and the lighter objects in the top right are a bit distracting.

[mfhurst]

If the flower was not centered and moved to right some, then the red thing on the ground would not be so noticable. But it is a very nice photo, nicely focused and beautiful color. I just think if it was off center it would be more eye catching, especially with that really dark green grass behind it.

[jiminyClickit]

thekevinmonster,

Look at shots from people who base a career on flower photos. They will either leave a comfortable margin (breathing room) around their subject, crop all background away, or selectively leave some percentage of flower and background (such as 2/3 and 1/3). When, as in your photo, the subject "kisses" the frame, it suggests uncertainty, tightness, a constricted view.

A natural view is fine, a blurred background just makes the bloom undeniably the focus of attention. A "suggestion" of generic greenery is enough.