What’s Your Preference?

oriolhdz · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 06:40 AM

I really liked this flower. It was on branch of flowers I gave to my mother on her birthday. The problem I got was trying not to get a distracting background because there was more kind of flowers in the gift (each one asking for attention lol). So I try to get the flower closer and just blur and desaturating the background's color. I would like to know your thoughts on the photo and anyway to improve it for next photos.
Thanks in advance!

Nicole · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 08:06 AM

My suggestion would be that if you were already selecting the background, I would've worked on eliminating it or making it darker so that the flower stood out on it's own. The fact that there are a lot of really light parts (other flowers, I think) to the background makes it still kind of distracting. But I think that since you've already started editing it, it shouldn't be too hard to do a few different edits

Plus it's a nice straight sort of flower, which must make it a lot easier to select

matthewchj · #3 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 08:23 AM

Yeah, the background is a little distracting still. But I like the lighting on the flower!!

Nicole · #4 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewchj

But I like the lighting on the flower!!

D'oh, I really should've mentioned that. The flower itself looks good

peeperita · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 01:13 PM

great exposure and texture on the subject flower.....and i do agree with earlier posts that the light parts of the background should be subdued....

peeper

clockdoc · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 02:52 PM

I agree with others that the lighting on your subject flower is excellent. How was it lit? Short of using software to darken the rest of the image, I think to get the result you are looking for would require the use of an off camera flash that could be dialed down in its field of coverage so that only that flower is illuminated. You could also try using some tubes of different lengths to create more of a 'spotlight' effect. Use a high shutter speed (that is still in sync with your flash) to cut down on ambient light as well. One other thought is to create a 'mask' out of dark construction paper and use it as a 'collar' around the flower to isolate the distractions of the background.

oriolhdz · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:11 PM

Thanks all for your comments, Nicole, peeperita, Clockdoc. For muy luck I do have the photoshop file with the layer mask of the flower, so it will not to much problem to apply your comments on the background. I will try and post it again but that will be in a few days because i'm going on a 4 day vacation. =)
Thanks all again. I'll be back soon!

oriolhdz · #8 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockdoc

I agree with others that the lighting on your subject flower is excellent. How was it lit?

Ohh I forgot to answer you. I mounted my camera on a tripod and used self timer so I did not have to press the shutter (lol, obvious) Then I have my hands free to carry a lamp and put it over the flower hehehe. I know it's rudimentary but it's what I can afford, hehehe.
Thanks for yout tips!

clockdoc · #9 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:21 PM

Thanks for the followup on the lighting. Try using some tinfoil or cardstock to narrow the beam of your light (or simply use a flashlight). The idea is to isolate the light to just hitting the flower and not the background. Have a great vacation!