Autumn Sunflower

[Atlas88]

Hello,

My first post here. I've been using a P&S for quite a while now and only just recently bought a Canon 400D with a Sigma 17-70 lens.

When I saw the setting sun shining on a sunflower plant in our garden a couple of weeks ago, I had to capture it. Overall I'm pleased with how it turned out, but I'm curious how or what could be done to really make it pop. Perhaps it's fine as is? Still, I'd much appreciate any feedback. I'll most likely be posting a lot more around here.

[Goat Boy]

I really like it the way it is. I don't think u could make it much better. Maybe blurring the background a bit more would make it pop.

[bahgheera]

I also like it as-is. The background flower gives it a sort of portrait feel, for some reason. It makes me think of a couple of rough street kids that really do mind having their picture taken.

[RussHeath]

I like your choice of subject, and you certainly picked the right time of day to shoot -- the light is great. For my taste, I think the out of focus flower is a bit distracting. I think it should be blurred more, or if you were to shoot again I would get down and shoot up at the main flower for a different perspective (don't know what the sky/background would have looked like though). A touch of fill flash would be worth trying too . . .

Thanks for sharing, hope we see more soon!

I like it as it is, if I did anything I would sharpen the flower just a tad.


Nice shot!

[Atlas88]

Wow, thanks for the feedback!

As far as blurring the background a bit more, I agree. The purpose of this shot was to experiment with DOF and get to know what's possible with this lens. I'm gradually learning that this effect becomes much more pronounced when the lens is fully extended at 70mm. This shot was at 57mm. I should also say that the photo itself hasn't had any serious PP applied to it aside from resizing and applying some subtle sharpening.

The background is actually the side of my house which to me looks adequately blurred while retaining just a bit of texture.

My reasoning for framing the image this way was in order to capture the sunflower facing downward to help portray the season a bit better. The plant was essentially dead, and I hoped the setting sunlight would help give the image an overall "end of autumn" feel to it. Perhaps I got it wrong or perhaps I'm reading far too much into it!

@bahgheera: I like your interpretation!

[peeperita]

i think it's a wonderful image as is.....but, if you feel it needs a pop.....then experiment with a slight vignette to add emphasis to the subject....

thanks, it's great!

peeper