Lemon Tree Blossom

[Thinking_Mommy]

My mother is growing lemons, and while the lemons refuse to turn yellow (even though they are the size of softballs **grin**) the blossoms are gorgeous! Let me know waht you think about this shot. I would love to know what I could do to improve it. Also, feel free to edit and repost (with steps)
Thanks!

[wulf]

You needed the "HTML Code" from the Photobucket website, although the image should be a little bit smaller (600px max on longest side - I've fudged the edges so it appears the right size in this case).

Actually, it would probably benefit from a crop anyway - that shadow on the right cuts off the leaf in a weird way and the image would be improved with that trimmed out. It looks like you used your flash to help light things up - it might have been good to diffuse it with something like a bit of tissue paper in front of the flash to make the light softer and the shadows less intense.

Wulf

[Thinking_Mommy]

Originally Posted by wulf

You needed the "HTML Code" from the Photobucket website, although the image should be a little bit smaller (600px max on longest side - I've fudged the edges so it appears the right size in this case).

Actually, it would probably benefit from a crop anyway - that shadow on the right cuts off the leaf in a weird way and the image would be improved with that trimmed out. It looks like you used your flash to help light things up - it might have been good to diffuse it with something like a bit of tissue paper in front of the flash to make the light softer and the shadows less intense.

Wulf

Oh thanks for the help!
Do you just put the white tissue paper over the flash with tape or something? Is there certain instances when its best to do that? How do you like the new crop? Look a little bit better? Thanks!

[IMG][/img]

[FrankenPengie]

Originally Posted by Thinking_Mommy

Oh thanks for the help!
Do you just put the white tissue paper over the flash with tape or something? Is there certain instances when its best to do that? How do you like the new crop? Look a little bit better? Thanks!

Most anytime flash is going to be anything more than just a bit of fill light, you will want to diffuse the source or try and bounce it off of an above or side surface.

The idea is to diffuse the light. Taping a piece of tissue to the flash will soften the light, but it will pretty much come from the same place. Holding the paper away from the flash will allow the flash to light the subject through the entire piece of material. So you need anything sturdy enough to hold itself together so you don't have trouble handling it while you snap. It also needs to allow light through.

I'm working on some type of arrangement I can attach to my camera somehow. Yes it will probably look funny and people will wonder. But I'll at least take good flash pictures.

[clockdoc]

Nice pastel colors but the blossoms look a bit past their prime. Be careful placing anything flammable over your flash tube as some can get very hot. If you are using paper as a diffuser, try creating/framing a larger paper area(8x10 or even 16 x 20 or similar sizes) then place your flash far enough away to fill the framed area with the light from the flash. Place the diffuser close to the subject as possible without it being visible in the shot. This will provide you with a nice "wrap" to the soft diffused light. In essence you are going for the largest light source (in this case the paper in a frame) as close as possible to the subject. The flash, by itself, is a small, harsh light that creates hard shadows in comparison.

[Major_Small]

yes, taping it over your flash would work, or if you have a fuji film canister laying around, you can try this. There's really no need to cut the hole for the gel filter unless you intend to use one though

[wulf]

The crop brings you closer in, although it does make the fly even more of a feature (one tip for photographing flowers - watch out for insects and decide if you really want to include them).

If anything, I would say this is a bit too tight - look round the edge of the frame at what gets chopped off. Sometimes you find that you have to cut something off in order to keep the focus you want but it is worth playing with.

Wulf

[Thinking_Mommy]

Originally Posted by wulf

The crop brings you closer in, although it does make the fly even more of a feature (one tip for photographing flowers - watch out for insects and decide if you really want to include them).

If anything, I would say this is a bit too tight - look round the edge of the frame at what gets chopped off. Sometimes you find that you have to cut something off in order to keep the focus you want but it is worth playing with.

Wulf

Im going to work on it some more then! Thanks!