Down on the Tulip Farm

[AlphaBjerke]

I hope it is OK that I post this here as I want it critiqued as a landscape and not for the post-processing. I mean, certainly critique the post if you have something to say, but I am more interested in the critique of the image as a whole.

Questions:

1. This is uncropped. I wasn't planning on cropping it, but would like to hear whether the consensus is that that is the right move.

2. The tulip low and to the left of the image has sunlight reflecting off it kind of harshly. Maybe I crop the image and that isn't a problem, but since I didn't want to crop it, am I rightly concerned about that? I could mess with it in post, but don't want to do a poor job, making it more obvious.

3. I have a version shot at F8 where the tulips might be a tad sharper, but I went with the f20 version to keep the barn more in focus. Do you think I need to worry about keeping the barn more in focus? I mean, do you see it as a total package picture, or one of tulips?



F20
1/60 on a tripod
30mm
ISO 200

Thanks!

[AlphaBjerke]

Just a bump so I can get my critique

[LenDog]

Looks like a pretty good job with what I think is some challenging light, bright sun over your left shoulder, cloudy sky ahead, 1/60 @ 200.

In my opinion, no crop. The photo is very well composed assuming you want the barn in the shot (and I like the barn as well). I also like the DoF.

I think the sunlight is reflecting strongly off of more than just one tulip, easily seen in large size, and that's the thing I like least about this photo.

Secondly, the color looks just a bit "off" (but it could be my bad eyes!)

You can easily call this great as is, or tweak it a little. I'd like to try a few ideas, with your permission to download, edit, and repost on this thread?

[AlphaBjerke]

go for it!

[LenDog]

AB,
Could not save the photo from your flickr site (mine is set the same, perfectly understand why).
I pm'd my e-mail address, if you e-mail it I'll give it a shot (only reposted here, I don't steal). Give me a day, getting late here in Stuttgart.
Scott

[sk66]

You could always do just a touch of Dodge/Burn to fix the really hot spot.

I *think* I'd like to see a little more of the scene, it feels just a little "cramped".

What I don't like is the lack of sharpness in the barn (visible when viewed full size).
I suspect you focused on the flowers and chose the super small f/stop trying to increase DOF. This isn't the best way to do that and I think it might be diffraction causing the loss of sharpness.

Better would be to set the lens close to it's optimal aperture and use the Hyperfocal Distance for those settings.

[AlphaBjerke]

Originally Posted by sk66

You could always do just a touch of Dodge/Burn to fix the really hot spot.

I *think* I'd like to see a little more of the scene, it feels just a little "cramped".

What I don't like is the lack of sharpness in the barn (visible when viewed full size).
I suspect you focused on the flowers and chose the super small f/stop trying to increase DOF. This isn't the best way to do that and I think it might be diffraction causing the loss of sharpness.

Better would be to set the lens close to it's optimal aperture and use the Hyperfocal Distance for those settings.

Thabks, sk66. I am pretty sure I will have other opportunities as this is very near my house. I will work on the hyperfocal method. I have a basic understanding and even a chart I carry. I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks!

[SuperDan]

At first, the tulips are too tall... I think maybe just standing up just a bit more... and I agree on some loss of sharpnes... but... The colors of the sky, tulips and grass are amazing!

[SriMesh]

I, too like this shot fairly much as it is. I think the barn needs to stay in focus to balance the colours of the tulips.