Purple Cows

[Olivia Price]

Ok, so the cows aren't purple but purple flowers and cows are in the picture

First let me say that I've only been at this for a few weeks so any and all CC is much appreciated. I am specifically interested in lighting and composition. This pic is SOOC, as I really haven't ventured into the world of Photoshop just yet.



Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
Lens Type: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed : 2000
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE

[Doug Sundseth]

I think you've picked an interesting subject, here, but I'm not sure the photo works for me.

I'd like the flowers to have a bit more light, either on the front or the back. Front light would reveal more detail, while back light revealing a bit of translucency in the flowers could also be interesting. Either would serve to separate the plant a bit more from the background. Currently, the dark plant is too similar in tone to the dark cows that form the background for the upper part of the plant.

Your angle on the flowers is, I think, either too high or too low. Either way you would not be bisecting the subject with the horizon. Shooting from higher would lower the contrast between flowers and background and facilitate a longer exposure that would reveal more detail. Lower would isolate the flowers completely by setting them against the sky.

I'd like to see either more or less of the plant, too. Either a limited number of stalks or the full plant down to the ground.

Finally, I think that as shot the cows are a distraction. There's enough detail that you can tell what they are and to draw the eye but not enough for the cows to be a real subject. I do like the demon cow with the glowing eyes, though.

I think you might have the makings of at least two different interesting photos here, but I don't think they will necessarily work well together. If you want both subjects at once, I'd recommend shooting in landscape and with a deeper in-focus field and balancing the cows in part of the picture with the flowers in another part. You might want to order up some interesting clouds while you're at it.

[Olivia Price]

Thanks for all your suggestions!! I can see where you are coming from on the lighting. I think a bit more front light would be more to my liking as well. Do you think that would help to make the cows less distracting? I really like the silhouettes of the cows in the background. I was a bit limited on my angle as I was working around the fence but I will definitely keep that in mind next time I venture out!

[Doug Sundseth]

I think front lighting would help to separate the flowers from the background. I'd try to avoid using on-camera flash, though, and lean toward either off-camera lighting or a bounce reflector. Shapes are defined by the juxtaposition of light and shadow, and an on-camera flash will tend to completely kill shadows visible from the camera, so it tends to be a very flat light.

[Olivia Price]

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Olivia Price]

Ok, I tried my hand at editing this photo. Is it any better/worse?

[Phoenix_Jackson]

Forgive me but I took the liberty of editing myself thinking, "If it was me..."
I placed another layer and used curves and bumped up the contrast then masked it on the plants. Unmasked part is on the left (which I personally liked already). Then I thought the sky needs a little bit more color so I added a little bit of... violet I think. I'm not so sure with the sky, but over-all the right part is what I'd do.

Please note that I'm very new to this. So sorry if you don't like it and I'll remove.

[Olivia Price]

I have a lot to learn when it comes to Photoshop, I only started messing around with it a week ago I do like what you've done! Thanks!!