Sunflowers - Sun Followers

[milosh]

This is a photo taken two days ago at sunset,

composite of two photos, both:

Nikon D60
Nikon 18-105mm f3.5 at 18mm
ISO 100
f 16

lower photo (the sunflower and the field):
Shutter speed: 0.8 seconds

upper photo (sky):
Shutter speed: 1/5 sec. + Hitech 0.9 HE ND Grad

My question to you is:

what do you think about the light levels, is the main sunflower too lit considering the lightness of the sky with setting Sun? I wanted to have the sunflower properly exposed (not underexposed) hence I don't want to lower it's exposure any more, but at the same time, it's tricky for me to brighten the sky, as the Sun and the sky around it would be too bright.

Any thoughts on composition? Do you find the whole photo pleasing?


Sun Followers by Milos Kondic, on Flickr


Thanks!

[mwanafunzi]

Its almost like you are at a concert one sunflower is posing for a shot while the others are looking at the stage. At least that is what I think of when I look at your shot .

What I like about the photo is the lighting. The colours [of the sunflower(s)] are bright and vibrant withough being overexposed.

Technically, I think that the main sunflower has some wonderful detail which has been slightly lost because it is not sharp enough. Some attention has also been taken away from the sunflower by the suns positioning. I think that having it more to the right, rather than in the center, would have strengthened your composition.

...but having said that, this would definetaly be my wallpaper of the month.

[milosh]

Thank you mwanafunzi!

I tried very hard to find a suitable sunflower (most of them are not really pretty and of even shape) and to find the best composition. I see your point about the Suns position, it could have been more dynamic.

Which part of the sunflower needs more sharpening in your opinion, is it center area with small "buds" or the petals?

[Glitterbug576]

HOLY COW! This is BEAUTIFUL! Perfection - wow. I love it.

[Krusty79]

Great shot, milosh! You have that wonderful glow off the leaves off the sunflowers. I have been trying to get that magical glow in some of my shots, but it has been hard to find a setup like yours.

I agree that the composition might be a little better with the sun to the right a little more. Did you take any shots from a slightly higher perspective? I know we normally recommend getting down lower, but I was thinking a slightly higher perspective would allow me to see more of those golden leaves. Beautiful shot nonetheless. A real winner!

[buzzrk]

@Krusty I disagree with using higher angle.
I actually thinking going even lower and increasing the dominance of sun flower. I guess you liked the leaves. For me it is the sunflower that I want to see even more focused.

Great shot! The color and exposure make this shot wonderful.

[buzzrk]

My question to you is:
what do you think about the light levels, is the main sunflower too lit considering the lightness of the sky with setting Sun? I wanted to have the sunflower properly exposed (not underexposed) hence I don't want to lower it's exposure any more, but at the same time, it's tricky for me to brighten the sky, as the Sun and the sky around it would be too bright.

You could adjustments using layer masks in Photoshop.
You could do process to sky and sun flower separately and achieve the effect you want.

[kuul13]

I stumbled here as am reading critiques to learn and grow as a photogrpaher.. I am in no position to critique your picture, but I would say I loved the frame very much... bravo!

[mwanafunzi]

The center needs to be a bit sharper. Aslo just noticed that on the tips of the two petals that are touching the sky/horizon/mountain there are remants of PP.

Following on Krusty`s question, I too am wondering whether you have any shots of the field from a higher perspective. At least ones that you would like to share.

[ravncat]

I keep coming back to this photo...

I'm not sure. I think the main sunflower is not too lit, but there is an odd relationship to the sky. The more I look at it the more I am convinced it is the brightness of the leaves, especially as you go down the frame and where there should be more shadow. I dont think it is a contrast problem so much as a lack of shadows - maybe it is weird to me that the line of trees in the back behind the sun are darker than the rest of the image.

That line also acts as a separator that the eye does not want to really smoothly cross and I jump between the top sunset portion and the lower sunflower portion. I think perhaps increasing the shadows, may improve the image. I'd have to play with it.

Compositionally, I think it's fun, the above comments about it being as if one is turning back from a crowd is right on. I find that it feels out of balance to me and I am not sure why - which makes it interesting to look at perhaps. I feel that maybe a vertical, or more or less below the main sunflower, or slightly more sky space, may have helped, but I wasnt there and haven't seen those compositions. I feel that this image could be improved but I am not entirely sure how - I just have a gut feeling that there could be a better balance, if there isn't than this is it.