crocus

[annie12]

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 450
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
ISO Speed: 450


Hi all - wanted to capture first sign of spring (because winter has just arrived here!).

Would really like some critique on composition and effect. Used the macro setting on the camera to get the DOF - is there a better way?

Side thought - would it have been better to shake droplets off other flowers and focus on one?

Photo is unprocessed (so far) but would appreciate seeing what others would do to it! Feel free to play with it.

[Matthew James Norman]

Hi annie12

Nice capture. I've seen the crocuses starting to come through around here as well this week, a sure sign things are looking toward spring! The only comment I can make is that some of the blades of grass are distracting and lead away from the colour of the flower heads. I had a quick go at playing around with the image a bit myself and came up with this effort.


I adjusted the curves and saturation, added some sharpening and a blue-orange gradient map to add some warmth and try and pop the colour a bit.

[annie12]

Hi Matthew James Norman - thanks for your reply - you really did get those yellows to jump out!!

[Matthew James Norman]

Originally Posted by annie12

Hi Matthew James Norman - thanks for your reply - you really did get those yellows to jump out!!

What can I say? I love vibrant colour, especially in nature!

[jiminyClickit]

annie12,

It may seem like a small thing, but I have to thank you for reading and understanding and posting according to our new guidelines. Well done, and just the touch of Spring-hope I needed today!

[clockdoc]

Nice shot! I don't mind the extra water drops. I am a little confused by your comment, "Used the macro setting on the camera to get the DOF - is there a better way?" I assume you were trying for shallow depth of field? Was f/5.6 your largest aperture? Generally the macro setting, at least on my D80, only energizes to center focusing spot. I don't think it has anything to do with aperture or close focusing ability. Was this shot on a tripod?

[netbymatt]

Annie, very nice picture. I like the water on the flowers, but there's something a little distracting about the background, almost seems a little busy, although I don't see a way to crop it out without making for a bland, non-rule-of-thirds composition.

Matthew, nice work with the post processing. Colors look great.

[jiminyClickit]

annie12,

Your crocuses are as you shot them, in this edit (color, saturation and contrast not used). The background overpowered them, so when it is blurred and darkened some, the buds stand out. You may find you can get a similar result from a late afternoon/evening shot, somewhere around ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/250sec. That's the average setting combination I use to get a dark b/g. If you take more shots, I'd ask that you look at the difference a simple diagonal framing creates, and give attention to including complete blooms in-frame.

[annie12]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

annie12,

Your crocuses are as you shot them, in this edit (color, saturation and contrast not used). The background overpowered them, so when it is blurred and darkened some, the buds stand out. You may find you can get a similar result from a late afternoon/evening shot, somewhere around ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/250sec. That's the average setting combination I use to get a dark b/g. If you take more shots, I'd ask that you look at the difference a simple diagonal framing creates, and give attention to including complete blooms in-frame.

wow - love what you did to them - doesn't look like the same picture at all.

I'm still trying to figure out what happens outside the auto mode. I will take your advice the the next time it's not raining in the afternoon here!

Would love to know how you got this effect in the processing! Share your secrets please oh wise one!!

[jiminyClickit]

annie12,

Adobe PhotoDeluxe is truly the "wise one," without which I'd be doing pencil sketches.

Afer a Rotate to a more diagonal position, you're left with those white triangles of empty space. These you fill with Cut-and-paste sections of your background. Flip them, Rotate them, just to make it less obvious they're copies. Smudge edges to Blend the pastes.

Copy that layer, place over crocuses. Darken, Blur top layer to make background recede, and help buds stand out. Erase this layer's crocuses to let bottom (first) layer (undarkened, unblurred) buds show through, as shown. Add a slight dark vignette.

Several ways to get there, the fun is figuring how you want to do it. Enjoy!