A Tiny Flower in Japan

[dlwjiang]

Taken with a Sony DSC-H55

I don't particularly remember the settings, I may have had it set on intelligent auto =/
I was mainly experimenting with macro and a blurred background(during vacation in Japan) but it came out pretty well.

I fiddled around in iPhoto for a while, the main differences I think were increasing sharpness and saturation.

What other sorts of adjustments can be made, perhaps suggest another program with more controls?

Also, what types of improvements can be seen or changed if I used a different camera? Perhaps a dslr or a smaller "hybrid". (thinking of upgrading)

Thanks!~

[wewtface]

nice i like it!

[bruceliv]

Stop picking the flowers -- I kid you not. Get down on your knees, even use a tripod! Your fingers kill the photo and bringing it up to show a blurry background doesn't make sense.
Also, on your flickr page you can find all the exif data (click on your camera, above right side) that's requested for this site.

Other programs: If you like iPhoto, which my wife uses exclusively, you can move up to Aperture which is designed for the mac. Otherwise, PS, PS elements, many programs with more controls.

If you're interested in macro or closeup photography, it takes lots of practice. If you're taking a subject of nature, try to keep subject in natural surroundings.
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[dlwjiang]

Thanks for the flikr data info.

I think the next step in learning photo manipulation would be in photoshop, I've used it on an off but never actually in ways pertaining to actual "photos". (curves, levels, etc...)

I'm mainly looking for feedback as to what a dslr and the extra manual controls may offer to this photo. I'm thinking of buying one.

Aside from my fingers being there since I just picked up a flower and decided to see how close of a picture I could get...is there any other advice on levels of saturation, sharpness, contrast etc...

[bruceliv]

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

I think the next step in learning photo manipulation would be in photoshop, I've used it on an off but never actually in ways pertaining to actual "photos". (curves, levels, etc...)

I don't agree with you. The next step would be to learn how to compose a picture.
Since you obviously have worked with PS, that's the best. It has a steep learning curve and teaching you to use PS on this "critique" page is out of context.

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

mainly looking for feedback as to what a dslr and the extra manual controls may offer to this photo. I'm thinking of buying one.

Nothing would help this photo. But if you want to know what will aide in closeup photography, yes a dSLR would help. And a tripod. With most dSLR's you can control the shutter speed, aperture, ISO. This will all allow you to have complete control of depth of field and exposure. Also, just as important, manual focus. You need this in almost all macro shots.

Originally Posted by dlwjiang

...from my fingers being there since I just picked up a flower and decided to see how close of a picture I could get...is there any other advice on levels of saturation, sharpness, contrast etc...

The dynamic range of your image is so limited, post processing would not help much.

I regret having to criticize your images. But if you're really interested in photography and improving your skills you might sign up for a course.

I would also suggest you look at other people's images, especially those of the masters.
My wife shoots with a P&S and does only PP using iPhoto which is very limited. Her pictures are magnificent because she has developed an incredible eye and has a lot of practice.

[dlwjiang]

I see, such use of an incredibly large and expesive program is way over my head at least for now. Maybe after some online tutorials I can give it a try. I'd use Aperture but from what I've head, it seems to offer mostly photo management, for example projects and keeping a log of changes made. It seems like too "professional" and large a program for an amateur like myself without a large library of photos. iPhoto itself already runs somewhat slowly on my computer. Photoshop however seems more suited for heavy processing, like make portraits and model shots for magazines for the illusion of perfection, or making "impossible" photos. I had actually wanted to fiddle around with levels and curves to customize a black and white feel as I feel somewhat limited by the standard "effects" and adjustments of iPhoto, and picnic, and picasa, etc...My previous
experience with it was limited mostly to web-design, ironic given the "photo" part of the name. I think I shall stick with iPhoto for now.

I attempted to follow a rule of composition, namely the so called "rule of thirds" by not placing the flower directly in the middle, however it seems obviously out of place stuck in the corner with my fingers, though giving a sense of scale to the picture, strangling it. The tilted horizon is also rather random, and though such a small flower is shown in such detail I should have made a greater attempt to capture the sprawling wilderness behind. On further reflection I do not know what I was thinking.

Perhaps next time, after numerous mistakes, I will be able to muster a sort of
"feeling" or intuition as to getting a properly composed shot, and maybe, even be as good as your wife with a P&S. I think that such will be best for me as I don't feel I have the talent to use a DSLR. At least not yet of course, perhaps I shall take some courses and reconsider. There are multiple things to consider, like cost, weight of carrying around the camera as well as a tripod, lens cost, course cost, and last and probably least, whether or not I like it.

After all, you have to do things 3 times in life. Once to get over the fear of it,
another to learn how to do it, and once more to see if you like it or not.

With a recent boom in consumer dslr's and a rising quality of life(hobbies are afforded), as well as photo sharing sites(due to the internet) creating an endless pool of photos, it would seem a shame to add to the noise or follow the crowd.

It would be like insulting the huge amounts of trashy apps in Apple's app store while making one just for the experience yourself.

[bruceliv]

Photoshop Elements could accomplish 95% of what you might need for years to come. USD=$79.

edit photos, photo editing software program | Adobe Photoshop Elements 9

If iPhoto runs slowly on your mac, call Apple tech, there might be something else going on. Perhaps a cleanup is due.

"Muster up a feeling..." doesn't happen by itself. I see you haven't posted any pictures on flickr for 5 weeks.

"After all, you have to do things 3 times in life. Once to get over the fear of it..."
FEAR??? You're not talking about taking up sky-diving are you?

Don't want "to add to the noise." Perhaps study "Ikebana." It's very quiet and spiritual, and you seem to enjoy picking flowers!

I read in your posts a multitude of excuses. Perhaps you are looking to fail -- I don't see much of an effort. Anything you wish to accomplish takes effort.

[Laurenbiz]

I'm going to jump in! The debate can continue, but here is my critique of this photo:

-Underexposed (and I can't provide a suggestion for your exposure since I don't see the EXIF data)
-Rule of thirds is not very obvious (because of the hand and because of the other flower that is popping up toward the left of the frame in the background, I don't see a clear rule of thirds here)

I've included a nice example of the rule of thirds below-

Purple flower by LaurenBiz, on Flickr


Also, I agree that something may be wrong with your Mac if iPhoto makes it run slowly. I have the entire Adobe Creative Suite (not just the PS Elements,) and none of the programs slow my 1.5-year-old Mac down.

[bruceliv]

I did have my re-working of the original image and deleted it by mistake.
(Just a bit over-saturated as I view it again.)



BTW, Lauren, if you click on his picture at the beginning of the thread, and go to the upper right section of the flickr page, you can retrieve the EXIF data.

[Sterling]

I don't mind this photo at all. I like the tilted horizon and I like the fingers in there. The photo has a light, whimsical feel. I don't belive that every flower shot has to look like a reference photo for a gardening magazine. The one thing I would do is brighten it up.