Orange flower kinda macro

[manmathison]

This picture was taken at Duke Gardens on an overcast day with a Canon XS and a 50mm 1.8. The following settings were used. I am new to the forums and am looking for all the critique I can get. The only post production work that was done was processing the raw file. Nothing was done to alter the DOF or further blur the background from the initial image.

f 2.2.
1/600s
ISO 100

Thank you all for your comments.

[RichardTaylor]

The exposure & focus look fine.

Aesthetics;
I feel that it needs a tight crop to concentrate the flowers.
Try cropping most of that dark background on the left and a bit off the bottom.
If possible, during post processing I would try to darken and blurr the green leaves to make the flowers "pop" a bit more.

[manmathison]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

The exposure & focus look fine.

Aesthetics;
I feel that it needs a tight crop to concentrate the flowers.
Try cropping most of that dark background on the left and a bit off the bottom.
If possible, during post processing I would try to darken and blurr the green leaves to make the flowers "pop" a bit more.

What do you think of this crop? I didn't take time to blur out the background.

[RichardTaylor]

That's getting there.
Personally I would have cropped it even a bit tighter.

Do you think it looks better?

[manmathison]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

That's getting there.
Personally I would have cropped it even a bit tighter.

Do you think it looks better?

I do like it more cropped tighter. In my previous posts I haven't really cropped the images but it makes sense to do that before posting. That way I'm posting exactly what I think the image should look like. When I cropped it I was trying to pay attention to the thirds rule and have each blossom in the lower left and upper right 3rd. But I can see how a bit tighter would emphasize the the flowers even more.

Thank you for the comments. As soon as this weather breaks I'll be able to get out and shoot again.

[manmathison]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

That's getting there.
Personally I would have cropped it even a bit tighter.

Do you think it looks better?

What do you think of this crop?

[lrivetz]

Better crop than the first one, yes. TFS.

[RichardTaylor]

That's the best one.