Pink Hyacinth

[dvtldav]

Took this picture of a pink hyacinth in my wife's flower garden and since I don't shoot much macro or close-ups was looking for some critiques. How is composition? Should I have just focused on just one flower and not the whole thing? How is the focus? Is there anything else I need to know about this type of photography? All critique is welcome. Hit me with everything I am here to learn and you won't hurt my feelings.



EXIF:
Camera: Canon XSi
Exposure: 1/250 @ f/5.6
ISO: 100
Lens: 18-55mm @36mm
Mode: Aperture priority
Manual Focus

Thanks for looking.

Dave

[compleks]

Looks good.

Exposure looks pretty much spot on. Colours and contrast look good.
Composition is going to be more personal preference. For me, i think I tighter crop may add some more interest to the image. I don't know how to explain it, but it lacks a certain 'wow' factor I guess. Technically though I think it's solid!

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by compleks

Looks good.

Exposure looks pretty much spot on. Colours and contrast look good.
Composition is going to be more personal preference. For me, i think I tighter crop may add some more interest to the image. I don't know how to explain it, but it lacks a certain 'wow' factor I guess. Technically though I think it's solid!

I agree with compleks comment. In addition, once you got the correct exposure on aperture priority at ISO 100 (which should always be as low as possible for quality and lowest noise), you might have played around with the balance manually or by just looking at different results for smaller apertures (higher f/numbers) as that would have sharpened focus across the entire range of the subject somewhat.

So starting out at 1/250 s with flowers, assuming no wind, it would be no problem to go to 1/60 s hand held, 2 stops or 2 EV units. So then you would compensate by looking at stopping down two stops to maybe f/8 or f/11, staying at ISO 100.

That might have sharpened the flower a little and made it pop a little more. And, again, that could have easily been done in the mode you were shooting, aperture priority, by just making sure you didn't get below 1/30 s in shutter speed (or 1/15 s if you have a good antishake system, or even lower with a monopod or tripod)

[dvtldav]

Compleks & ChicagoJohn thanks for your comments and critiques. I shot other flowers that day at different apertures but this was the one that I thought looked the best as far as being in focus. The next time I will have to shoot the same shot with different apertures.

Dave