Bejeweled water drop

[lewerim]

Not sure if this belongs here or not. My intention was Macro-esque but I don't own a macro lens (yet.)

As far as critique: Does this shot "work?" Does it have a clear subject, even without the post title?

Let me know what YOU think, before I tell you what I like about... or at least what I had hoped for.

Thanks again taking the time. I'm really trying to get better with my techniques and close up work particularly interests me.

Camera:	Sony DSLR-A200
Exposure:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture:	f/7.1
Focal Length:	70 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire

Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original):	2009:10:09 15:37:37
Date and Time (Digitized):	2009:10:09 15:37:37

[Sterling]

I quite like the idea. The part I find distracting is the huge expanse of blurry leaf. Because of that, over 50% of the frame does nothing for me. Perhaps cropping out the right half of the frame and making the image into a portrait orientation would make a stronger composition.

[lewerim]

Originally Posted by Sterling

I quite like the idea. The part I find distracting is the huge expanse of blurry leaf. Because of that, over 50% of the frame does nothing for me. Perhaps cropping out the right half of the frame and making the image into a portrait orientation would make a stronger composition.

Thanks for the comments. What I like about the shot is that the drop has a "beacon" like quality, while the rest of the scene is very soft... almost a pattern, rather than other objects in the scene. Maybe the "expanse" is too much. I also like the fairly strong diagonal line that points from the upper right corner towards the drop.

I like your suggestion of the tighter crop. Here are two alternate crops. I think that the horizontal crop is still my preference. I did a super tiny amount of PP on these (other than crop.) Just boosted the "shadows" and "highlights" in Picasa (which I assume has the effect of increasing contrast.) Anyway, I think it looses something, but not sure what. I'm, pretty new to all this.

Any other comments or crits are greatly appreciated.

From with Kyle and Lori at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

From with Kyle and Lori at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

[Jill H]

I think I prefer the vertical crop

[Pen]

good idea but desperately needs a crop as u did above , it would be even better if you could get a tighter shot to begin with however

[photog1107]

I like the vertical crop but am not a fan of the higher contrast. The soft natural colors of the original were what created such a striking "pop" to the shimmering water droplet. The closer crop, too, zooms in on more of the harsh features of the leaf... it's veins and texture, which in my opinion also take away from the droplet's power.

[Sterling]

^^^I agree. Combine that vertical crop with the soft leaf colours of the original and it'll be there.