Still life flowers: a variation on a theme

[BexJarratt]

Hi,

I've been trying to improve on my previous shoot. I've change subject a little. Unfortunately I have not acquired a non-sparkly base yet. I'm thinking clear glass and black card (so I can mix it up if I want). Before I was triggering my ocf optically with my pop-up, don't think it was helping the look any. This time I have tried speedlight on camera but bounced off ceiling/walls. I think it looks a bit better, but I'm looking at getting an IR or radio controller for more control.


Exposure 3
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 130 mm
ISO Speed 800

(link Reflections on a special day | Flickr - Photo Sharing! to first attempt which I posted before)

(link variation on a theme 1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! to other version of this new shot, but before I re-dialled the exposure down in my RAW editor, after I did my GIMP edits - is this one over saturated or blown out really badly?)

Is my composition better? Better use of frame.
Is lighting softer or still bluh? I'm finding it a bit tricky to gauge looking at it on a screen.
Is there too much noise? ISO was on auto.
Any other problems/pointers would be good.

Please don't be afraid to be blunt! I'm trying to learn, and I'm very grateful for any wisdom which you can impart.

Bex

[Brenny130]

I like the crop better in the variation link than the one posted here. The color on the variation link is a bit too much but then when I go back to this one it starts to look a little flat-maybe something in the middle of the two? The noise seems fine to me. I'm by no means an expert, these are just my thoughts!

[BexJarratt]

Thanks for commenting, I'll try somewhere in between.

Bex