Style - Page 2 - Orchid Board

lily99 · #11 02-26-2009, 12:02 AM

It is a beautiful orchid. I like the position of the orchid, but I think the background is a bit distracting. If I were taking the picture, I would have used a dark green or black background, but that is just my opinion. Also, I would experiment with different aperture settings to see how the picture would look with the roots in focus.

Tindomul · #12 02-26-2009, 12:53 AM

good idea about the apeture. I just learned how to change it today. As for the background, I had no choice in this matter. The plant is mounted on the wood which is a permanent fixture in the terrarium. So the plant cannot be moved, and the background cannot be changed.

bonsai1504 · #13 02-27-2009, 06:39 PM

For good Almost 1:1 get a 50mm f/1.8 and a reversing ring. My canon set-up cost me only about $100 and works great.

Tindomul · #14 02-28-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonsai1504

get a 50mm f/1.8 and a reversing ring.

What does that mean. I haven't really read up too much on the meaning of f stop. Never heard of reversing ring.
Thanks.

kavanaru · #15 02-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Hi Tindo, you have a nice Phal there, and a great subject for a great picture

As other said, you can play with the apertures to improve the quality of the picture from a technical point of view. There is no doubt that a good camera with a good lens, if used correctly can give you a high quality picture... the other are giving here enough advice and tricks...

so, I will go on a different matter

As Dorothy said, asymmetry can give movements to the picture. You have centered the two flowers in a "horizontal" picture, and have created two large "empty" spaces on both sides of the subject... if look at it in detail, it looks like a waste picture without much action... This could be improved, using a "vertical" picture (see, that your subject is taller than wide!) - you can see the result by cropping your picture with both hands, and leaving the flowers in the center…

However, the two flowers have a lot of potential there... if you look at them, like if they were two faces looking in opposite directions, you could then place them on the left side of the picture, insinuating that the right flowers is "looking" at something out of the picture on the right side, maybe sitting on the same trunk... or, you can place them on the left side, but on the upper third, this would suggest that the left flowers look at something on the lower left of the picture (maybe indicated by the interesting root?)

it has already been mentioned that the background introduces too much noise... you can solve it, by having it (very) less illuminated than the flowers. This contrast would help to get the flowers out of the picture and make them the central point of attraction... Other way, is having the background extremely out of focus (a large aperture reduces the focal depth), so that it looks more like an uniform cloud...

Technique makes a big part of the photo, but it is the composition what makes it Especial!

Hope this helps…

Paul · #16 02-28-2009, 07:59 PM

Very nice composition, Tindo!

Personally I would prefer NOT having the roots and sundry IN focus -- to me that distracts from the flowers. If anything, playing with your aperature to perhaps keep the flowers in focus but to place the background further out of focus would be my leaning. Also the color could use adjusting. Unfortunately, other than adjusting the setting for the type of lightsource being used (which if you haven't already experimented with might be worthwhile) the only method I know of is using an editing program that allows you to alter the color balance. You pic looks too blue.

silken · #17 03-01-2009, 08:04 PM

Aperture plays an important role in what is in or out of focus. a large aperture like f2.8 or even f5 will keep only your flower in focus and blur the background. If the flower has lots of depth and not too flat, you may need a smaller aperture like f11 or smaller. It really makes a difference as to how the background turns out.
Silken

Tindomul · #18 03-02-2009, 12:13 AM

Thanks all for the suggestions. Trying to take them all in.

How about this:

silken · #19 03-02-2009, 10:32 AM

I like the 1st shot the best. It has cut off some of the busy background and using the horizontal view, you can't get any closer or you will start cutting off the top or bottom of the flowers. You could still try the vertical format as suggested by someone else, but maybe you want some of its environment included. I don't think the picture is too blue, but white balance can affect the tint of the picture so make sure you are using the correct white balance setting too. What aperture did you use on these shots?
Silken

Dorothy · #20 03-02-2009, 12:12 PM

Love the asymmetry of the first photo .. Awesome Cesar ..