Beauty is in the eye of the bulb

[jcdeboever]

Fujifilm XT2 - 60mm 2.4 macro - 1/210s @f/5.6, ISO200, spot meter, Auto WB. Velvia simulation raw image converted in camera. SOOC. Scaled down to 1200 x 800 in Gimp from 6000 x 4000.

Goal was to isolate closest bulb while including the vibrant background buttercups, juxtaposing color for the lush green leaves in foreground, and make the pastel quality of the tulip pop. On my knees hunched over to get a bug view of the bulb field.

 

[smoke665]

Nice. Has an abstract quality to it. Good use of nature's colors.

 

[jcdeboever]

Nice. Has an abstract quality to it. Good use of nature's colors.

Thanks bud

 

[Gary A.]

You have attained your goal. Assignment aside ... to my eye, the bright vibrant colors of the background compete directly with the less vibrant colors of the subject. I would tone the background down a bit for a, IMO, more pleasing photograph. But that is something hard to perform with a SOOC image. As an artist, you may want the conflict of vibrant background to muted subject just to cause anxiety to the viewer.

Working with SOOC image is a wonderful tool, exercise to getting the image right-in-the-camera. There are many schools of thought/argument on this philosophy. But for me, getting it right in the camera is an integral challenge which makes photography stimulating.

Finally, well done. Seems you are a Fujifilm Fanboy.

 

[jcdeboever]

You have attained your goal. Assignment aside ... to my eye, the bright vibrant colors of the background compete directly with the less vibrant colors of the subject. I would tone the background down a bit for a, IMO, more pleasing photograph. But that is something had to perform with a SOOC image. As an artist, you may want the conflict of vibrant background to muted subject just to cause anxiety to the viewer.

Working with SOOC image is a wonderful tool, exercise to getting the image right-in-the-camera. There are many schools of thought/argument on this philosophy. But for me, getting it right in the camera is the integral challenges which makes photography stimulating.

Finally, well done. Seems you are a Fujifilm Fanboy.

Thanks Bud, I took two images actually. The second one, not shown is a slightly different exposure / composition with less of the vibrant background color involvement. I did wax between what I wanted. I may post the other one when I get home as it describes what you may have wanted if you were taking the image. Funny how we think a like. I could have gone either way bought thought that this image may garner more insight from the viewers.

 

[Derrel]

I think your goal was achieved. To me, the focused area and the subjects in it play very well against the defocused background items; the background items have repeating shapes that mirror the shape of the foregrounbd bulb and stalk. Overall, I think it's a very well-executed picture. Well done!

 

[jcdeboever]

I think your goal was achieved. To me, the focused area and the subjects in it play very well against the defocused background items; the background items have repeating shapes that mirror the shape of the foregrounbd bulb and stalk. Overall, I think it's a very well-executed picture. Well done!

Thank you bud

 

[jcdeboever]

You have attained your goal. Assignment aside ... to my eye, the bright vibrant colors of the background compete directly with the less vibrant colors of the subject. I would tone the background down a bit for a, IMO, more pleasing photograph. But that is something hard to perform with a SOOC image. As an artist, you may want the conflict of vibrant background to muted subject just to cause anxiety to the viewer.

Working with SOOC image is a wonderful tool, exercise to getting the image right-in-the-camera. There are many schools of thought/argument on this philosophy. But for me, getting it right in the camera is an integral challenge which makes photography stimulating.

Finally, well done. Seems you are a Fujifilm Fanboy.

Here is that 2nd shot with the different background. @Gary A.

 

[astroNikon]

Love your recent work.
You've really evolved quickly since finding a camera that works well with you.

 

[jcdeboever]

Love your recent work.
You've really evolved quickly since finding a camera that works well with you.

Wow! Thanks Steve, that means a lot coming from you.

 

[Gary A.]

To my eyes, the second is easier to swallow, my eye are not bouncing between the background and subject, it is all subject. Artistically, the first my be your intent to highlight the OOF background, make the viewer struggle to focus on the subject. As a Communications platform, the second is better at stating "Hey, Look at me, I am about to bloom."

 

[jcdeboever]

To my eyes, the second is easier to swallow, my eye are not bouncing between the background and subject, it is all subject. Artistically, the first my be your intent to highlight the OOF background, make the viewer struggle to focus on the subject. As a Communications platform, the second is better at stating "Hey, Look at me, I am about to bloom."

I was thinking that exact thing when I was pre-visioning. Couldn't make a decision, so I shot it both ways. I'm very encouraged by your critique's because it confirms that my approach is purposeful and moving forward from your on-going instruction.

 

[smoke665]

Just an opinion, but I still like the first better. The color is better, and the red tip of the bulb is positioned further down. There's just enough red in the background and the tip of the bulb to form a complimentary color scheme, that to me doesn't create conflict, but draws the eye to view the scene as a whole, as opposed to parts. The angular line formed by the leaf and the bulb itself draws the eye right into to the image terminating at the red tip.

 

[Gary A.]

To my eyes, the second is easier to swallow, my eye are not bouncing between the background and subject, it is all subject. Artistically, the first my be your intent to highlight the OOF background, make the viewer struggle to focus on the subject. As a Communications platform, the second is better at stating "Hey, Look at me, I am about to bloom."

I was thinking that exact thing when I was pre-visioning. Couldn't make a decision, so I shot it both ways. I'm very encouraged by your critique's because it confirms that my approach is purposeful and moving forward from your on-going instruction.

Wow, "Pre-visioning" ... that's the first time I've seen you use that word. One of the benefits of previsualization, is that it can be used to gauge your skill. The closer you get to capturing your previsualized image in-camera and the more consistently you become at capturing the previsualized image in-camera, the greater your skill, hence the better your photography.

 

[Gary A.]

Just an opinion, but I still like the first better. The color is better, and the red tip of the bulb is positioned further down. There's just enough red in the background and the tip of the bulb to form a complimentary color scheme, that to me doesn't create conflict, but draws the eye to view the scene as a whole, as opposed to parts. The angular line formed by the leaf and the bulb itself draws the eye right into to the image terminating at the red tip.

You are an artist. The pink tip in #2 points to something out of the photo, which, to my eye isn't good. The pink tip in #1 points to the background ... the tip actually has something to point at/to.