Botanic Garden Shots..C&C welcome :)

Vudoo4u2 · Jan 20, 2009

Hello all,

new to the forum here, just picked up my new camera/lenses and was hoping for some feedback, here are some pics from my first shoot with the new gear this weekend...

CyclonePWR · Jan 20, 2009

I like the first one.

brileyphotog · Jan 20, 2009

those look gorgeous...what is the new combo, exactly?

Vudoo4u2 · Jan 20, 2009

thanks! new combo:

-Canon 5D Mark II
-Canon 24-70 F2.8 L
-Canon 70-200 F 2.8 IS L
-B+W UV MRC slim filter 77mm
-B+W Kaeseman Circular Polarizer MRC slim 77mm
-Manfrotto 190XB/486RC2 Ballhead
-Transcend 16gb 300x udma cf card

:-D

Vudoo4u2 · Jan 20, 2009

bump for some C&C!

Samanax · Jan 20, 2009

Nice set of images. I like the DOF you're getting with the full frame sensor...nice smooth bokeh.

#1 - Did you shoot this in the portrait orientation too? The right side of the shot is a little too busy. Image could use a touch more saturation, contrast and sharpening. Really like the colors in this one.

#2 - Great shot. Nice DOF. Love the colors. Wish the plant wasn't so centered though.

#3 - Interesting shot. I like how the center of the plant has a lighter, more vibrant shade of green from the outer part.

#4 - Nice B&W conversion. Maybe a little too much contrast. I actually like the color version better.

#5 - Good B&W conversion but I would rather see flowers in color. The tonal range looks really good though.

#6 - My least favorite shot...maybe because I have lots of aloe vera plants growing around my yard.

#7 - Nice DOF. I like the hint of purple in the upper left. Just don't care for the centering of the plant in the frame.

You got some really nice gear...you sure you're supposed to be in the Beginner's Forum?

Mr.SuperHero · Jan 20, 2009

Imo i would crop #1 tighter

93rdcurrent · Jan 20, 2009

I like the first b&w quite a bit. The plant is very interesting and the lighting is quite good.

Vudoo4u2 · Jan 20, 2009

Thanks for the feedback! I have to say that I agree with virtually every comment! The first shot I plan on cropping because I love the details, and they really come out after cropping (plus the cactus in the far right background makes me mad...but I was in a small greenhouse shooting these indoors handheld haha)

I was experimenting with some bw conversions because I wanted to make a bw photo album/series of prints...I feel as if I've never seen flowers really represented this way and I love the emphasis on form/shading...but we'll see

As far as the beginner forum, I am flattered, but I truly am roughly a beginner

...self taught for the most part, just got the new gear to try to get the most out if by hobby...been wanting to make large prints with the best iq possible, was lucky enough to save up for the cam/lenses etc. I'm 23, and have never shot professionally, but it's something I'd like to do one day, I'd like to get more consistent and figure out what I like to do with photos...just a hobby or now

Hopefully I can get out this week and take some winter shots, tons of snow here....perfect for the cpol!

Samanax said:
Nice set of images. I like the DOF you're getting with the full frame sensor...nice smooth bokeh.

#1 - Did you shoot this in the portrait orientation too? The right side of the shot is a little too busy. Image could use a touch more saturation, contrast and sharpening. Really like the colors in this one.

#2 - Great shot. Nice DOF. Love the colors. Wish the plant wasn't so centered though.

#3 - Interesting shot. I like how the center of the plant has a lighter, more vibrant shade of green from the outer part.

#4 - Nice B&W conversion. Maybe a little too much contrast. I actually like the color version better.

#5 - Good B&W conversion but I would rather see flowers in color. The tonal range looks really good though.

#6 - My least favorite shot...maybe because I have lots of aloe vera plants growing around my yard.

#7 - Nice DOF. I like the hint of purple in the upper left. Just don't care for the centering of the plant in the frame.

You got some really nice gear...you sure you're supposed to be in the Beginner's Forum?

LaFoto · Jan 22, 2009

A general posting advice:
You best put TWO spaces between your links, so the photos don't "flow one into the other" here upon showing. And when you post more than say 3 pics in one thread, it is best to number your pics - makes commenting so much easier for the viewers.

As to your photos here: my favourite is the second.
The other sport too shallow a DOF for my liking and leave me feel dizzy, wishing for some further extended clarity on the plants.

Vudoo4u2 · Jan 23, 2009

LaFoto said:
A general posting advice:
You best put TWO spaces between your links, so the photos don't "flow one into the other" here upon showing. And when you post more than say 3 pics in one thread, it is best to number your pics - makes commenting so much easier for the viewers.

As to your photos here: my favourite is the second.
The other sport too shallow a DOF for my liking and leave me feel dizzy, wishing for some further extended clarity on the plants.

Understood.

I agree, the DOF is very shallow, but I was toying with it, wanted to see what I could come up with with as little depth as possible. Was a fun exercise

Going to take a trip back when the lighting is better, hopefully take some less shallow DOF photos and see what other things I can come up with. For some reason I am fascinated with B&W flower photos, the form does it for me, I just need some good contrasting foreground/background shots to make it worthwhile. Trying to create a series of 12