Sayen Gardens

[qmr55]

Got out to a local garden park this past weekend and tested the waters with some flower photography, tried a bunch of different stuff both on site and in post processing. Always open to c&c, let me know what you think!

1. Flower - Sayen 2 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

2. Flower - Sayen 3 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

3. Flower - Sayen by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

4. Flower - Sayen 5 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

5. Flower - Sayen 7 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

6. Flower - Sayen 4 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

7. Flower - Sayen 6 by Sam LaMothe, on Flickr

 

[qmr55]

No critiquing at all? I always look forward to your guys tips, so I can be better next time!

Or are they just that bad

 

[WesternGuy]

Very nice flowers - one of my favourite subjects.

Comments: 1) I would clean up the "spots" on the white flowers in 1,4 and 5. They may look natural in "nature", but in an image, they often look like spots on the sensor. 2) Personally, I try not to place single flowers directly in the centre of the image. I like to more them a bit off centre, but that is just me and what I have learned about flower portraits. 3) be a bit careful of cropping. 3) Here, you have cropped a "child" bud very close to the top of the frame If it is part of the "parent" then I will often try and include it, if you are going to crop it, then you may want to consider cloning it out of the picture - your choice. Numbers 4 and 6 have a similar situation, IMHO.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

 

[qmr55]

Very nice flowers - one of my favourite subjects.

Comments: 1) I would clean up the "spots" on the white flowers in 1,4 and 5. They may look natural in "nature", but in an image, they often look like spots on the sensor. 2) Personally, I try not to place single flowers directly in the centre of the image. I like to more them a bit off centre, but that is just me and what I have learned about flower portraits. 3) be a bit careful of cropping. 3) Here, you have cropped a "child" bud very close to the top of the frame If it is part of the "parent" then I will often try and include it, if you are going to crop it, then you may want to consider cloning it out of the picture - your choice. Numbers 4 and 6 have a similar situation, IMHO.

Hope this helps.

WesternGuy

Awesome, that is great advice! All things I did not even think of. Thank you for that, I am going out to shoot another set tomorrow and I will consider all of that advice while shooting and while PP.

Thanks

 

[Peeb108 4]

I liked 1,3& 4 the best. Your subject in #2 was a bit past its prime. Nice set!

 

[qmr55]

I liked 1,3& 4 the best. Your subject in #2 was a bit past its prime. Nice set!

Thanks Peeb!

 

[qmr55]

@WesternGuy thanks again for the tips, got out to shoot again today and I think it really helped! I will hopefully get a chance to edit them early this week and post a few.

 

[WesternGuy]

@WesternGuy thanks again for the tips, got out to shoot again today and I think it really helped! I will hopefully get a chance to edit them early this week and post a few.

You are very welcome. Looking forward to seeing your next set of images.

WesternGuy

 

[birdbonkers84]

I really like the first one, the obvious contrast between the white and black of the background really makes it stick out for me, but also the imperfect petals.

The others feel slightly dark? It's a nice set and look forward to seeing more.

 

[jcdeboever]

Nice set. I try to keep the ground out of my shots. That forces me to capture them at different angles which usually makes them more interesting.

Nothing really wrong with these.

Think outside the box... backside of flower views, different angles, bring spray bottle of water, small powerful led light or phone flash light, to name a few things.

Shoot a flower with a long telephoto lens.

Shoot a flower with a portrait prime lens.

Go out and shoot just three flowers. Prior to going, set your self some goals, write them down and bring with you. Example; first flower, must be red, 85mm lens, capture backside, capture horizontal, capture looking up, bring mirror, bring high lumen led light, bring spray bottle, bring stiff hardware rod and gaffer tape to position led light, bring tripod with remote. My goal is to capture this red flower with a unique perspective, utilizing rule of thirds, and to expand the possibilities of my personal creativity.