Thistle On Side of the Road - C&C

cloud9imagery · Aug 13, 2012

This is a photo that was taken to test the lighting but ended up being rather interesting. It is actually the cover of a hardback book in Sweden. I would like to get some C&C so that I can get a better handle on my skill level. Ok, biting my tongue, let me have it! :badangel:

MLeeK · Aug 13, 2012

It's a good solid image with tack sharp focus, great exposure and what appears to be accurate color.
I went to the super size of this to really get a look at it. It's got a DOF that is a bit too shallow. The front side of the thistle is in focus, but not the entire thing. I wish the entire thing were in focus. Because of the shallow DOF the back half of the thistle is beginning to blend into the background.
I wish the background had more separation in the color from the thistle and I probably would have toned down the background just a touch in color to create that separation.
The placement is a little awkward. The thistle is leaning to the left and it's placed to the left of the image. While it's placed fine for rule of thirds, it would have given the feeling that the negative space balanced more if the thistle were placed at the right side of the image.
I'd crop out the thistle to the top edge of the image. It's a distraction.

Now, being as I said those things doesn't make it a BAD image. That's just the things that I'd have done differently or to give the image more impact.

cloud9imagery · Aug 13, 2012

MLeeK said:
It's a good solid image with tack sharp focus, great exposure and what appears to be accurate color.
I went to the super size of this to really get a look at it. It's got a DOF that is a bit too shallow. The front side of the thistle is in focus, but not the entire thing. I wish the entire thing were in focus. Because of the shallow DOF the back half of the thistle is beginning to blend into the background.
I wish the background had more separation in the color from the thistle and I probably would have toned down the background just a touch in color to create that separation.
The placement is a little awkward. The thistle is leaning to the left and it's placed to the left of the image. While it's placed fine for rule of thirds, it would have given the feeling that the negative space balanced more if the thistle were placed at the right side of the image.
I'd crop out the thistle to the top edge of the image. It's a distraction.

Now, being as I said those things doesn't make it a BAD image. That's just the things that I'd have done differently or to give the image more impact.

Thanks MLeek

You definitely have a point about cropping out the one thistle. I will play around with in PS and see what it looks like with more separation.

cloud9imagery · Aug 14, 2012

Ok, I have cropped out the front blurred thistle and lowered the hue/saturation on the background. What do you think?

Tuffythepug · Aug 15, 2012

I might have mis-interpreted the suggestions of MLeeK but I think she may have intended a crop to the top edge and moving the thistle more to the center / right of the frame. depth of field issues are minor but certainly could have been a tad sharper in some areas. I just felt it needed a little adjustment here and there, but otherwise a real nice shot.

There are a number ways to crop this I think. Depending upon what you see as a distraction and what you see as an integral part of the scene.

Hope you don't mind if I take a crack at a pretty severe crop and punch up of color and contrast. Here's what I'd do. Probably not the same as others might treat it but it's still pleasing I think

cloud9imagery · Aug 15, 2012

Nice! Didn't think to crop it into a "macro".

MLeeK · Aug 15, 2012

Well, I didn't think I said to crop part of the thistle itself off. The one on the top of the image, yes, but... And you got some separation but you really intensified the green of the background. How about a little less saturation... I'll be back. Visuals to come