Yup...another flower...lol.

[Ernicus]

Is this too contrasty? I kinda like it but I'm on the fence.

It looked really cool in person...so I tried to capture that cool look.

 

[Joel_W]

Unfortunately, yes it is too contrasty. I've been on vacation this week, and every time out I've had to deal with bright sunny conditions that just ruin my florals.

While these contrasty conditions viewed through our eyes, seem ok, they just don't translate very well into photographs. I've taken to picking locations that have areas of shade, whether it's trees, mansions, or larger bushes, and I've tried using a white umbrella to cast diffused light, which didn't work out all that well. A silk umbrella is my next attempt.

If you can get out for early morning or late afternoon shoots, you're that much more ahead of the game. Unfortunately, here on Long Island, every place I do shoot has restricted hours, mostly opening up at 8:30-9 am and closing between 4-5 pm.

 

[Patriot]

What kind of flower is that if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Ernicus]

Unfortunately, yes it is too contrasty. I've been on vacation this week, and every time out I've had to deal with bright sunny conditions that just ruin my florals.

While these contrasty conditions viewed through our eyes, seem ok, they just don't translate very well into photographs. I've taken to picking locations that have areas of shade, whether it's trees, mansions, or larger bushes, and I've tried using a white umbrella to cast diffused light, which didn't work out all that well. A silk umbrella is my next attempt.

If you can get out for early morning or late afternoon shoots, you're that much more ahead of the game. Unfortunately, here on Long Island, every place I do shoot has restricted hours, mostly opening up at 8:30-9 am and closing between 4-5 pm.

Yeah, weather been crappy so I have not been going out to purposely shoot. These are shots I grab to practice a bit while we go on our daily walk before dinner. Way too bright...but a good time for me to practice crappy conditions.

 

[Ernicus]

What kind of flower is that if you dont mind me asking?

No idea. They are kinda neat. They start out as a ball...and you can see inside a bit, then seemingly overnight they explode open to a huge mess. This one only half opened and the angle I saw it at looked kinda neat.

I shoot them each day, trying different thing on our walks. Here is a few and maybe someone can identify them. I haven't been posting them 'cause each one has something I dont' like with it and they aren't that great. I didn't bother editing or fixin exposure on these etc...'cause they aren't keepers to me.


This is what they look like full open...I didn't edit these 'cause I didnt get the focus I want...they are kinda hard to isolate too as they grow on a bush close together. But it gives and idea on how they explode open.










Here is when they are the size of a baseball or so...and open a bit.







This one gives kinda an idea what the bush is like...







This one I edited to make it look weird.

 

[Joel_W]

I've taken to driving through the more exclusive areas, hoping to find flower beds close enough to the road so I can photograph them. Unfortunately, they're few and far between, and those I've found are covered with grass clipping. A few weeks ago, I did find such a series of beds, and saw the owner tending his upper area beds. I asked if I could photograph them, and he said yes. The light was perfect, as it was drizzling on and off. Got some of the best pictures of the year.

 

[Infidel]

Those are peonies!

 

[Ernicus]

I've taken to driving through the more exclusive areas, hoping to find flower beds close enough to the road so I can photograph them. Unfortunately, they're few and far between, and those I've found are covered with grass clipping. A few weeks ago, I did find such a series of beds, and saw the owner tending his upper area beds. I asked if I could photograph them, and he said yes. The light was perfect, as it was drizzling on and off. Got some of the best pictures of the year.

Coolness. I find that if you can catch someone tending their flowers...they don't mind at all...often are flattered. They like people taking notice of the work they put into their flowers.

 

[Ernicus]

Those are peonies!

Cool, thanks for the identification.

 

[Haya.H]

.


View attachment 10815

I think you should edit this one, i think its a great shot.

 

[cgipson1]

Looks like you are getting a handle on your DOF... looks much better! Now work on the lighting, LOL! It never ends! Believe it or not, a reflector would help here.. as would flash. Or even a diffuser held over the flower to throw some light shade, and cut the contrast a bit.

 

[cgipson1]

What kind of flower is that if you dont mind me asking?

No idea. They are kinda neat. They start out as a ball...and you can see inside a bit, then seemingly overnight they explode open to a huge mess. This one only half opened and the angle I saw it at looked kinda neat.

I shoot them each day, trying different thing on our walks. Here is a few and maybe someone can identify them. I haven't been posting them 'cause each one has something I dont' like with it and they aren't that great. I didn't bother editing or fixin exposure on these etc...'cause they aren't keepers to me.


This is what they look like full open...I didn't edit these 'cause I didnt get the focus I want...they are kinda hard to isolate too as they grow on a bush close together. But it gives and idea on how they explode open.

View attachment 10812








Here is when they are the size of a baseball or so...and open a bit.







This one gives kinda an idea what the bush is like...







This one I edited to make it look weird.

These are all underexposed.. why? Did you do that intentionally? You should be able to get them close to correct exposure in camera... without PP.

 

[Ernicus]

What kind of flower is that if you dont mind me asking?

No idea. They are kinda neat. They start out as a ball...and you can see inside a bit, then seemingly overnight they explode open to a huge mess. This one only half opened and the angle I saw it at looked kinda neat.

I shoot them each day, trying different thing on our walks. Here is a few and maybe someone can identify them. I haven't been posting them 'cause each one has something I dont' like with it and they aren't that great. I didn't bother editing or fixin exposure on these etc...'cause they aren't keepers to me.


This is what they look like full open...I didn't edit these 'cause I didnt get the focus I want...they are kinda hard to isolate too as they grow on a bush close together. But it gives and idea on how they explode open.

View attachment 10812








Here is when they are the size of a baseball or so...and open a bit.







This one gives kinda an idea what the bush is like...







This one I edited to make it look weird.

These are all underexposed.. why? Did you do that intentionally? You should be able to get them close to correct exposure in camera... without PP.

yeah, a lot from that day were underexposed. It seems lately I am having to not trust my in camera meter thingy...as it was in the middle, but when I look on computer they are all underexposed. I have since started checking histogram after each shot to adjust in the field.

 

[Ernicus]

Looks like you are getting a handle on your DOF... looks much better! Now work on the lighting, LOL! It never ends! Believe it or not, a reflector would help here.. as would flash. Or even a diffuser held over the flower to throw some light shade, and cut the contrast a bit.

I actually was reading a post of busksters and I am going to get some small posterboard to carry and practice with reflecting a bit.

 

[Ernicus]

.


View attachment 10815

I think you should edit this one, i think its a great shot.

I'll give it a go and see. I think the reason I didn't want to mess with that one was the loss of focus. I wanted all the inner parts of the flower in focus and I didn't get it.

I have become very hard on myself lately...if it's not "just right" I don't mess with it. I take sooooo many pictures, I don't have time to edit them all, lol. I think on that little walk we took I ended up with 150 pics. It was a 30 minute walk around the block by the river, lol