It's been a while...

[schrackman]

since I've posted on the critique forum, but here's one I thought I'd throw in for comments and suggestions. Shot mid-day on my lunchbreak yesterday, custom wb, f/8, 1/1000 (I think), DRebel w/Sigma 28-80 Aspherical lens in macro mode. Photo almost straight out of the camera (sharpening + a bit of levels in ps). Let me know what you think, good or bad.

Ray

[pythag]

I love it!

I'm not normally a big fan of macro shots (most of them look so similar), but this one is so surreal. IMHO everything works a treat, the colour, the DOF. Wouldn't change a thing! (that probably isn't much use to you).

Martin.

[natatbeach]

beautiful colors (is that your middle name? Ray Rich Color ? ;)

I like the composition and the "sunlike.sunrise" appearance but it looks a smidge centered to me...maybe having a bit more breathing room to the left or right my take the stiffnes off for me. I love the amazing details you always have your eyes peeled out for and I love exeriencing nature through your eyes. I firmly believe God designed some of us to be His own personal photo journalists. ;)

[gahspidy]

Ray,
Nothing wrong with this. Very appealing image to look at. The dof is what makes it extra nice as the focus is sharp on the center and then blurs out into fiery colors. Nice job

[mtbbrian]

I think it is a great flower photo Ray, it has a lot going for it.
The repetition of the petals and all the other repeating elements.
The light is good and even.
I don't think you could improve apon this one.
Thanks for posting!
Brian

[skyline315]

since I've posted on the critique forum, but here's one I thought I'd throw in for comments and suggestions. Shot mid-day on my lunchbreak yesterday, custom wb, f/8, 1/1000 (I think), DRebel w/Sigma 28-80 Aspherical lens in macro mode. Photo almost straight out of the camera (sharpening + a bit of levels in ps). Let me know what you think, good or bad.

Ray

the ONLY, and i mean ONLY thing to say about this would be concerning the white portion on the top right. if that were green like the rest, it would be great.

but hey...you can't have everything. nice shot

[Elysian]

if that were green like the rest, it would be great. but hey...you can't have everything

Allow me to comment on this, because I'm quite confused
You don't like an imperfection (in your eyes) and that's why you don't call it 'great' but at the same time you say "you can't have everything". To me that's like you saying "nothing can be great", so can you understand my confusion?

Nature is a lot of organized chaos, it's one of the things that makes it interesting/charming. If you want extreme prefection, draw a circle, at least that's how I look at it.

Good schot Schrakman, nice framing, patterns, color and dof, very well done!
Thanks for sharing it with us.

[skyline315]

Allow me to comment on this, because I'm quite confused
You don't like an imperfection (in your eyes) and that's why you don't call it 'great' but at the same time you say "you can't have everything". To me that's like you saying "nothing can be great", so can you understand my confusion?

Nature is a lot of organized chaos, it's one of the things that makes it interesting/charming. If you want extreme prefection, draw a circle, at least that's how I look at it.

Good schot Schrakman, nice framing, patterns, color and dof, very well done!
Thanks for sharing it with us.

no, i think its a great shot. the angle is great, colors are nice. i also agree with others that dof makes the shot. most macro shots go for clarity throughout, and its a breath of fresh air to see macro shots that have a more selective area of focus.

i was just saying in an ideal world that white area wouldn't have been there, but it's not the fault of the photographer.

the part about if it had green throughout, it would have been great was not meant as "the photograph would be great, but instead its just good." the photo is great either way.

[Elysian]

Yeah, yeah, nice try, you don't fool me!

Especially because you clearly wrote in your first post "Nice shot" and now suddenly you call it a "Great shot".

All I'm trying to say is; don't search for the ultimate perfection in a photograph ;)

[skyline315]

i agree with the last statement there entirely.

just being a critique forum, i felt like i had to find something to talk about ;)

[schrackman]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I really appreciate your constructive input, and is why I've always liked posting in the critique forum.

I agree, skyline, that the white area could be problematic. It is details like this that separate a very good photo from a very great photo. My problem is that when I take a picture like this, I always focus my eye too much on the subject and forget to check the background for such irregularities. So thanks for bringing it up.

Ray