Cherry blossoms

[Grissi]

Hi there!

First I want to thank you all for maintaining this wonderful photography forum. I just love this site.

I've been taking pictures for about four months, and I've always known whether i like my photos or not. A couple of days ago, i took this shot, and I'm not completely sure...


Some exif-data perhaps, for your convenience: ISO 200, f/4, 1/2000 sec, 400D with kit lens @ 27mm, aperture priority at 0EV.
PP: Slight sharpening and a boost in blue saturation

I suppose there is too much background in the section below the flowers, and I've tried to crop the picture to just above the start of the roof of the building in the background, and it looks much more harmonious. But i really want to hear what you think about it.

And any tips,advice on composition and/or just plain honest critique, would
be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[LeuceDeuce]

Hi Grissi welcome to the forums, and specifically to Critique Corner,

I'm gonna have to say that I think you were too late to get the cherry blossoms this year.

Since you're not going to get a frame full of pink and white blossoms, fill it with a small cluster. Get as close as you can to the blossoms, and make sure they're not backlit like they are here.

Again, welcome and keep on posting!

[tonybear007]

Do you have any other lens besides the 50mm kit lens?

The reason for asking is, it would have been better to show less background and more of the image with a telephoto lens.

If the focus of the image is the "cherry blossoms" then it would have been better to get closer or make the image more prominent by using a telephoto lens (e.g 200mm or 300mm).

Also the image is a bit dark and could use more lighting.

[Robert_Lay]

Originally Posted by tonybear007

Do you have any other lens besides the 50mm kit lens?

The reason for asking is, it would have been better to show less background and more of the image with a telephoto lens.

If the focus of the image is the "cherry blossoms" then it would have been better to get closer or make the image more prominent by using a telephoto lens (e.g 200mm or 300mm).

Also the image is a bit dark and could use more lighting.

I would not take issue with your suggestions - they are all quite good points.

However, note that the 50 mm lens is a prime lens, not the kit lens. The kit lens that typically comes with the XTi is the 18 to 55 mm zoom lens with 1:3.5 - 5.6 aperture. So, yes, Grissi could have used a longer focal length, if so inclined.

For me the issue is that there is not a clear view of the one blossom being singled out. That seems to hurt the image for me more than anything else.

[tonybear007]

I would not take issue with your suggestions - they are all quite good points.

However, note that the 50 mm lens is a prime lens, not the kit lens. The kit lens that typically comes with the XTi is the 18 to 55 mm zoom lens with 1:3.5 - 5.6 aperture. So, yes, Grissi could have used a longer focal length, if so inclined.

For me the issue is that there is not a clear view of the one blossom being singled out. That seems to hurt the image for me more than anything else.

Point well taken Bob.

I wanted to give a longer and more detailed explanation but opted for a quick one which probably did not come off very well.

But yes, a better image would be one that fills the frame and is a bit clearer to the viewer. A bit too dark and the "extra" distractions hurt the original idea of showing cherry blossoms.

So Grissi, get close whenever possible, fill the frame or at least include anything that will only enhance the image and make sure there is enough light; if not use a flash.

[Grissi]

Thanks for tips and comments, i really appreciate them. Here is the crop i talked about. I like it much more.



As I see it, the greatest problem, is that the blossoms are facing the sun, and not the camera. And i probably should have used some fill flash too.

The blossoms wasn't more than about six feet above ground, so i easily could have gotten closer if i wanted to, but i tried to include the building behind, which wasn't very successful.