Flowers

Canon 20D, kit lens, circular polarizer on the dandelion shot.

I think I might have had this camera 3 days when I shot this. (I'm a newb to DSLR). Comments and suggestions welcome.

All except #3 are much too centered. Too "centered" is usually considered as less than ideal in composition because it is "static". When you have balance between objects of different weight in different areas of the image the eye will ping-pong around in a loop taking it all in. When the composition is too static the eye lands on the center and has a tendency to stay there - at least that's what they taught me in Composition 101

#3 is also too centered, but it's busy enough to get you going!

Very nice colors, exposures and color balance. Depth of focus is also good in each.

Very nice!

Welcome to the roughest corner of the POTN.

Agree with Bob..the detail in the first flower is fabulous!

While I agree with Bob and Flo, I'm not really bothered by centrally placed flower shots as much as most photographers.

I like #1, #3, and #4 very much. #2 not so much. #1 is my favorite even if it is centered. It is very strong technically.

Where's the dandelion? The first one is a daisy. Then there are two roses and a lily.

joedlh wrote in post #5739758
Where's the dandelion? The first one is a daisy. Then there are two roses and a lily.

Ooops.

I'm a car guy - so this shouldn't surprise you, lol.

These are all nice flower shots, the background hurts all of them.
If it doesn't "Present" the subject, it needs to disappear.
Good start, try using some dark construction paper to isolate your flowers.

DAMphyne wrote in post #5741742
These are all nice flower shots, the background hurts all of them.
If it doesn't "Present" the subject, it needs to disappear.
Good start, try using some dark construction paper to isolate your flowers.

Interesting approach. I'll have to give that a try next time.

The first shot is by far the best. I think the one thing I would change there is I would simply crop it in a bit more using either a 4x6 or 5x7 format, etc. (depending on if and how you intend to print). Rather than explain it, lemme just show ya...

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Walczak Photo wrote in post #5745266
The first shot is by far the best. I think the one thing I would change there is I would simply crop it in a bit more using either a 4x6 or 5x7 format, etc. (depending on if and how you intend to print). Rather than explain it, lemme just show ya...

Doing it this way follows the rule of thirds and (IMHO) makes for a better composition. Here's another take on the same image...

Again this follows the rule of thirds and works just as well as the portrait format. While I used 4x6 to demonstrate here, If you were going to print this you could do the same with 5x7, 8x10, etc..

Now as to the other shots, first 2,3, and 4 all seem a little dark on my monitor...I'd check your levels adjustments at the very least. On #2, I think a tighter crop such as I just demonstrated would help but I think a fuller bud would have helped even more. #3 is interesting but the focus looks off to me. I think more DOF would have been in order here. #4, I really don't care for the angle of the flower in this shot. Here it looks as though you were standing right over the top of the flower shooting down at it. I think shooting it at an angle similar to your first shot would have worked much better.

As DAMphyne said, it's a good start. Looks to me like you are going in the right direction and as with all things, practice makes perfect.

Peace,
Jim

Thanks for the tips! On the second pic, I had the aperture wide open and only one of the "stamens?" were in focus. If I would have backed off a little, maye 6 more inches, closed up the F stop some - I think it would have made a better pic.