Unknown plant - critique please, ID if you know!

All,

My first critique asking for help. Digital Rebel XT, Tamron 28-75 XR Di lens. 75mm focal length, Av mode. f/5.6 aperture, 1/400 shutter, ISO 200, EC 0. Photographed in RAW mode, only post processing is resize and RAW to JPEG conversion. Any help appreciated, thanks very much!

B.W.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

This is kind of an average shot for me. The exposure looks ok, maybe a little too bright on the highlights, top left of main flower. Could you have used fill in flash to remove the harshness in the shadows, along the leaves?

Composition is kinda ok. I would say either walk in closer to the main plant and fill the frame or zoom out and capture the whole field. Try positioning the flower, further off centre at this zoom.

The DOF with F5.6 makes some of the front flower, soft. Why ISO 200? With ISO 100 you could have decreased the shutter speed and increased the aperature for a little more sharpness through the flower.

Try taking the picture from another position instead of "straight on". Try from above, or with such a large stem on the flower, from below. Also try F5.6 at a much closer distance, isolating one of the buds maybe?

With flora and fauna, filling the frame is usually the best approach. Mine isn't a good picture but filling the frame does help.

For your first post/critque, I do think you have done well. Keep it up and good luck.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Can't add anything to above, but the plant looks like a pieris to me
You're braver than me - I haven't tried for critique yet.
Well done