Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

When the purple blossom emerged, I knew I wanted to capture it against the white of the hydrangea. In my head is the title "homage," which is a clue to my intent after I first opened the image. I created a layer mask to adjust the yellows in the center of the purple flower; I cleaned up some clutter in the leaves and brightened the whites slightly. All of this was in Elements 13 using both raw and the regular editing venue.. All that said, are the purple blossoms in the upper right corner too great a distraction? When I composed the shot I had thought that those blossoms would give some visual movement and counterpoint for the central bloom. Now I think they are a distraction. What are your thoughts?

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Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Not until you mentioned them. I was focused on the blue flower and the white counterpoint. Now I would suggest you remove them.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The image would be stronger with just the center flowers against a solid green background, meaning the upper right, lower right and left side would be removed.

You might look at both your shooting and editing technique. The image has a kind of an overall 'haze'. If you have a filter on this lens for this image, I'd take it off and consider discarding. Or, if you just came outside to summer humidity, assure your equipment is warmed up for at least 30-minutes from the A/C.

Look too at where you've placed your focus point. The stamen (yellow tips of the purple flower) could / should be much sharper when viewed at 100%. Reconsider too your use of f/4. The lens model isn't reported in the EXIF, but your typical 18-200 lens will deliver sharper images stepped-down to around f/8 rather than wide open. Even though the aperture will be smaller when zoomed to a longer focal length, you'll still achieve better isolation of the subject from the background with a longer focal length with the same lens.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

It's fine as is. I would prefer a bit more saturation or tonal contrast of the main blossom, but subtlety and softness may be what you were after.

You actually have several purples in the background. These, being related in color to the pink/purple main blossom, follow the compositional rule of "Unity with Variety." They tie in with the main blossom, but are not so powerful as to upstage it.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

Thanks for looking. You seem to echoe my thoughts.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

Thank you for your comments. As to the second parargraph, the lens is a sigma 18-200, if that means more. Also, I had just gone outside it was humid from the rain the night before, so you are right there. As far as the f4 is concerned, I wanted an f8, but Aperture value mode on my canon wasn't working for me so I switched over to manual and manual focus. I struggled with having to shoot facing south for pov the best pleased me. I made a number of shots with different settings trying to get the exposure right, and this seemed to be the best. But you are right in that I am constantly having to work on my technique. I was using back focus button to try to get the focus right, but the sun again was giving my problems, even though I did want the bright light I was shooting in. The lens filter is something I often forget about, so your remark is particularly helpful as a reminder to check that box when I set up a shot.
I will play with the cuts you suggest, since what you are saying go directly to the heart of my question. Thank you for your insight. I appreciate the extent of your analysis, both in my post and in others, where I have seen your pertinent and concise remarks that really are a help to us.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

I am wary of saturation because I am afraid of over-cooking an image. I probably don't use it where I could because of that diffidence, so what you say may be an area of consideration for me as a more active choice when editing. As to tonal contrast, This is a set of skills Iam still working to improve, so I can only say thank you for your suggestion; I will continue to try to improve in that area. Thank you for your note on the compositional aspect of the image. You saw what I thought was part of my objective, though as I said in my opening and what I think CHG CANON indicated is that what I got is open to question. Thank you for your help.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Glad to help however I can. If the issue was condensation, maybe the filter wasn't the issue, especially if you haven't seen a 'haze' like this in other situations. You'll get the best focus using a single point along with your BFF and AI Servo. I find manual focus works best (and with DLSRs, really only) when I have the camera on a tripod and I focus using LiveView at 100% zoom.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Well worth the $$

https://www.creativelive.com/class/the-art-of-flower-photography-with-kathleen-clemons/lessons/flower-photography-tips?autoplay=true

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I agree with Paul-- all the corner flowers distract.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Agree with these comments especially that it looks soft. Other than retaking the shot I would try some dehaze and add a vignette to focus more attention on the subject.

Stephan G

FWIW. Paul's "explanation" is for, and of, benefit to some of the other readers of the thread. This website is also for the purpose of sharing knowledge for the general betterment of all.

clickety

This has me totally confused, would you please elaborate.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Quite right. Thank you Stephan G.

I have learned a lot from CHG_CANON on this thread.

Some members must realise that we are not all at the same level of photography and members, me included, look and learn instead of always asking questions and be told "why didn't you look that up" or "that question was asked before". If we knew we would not ask.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

I tried adjusting my settings to get a good exposure. The bright sun was giving me a lot of difficulty. At first I set the aperture at f8; the shot was totally underexposed. When I tried to change the time to cut the light it necessitated also changing the aperture, thus getting thee f4 setting. I tried adjusting the iso also, but I could not get a better exposure by any of those changes that I could see.