Catkins for Critique: What would be your critique regarding this photograph of these pussy willow catkins? Additional comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks. 8-) Photographed at the...

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

What would be your critique regarding this photograph of these pussy willow catkins? Additional comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks. 8-)

Photographed at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York. Settings: ISO 100, 105mm, f/3.2, 1/640 of a second.

Select download for full resolution.

(Download)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Interesting photo, I like it!

The only think I might do a bit different would be to go to a fstop in the 8 - 11 range to keep all of them in focus, as your so close to the subject you would still get a blurred back ground at the smaller hole. You can drop your shutter speed to 1/250 at that focal range to compensate for the smaller fstop.

But again, I like the photo :thumbup:

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Beercat wrote:

Interesting photo, I like it!

The only think I might do a bit different would be to go to a fstop in the 8 - 11 range to keep all of them in focus, as your so close to the subject you would still get a blurred back ground at the smaller hole. You can drop your shutter speed to 1/250 at that focal range to compensate for the smaller fstop.

But again, I like the photo :thumbup:

Thanks for the feedback Beercat. I understand your point regarding the aperture. At the time this picture was taken I was experimenting with a small f/stop to see what results would be obtained by a very narrow depth of field. So although this image might work better at a larger f/stop the aperture setting used was intentional. I wish I had this photograph with the aperture you suggest as comparison. I always seem to be in too much of a rush to find that next photo opportunity rather than concentrate on the one at hand. :D

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Bmac wrote:

Thanks for the feedback Beercat. I understand your... (show quote)

You hit the nail on the head. I often don't check my settings completely and end up being disappointed some times. I did it last night as I was shooting pictures of hummers. snapped a few really nice ones as far as composition only to look after a few that I hadn't changed the focus setting from close to infinity as I was using my 100mm macro. It happens to us all. I'm trying to maintain a pattern. Shoot one to have it in the bag and then experiment on the same subject with slightly modified exposures, it has helped immensely in the learning curve on what exposure settings work under certain conditions.

Have a good day sir

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Beercat wrote:

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Have a good day sir

You too Beercat, and I wish I had hummingbirds around my neck of the woods to photograph. 8-)

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

First of all, Nice shot and I like it, depending on the lens, I also would have shot it @ f/8, most of the time you wont get the creamy background, but it would add some character to the bg.

Let me tell you, you are the artist, it don't mater what other people think, every body is different, They see things in a different way than you do or I do, they see things different in there own eyes and in there own mind, it's ok to get more opinions , but they all could be wrong, Shoot like Bmac likes it.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

HOT Texas wrote:

First of all, Nice shot and I like it, depending o... (show quote)

Thanks as always for your feedback Hot Texas. I do shoot like Bmac thinks he will like it, but sometimes it doesn't turn out that way. This one I do like, but not quite sure why. It seems to have a nice softness about it maybe.

I love hearing what folks have to say.....both good and bad....regarding my photographs. Some comments make me sit up and listen, some I disagree with, and many influence how I view my past photographs and how I will attempt to shoot images in the future. We always learn from opinion or critique, even the occasional rude non-constructive ones. The lesson from the later is how not to critique.

Enjoyed your post. :)

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

This is nice, Bmac. They are always a signal Spring is near, so always glad to see them popping out.

I like your odd-numbered arrangements here, and only thing compositionally I might suggest would be to try to add a third branch or cluster, as that tends to be more pleasing to the eye than groups of two/four/six.

I like the background softened like this, with some good color to make the photo pleasing, as even our 'pink' catkins aren't very pink. Without the green background, you might even consider doing this one in monochrome.

Depth of focus was already mentioned, but all depends on what you want. A nice shot overall.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Treepusher wrote:

This is nice, Bmac. They are always a signal Spri... (show quote)

Thanks very much for taking the time to give a detailed critique Randy. 8-)

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Bmac wrote:

What would be your critique regarding this photograph of these pussy willow catkins? Additional comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks. 8-)

Photographed at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York. Settings: ISO 100, 105mm, f/3.2, 1/640 of a second.

Select download for full resolution.

I like catkins and yours are well-taken,sharp and nice DOF.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

photophile wrote:

I like catkins and yours are well-taken,sharp and nice DOF.

Thank you Photophile. 8-)

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Bmac wrote:

What would be your critique regarding this photograph of these pussy willow catkins? Additional comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks. 8-)

Photographed at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York. Settings: ISO 100, 105mm, f/3.2, 1/640 of a second.

Select download for full resolution.

Love the download Bmac, great shot

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

The download on this is a must...we can see the webs going through the piece yet its not overly sharp destroying the softness of the buds,the soft tri-color background is perfect...maybe a third branch like Treepusher said might have helped but if it wasn't there..it wasn't there!! Overall I think its a great shot!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Gerald Harlow Loc: Chesapeake, VA

Bmac wrote:

What would be your critique regarding this photograph of these pussy willow catkins? Additional comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks. 8-)

Photographed at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York. Settings: ISO 100, 105mm, f/3.2, 1/640 of a second.

Select download for full resolution.

I think it is a great shot Bmac. Very well done. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Singing Swan

Well, see, that just proves art is subjective. My only critique of this would be to remove the little bit of web because to me it mars the otherwise pristine perfection of this shot. The out of focus bits at the top are a bit distracting, but overall I think it's good. I agree with Treepusher too that this would look good as a black and white.