abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Canon 80D, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 at 147 mm, 1/80, f/16, ISO 100, tripod, Lightroom. Difficulty with getting the highlights right in UHH. Also posted in Close-up Photography.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

You captured a lot of nice detail in this beautiful flower. Wondering if you'd consider a square crop, removing the stuff on each side that doesn't add to the composition IMO (see example below).

If you spend time in close-up forum, you will see many many flower shots (in fact, I posted some this morning - lol), just as you will in Gallery.

So, while flower photos can be very pretty and very enjoyable to view, you are dealing with the been there, done/seen that frame of mind regarding impact (will I remember this tomorrow? Does it inspire me?).

Compare the potential impact of flower photos with dramatic lighting or unique composition. One UHH user whose flower photos are well worth studying, IMO, is Dixiegirl:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=19532

As a straight documentary shot, this is very nicely done.

(Download)

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Good suggestions. I will look at the close-up forum. I rather not do the Gallery because the comments tend to be less insightful. Having grown up on 120, I am a square kind of guy. I think it is a great format but not for this shot. I want it to "breathe" more on the sides.

You are right in that this is a pretty conventional, straight forward shot. While not dramatic, I like the delicacy and details of the petals and droplets. I wanted to document that. That was the technical challenge. The artistic one was to highlight the flower from the background.

Thanks for commenting.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

There are many regulars in both close-up and Gallery who can offer valuable feedback; the trick is to ask, and to ask with detailed questions.

But my bringing up those forums was just as a point about how many flower photos are out there - if you are interested in competing for attention

I agree that you met your technical challenges very well.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Not interested in competing for attention. Just want to share one of my guilty pleasures and learn from any comments. In other posts, I have asked specific questions.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I am having a hard time explaining myself this morning, aren't I - lol. One of the hazards of being first to comment in a topic and not knowing exactly what facet the OP is looking to discuss, e.g. artistry, technical, perspective, lighting, pp.

"Competing for attention" - meaning having your photo stand out as uniquely seen and captured, rather than purely documentary. What makes the viewer linger over the photo, remember it and be inspired by it.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Quite to the contrary. I think I understood you clearly and thought you were helpful. Nothing to apologize for. I was not looking for something unique but merely something pretty. Inspiring someone else was not on my agendum but if it does, than so much the better. Let us not overthink this.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

A technically lovely shot and if that was your goal then you have been 100% successful. We all want different things from our shots so although this would not suit me as a piece of work to show their is a large segment of the population who will love it and appreciate your care and expertise in what is a fine capture.
For me it would be the beginning of the creative process not the end result but I would hasten to add please do not attempt to get your brain to be as dysfunctional as ol' Billy's. It is the downward facing path to rack and ruin!
You said you wanted something pretty, you have that, job well done.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Billy, my brain is probably more dysfunctional than yours and straight photography is my way of setting it straight. My personal mentor was a photographer from the 30's, 40's and 50's when the art form was pretty primitive from the technical and artistic standpoints. People strove for technical perfection: sharpness, wide tonal range, vivid colors and the rest. I inherited that mindset and am so thrilled how much better technical photography is today. That is why some contemporary interpretations are not my cup of tea. Many use today's tools as ends in themselves rather than have solid artistic visions. That is their choice and that is ok with me.

I set my goal for this shot in Lightroom, not the camera. I did not see the potential until it was up on the screen and that was to convey serenity seasoned with a few rain droplets. I wanted to delight in the subtle whites and slight shadows of all those gorgeous petals. And finally, next winter when I have six inches of snow covering my garden, I can look back at this picture so I can look forward to another glorious spring with beautiful flowers.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

A pretty flower indeed. And who doesn't love raindrops on a flower? Well captured for the delicacy of detail and color.

It is a trifle heavy in the shadows for my taste, with more pure blacks than I'd think would be visible than in "real life". I'd be inclined to lift the shadows a bit and leave slightly less pure blacks. Of course this could be a trick of UHH, there are many that confound me.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Gorgeous. You exposed it perfectly to get just the right amount of shadow and still retain that creamy white look that is so appealing. I might try to blur out the background in photoshop.
Erich

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Thank you Erich. Even though the exposure was very good, I worked it a bit in LR to bring out the edges of the petals. Otherwise, they would have looked washed out. Good observation about the background. I stopped down to f/16 to make sure all the petals would be in focus. The price I paid for that is less bokeh. However, I deemphasized the background with a little negative vignette. Alas, the compromises we photographers have to make!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Very nice image,
After reading Linda's comments, She covered it all. All I can say is the lighting seems just a little harsh and a little bright. Just a little

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

You are right because there may be a few things going on here. First, the difference between monitors. Next, exporting from LR to jpg. If I had posted three versions, each 1/3rd of a stop different, then you would have found the right one except possibly for the last point. Lastly, toning down those highlights may have darkened the edges of the petals too much. Ah, photography is just like life: full of compromises.

Good observation and thanks for responding.