Newbie first posting: After monitoring posts for several months I'm submitting for discussion an attempt at a still life. The first image is of imitation flowers shot from about 10...

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

After monitoring posts for several months I'm submitting for discussion an attempt at a still life.
The first image is of imitation flowers shot from about 10 feet above using a Canon T6s, Tamron 70-300, at /16, 1/10 sec, ISO 6400
The second image is real flowers shot from the same location and camera/lens, at f/5.6, 150/sec, ISO 6400
both are 3 image composites merged in HDR Pro in PS and enhanced slightly with NIK Color Efex Pro4.
I like the first one best but don't remember exactly what affect I used. DUH!

(Download)

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice work!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice work!

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Great captures, and welcome aboard.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

Very nice. Particularly love the first.

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Thanks for your reply.
Both images were shot from my loft, down to the flowers on a dining room table, with the same lighting, camera and settings.
Don't understand why the first came out so much crisper than the second? Will have to look carefully at the EXIF data and try to figure it out. I would like to get results similar to #1 again.

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Thanks for looking and the comment.

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Thanks!

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Forgive me for being the odd man out here but I do not care for your second photo. You had asked for a discussion and others did what is usually done here on UHH, gave comments as great capture, well done etc. the second photo really is too soft regarding focus. I am not sure where the focus is exactly because I was unable to find much that looked to be in focus, possibly the tiny bluish flowers. The composition is also sort of gaudy to my eyes with no central theme of what the photo is supposed to be about.

I do like the first photo as far as focus is concerned but I think you might have done better with fewer flowers for a stronger photo.

I do see great potential in your photos and I urge you to keep practicing.

Forgive me if I sound harsh but I don’t see much good from telling someone, especially a new person that their photos are great when they are not.

Dennis

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

wham121736 wrote:

After monitoring posts for several months I'm subm... (show quote)

First welcome, secondly very nice shots
Fran

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Dennis, I agree that "great capture, well done, nice, etc." might help the ego, but where needed do nothing to help us improve our work. I could not,or was unwilling to pinpoint what I felt was missing in the second photo. Thanks for the input. I will look at the exif data and reshoot with the view of getting everything in focus. Thanks.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

wham121736 wrote:

Dennis, I agree that "great capture, well done, nice, etc." might help the ego, but where needed do nothing to help us improve our work. I could not,or was unwilling to pinpoint what I felt was missing in the second photo. Thanks for the input. I will look at the exif data and reshoot with the view of getting everything in focus. Thanks.

You might want to use focus stacking when you have a subject like the second which appears to have more depth than the first. HDR is more suited to multiple shots where the exposure is different for different distance in the photo while focus stacking is helpful in handling shallow depth of field situations. I would like to see you try a new set of shots of #2 using that technique.
Bud

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Bud,
Thanks for the suggestion. The flowers in #1 have a depth of about 8" while #2 have a depth of about 13", so DOF may be the problem. I will look at the EXIF data and check DOF table. I have never done focus stacking but will look into it.

WF2B wrote:

You might want to use focus stacking when you have a subject like the second which appears to have more depth than the first. HDR is more suited to multiple shots where the exposure is different for different distance in the photo while focus stacking is helpful in handling shallow depth of field situations. I would like to see you try a new set of shots of #2 using that technique.
Bud

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

wham121736 wrote:

Bud,
Thanks for the suggestion. The flowers in #1 have a depth of about 8" while #2 have a depth of about 13", so DOF may be the problem. I will look at the EXIF data and check DOF table. I have never done focus stacking but will look into it.

What f stop did you use for your second photo? If your lens was open to a lower f stop, maybe f2.8, you could just close down the lens to perhaps f8 or f11 for a greater depth of field. That is, more of the photo would be in focus.

Dennis