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Jun 17, 2021 14:25:23   #
Hip Coyote
 
I am not an expert in photographing flowers. But here is my 2 cents worth:

The photos seem too soft or out of focus. It has to be precise. I see a ss of 1/30 on one photo...if these are handheld, then you need to check that..and make the ss faster to avoid the movement of he camera. It is also possible that there was a slight breeze? As someone mentioned, if you were shooting a tele, 1/30 wont cut it...too difficult to hand hold at that speed (unless you have a great ibis system.)

Shooting from just one point of view (top down) is boring. Oddly, photographing flowers can be physically demanding...if your get down on knees, under the plants, etc. I can do all that but I have to stand up too which gets a bit tough! My family laughs at me but I wear knee pads in the back yard doing this...it works.

The lighting is all shade. So the entire photo looks washed out. Consider using a real flash, possible off camera flash, to enhance all this. One option would be high speed sync to spice things up.

A top down view of a bunch of flowers is really not going to be well received...consider perhaps focusing on one flower with the rest out of focus? And also consider spicing things up in post by having the one flower (or three) in focus and the rest of the rest of the flowers darker. Try the radial filter in LR or your favorite post processing program. No pp means a dull product, IMO.

On off camera flash might also help you get unusual angles and exposures. A few of my keepers actually had the flash on the ground shooting upwards directly into my camera.

As mentioned, you can diffuse light in some way...tissue paper, etc. I use the mag mod system and like it.

Consider using a macro lens closer up. And try to get inside the flower, maybe some critters inside?

Having some random shadow in the photograph ruins the shot...curate curate curate.

These comments are offered because this is the analysis section where we are trying to get better. So I applaud you for posting here!

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Jun 17, 2021 17:41:26   #
PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA
 
stant52 wrote:
But what I am looking at is the clarity, the detail . Is my focus correct ? Not subject matter . I shoot an assortment of pics, landscapes, car shows, still life, I'm still trying birds but they're never in focus .
Thank you


The clarity, color, detail, and composition looks fine to me. I appreciate flowers, they are part of nature and photographing them at the right time makes them look pretty. As for birds, when in flight, they are difficult to get in focus. That's why I don't take very many bird photos. Keep on shooting and eventually you ill be trying and succeeding in getting those other subjects.

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Jun 20, 2021 12:16:10   #
10MPlayer Loc: California
 
You seem to be asking for advice so I'll chime in. All photography is about the capture of light. Interesting light and shadows. Three critiques of your petunia shot. 1. The light is flat with no shadows. Shadows help to give the image some depth otherwise it just looks flat and two dimensional. 2. Unless you're going for a special effect it needs to be in sharp focus. That means a fast shutter speed if hand held or use a tripod to steady the camera. 3. The petunias are slightly weathered. A beautiful image like you see in magazines will have pristine flowers with no brown spots or bug damage.

I like the colors and the exposure in the last shot of the tiger lilies. It's also in sharp focus as opposed to some of the others. Someone above mentioned less is more. Maybe single out one perfect flower and shoot it from several angles varying the depth of field and lighting. Pick one you like the best.

There's a lot more that goes into the great images you occasionally see here, background, depth of field, bokeh, but the most important in my mind is the light. It needs to be interesting.

JimmyTB wrote:
I'm sure others with more skill and talent than I will comment. But you might try stopping down to a smaller aperture for this type picture. You were at f/5.6 maybe take the same picture at 3 or 4 different f-stops and compare, but then you will lose some of that background blur that you have in the 2nd picture. You might also try a tripod, or if you don't have one try to brace yourself and your camera against something firm and unmoving. Just remember I am at about the same skill level as you so my advice should be considered accordingly.
I'm sure others with more skill and talent than I ... (show quote)


Your advice is good. I'm not a pro either but I know a good photo when I see one and having done a lot of reading on the subject and practiced it for a few years I have some idea what goes into it. Sounds like you do too, Jimmy.

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Jun 20, 2021 19:13:51   #
mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area
 
stant52 wrote:
Looking at all the great pictures on here I have been attempting to obtain a shot as good as what I've seen . So here's a few to scrutinize. THey were all shot hand held and no pp.
Thank you


Some times taking pictures in adverse weather conditions conditions can result in conditions dramatic pictures. Rain falling on one flower, or a bee working on a flower, or wind beating againt a flower, tells a story of the flower fighting the forces of nature. So a variety of factors join together in creating a more complex story of a flower.
I hope this helps. Please ask more specific questions. There are many talented people on this site to assist you. You have the ability to capture a picture using your camera, so that's a good start.
Thanks.
Mundy

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Jul 4, 2021 15:27:03   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
stant52 wrote:
Looking at all the great pictures on here I have been attempting to obtain a shot as good as what I've seen . So here's a few to scrutinize. THey were all shot hand held and no pp.
Thank you


For better critique the setting you used on each would be good. That being said on the fist one depth of field is too shallow and exposure is low. Looks like shutter speed was low also as there seems to be a bit of blur. You could say the same for the 2nd and 3rd also. The 4th image is better than the rest and I think some PP to boost exposure and crop closer to the large center flower would go a long way to improving the image.

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Jul 4, 2021 22:06:37   #
chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA
 
...lots of fine advice, but I'm wondering why you didn't post-process? I would like to see your final product, not the beginning. <shrug> Some slider work in Lightroom or Camera Raw or Luminar or, well, there are lots of 'em...plus some Topaz, and you will see a world of difference in what you've posted.
Oh, the only time *I* use a tripod is if I want to focus stack or HDR, so most of the time I'm hand holding, but I get enough shutter to mitigate movement problems...

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Jul 7, 2021 15:16:48   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
RichinSeattle wrote:
Subject matters. (In fact, I'd say it's the most important factor in getting people to admire your work.) And, the subject of your pix is "pretty flowers." Regardless of how well they're taken, they're ONLY flowers (which I can go into my backyard to peruse in person). Expand your horizons.


Just me, of cource. but I often find a photo. in good light, in good focus of 1 flower has more impact than a grouping of several flowers

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Jul 8, 2021 06:58:10   #
angler Loc: StHelens England
 
Good set.

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Jul 18, 2021 14:50:17   #
via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP
 
stant52 wrote:
Looking at all the great pictures on here I have been attempting to obtain a shot as good as what I've seen . So here's a few to scrutinize. THey were all shot hand held and no pp.
Thank you


I photograph a lot of flowers, mostly wildflowers in the spring as that is what I like best. Ask yourself what YOU like about the flower you are looking at, what specific thing in that subject appeals to you? Try to emphasize that for your viewer to tell the story you want to tell. Isolate the main subject, get as close as possible, emphasize line, color, form, texture in the chosen subject. Get the shot very sharp or softer, as intended by your defined goal. Shoot through the back of a flower into the sun, shoot a flower from down low and close up to define color and texture. There is an art to photography and yet another art to getting flower shots that are appealing and not just another flower. Practice, use one flower and shoot it 20 different ways. Determine is you want a blurred background or a sharp background, again based on your ultimate goal. A good flower shot can be enchanting.

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Jul 26, 2021 14:09:12   #
Brokenland
 
It's all in the timing or time of day when one used the natural sunlight to its fullest.



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Sep 9, 2021 09:59:03   #
Bado Loc: Louisiana
 
Don’t shoot down on flower
Work to get a good background that is very impt
Also wide open helps eye to what is most important
Just a bunch of flowers is boring

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Sep 9, 2021 16:58:15   #
Freight Train
 
B Gardens is a great place to capture flowers, could have spent the whole day there just taking pictures. I love taking pictures of flowers, they hold still, grandkids not so much.

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