Remembrance

[Blithe]

I am quite pleased with this one, even though it was blowing in the wind. Could I/should I have done anything differently?

[Pops]

Re: Remembrance

Beautiful composition with the flowerhead at just the right angle. I wonder if the flower wants a bit of a colour boost!

[ekkl]

Re: Remembrance

Hmm. Overall I was thinking it looks a bit dark but that may be due to the border around it....

[Tinka]

Re: Remembrance

Hi Blithe,
Nice composition, A faster shutter speed, wider aperture, (shutter priority is preferable in breezy conditions) or even aperture priority and set a wide aperture, Manual exposure if you have time and/or indoors. Focus on the centre of the flower. the image looks dark and underexposed but is rescuable, but it is better to retake it if you can. I am sure ,more experienced folk will give some more advice. Good luck

[Patrick]

Re: Remembrance

I am quite pleased with this one, even though it was blowing in the wind. Could I/should I have done anything differently?

Very pleasant shot, I like the darkness of the image it sets the mood of a poppy for remembrance day.
But attention to small detail would I believe improve the shot, a bit of gardening would help.
Ask yourself do you need the grass in the corner I think no, it takes the eye away from the flower and causes the viewer to wander about the image.
So do you need that stray leaf by the plant I think not, again something of a distraction.

So here is a version I have cropped to a longer format loosing the grass in the corner. I have then cloned out the leaf.
To focus the viewers attention more on the flower head I have selected with the lasso a rough oval feathered it and lightened the flower head, then reselected and inverted this time darkening. The result as you see is a brighter flower on a even darker background giving the viewer little option but to look at exactly what you want them to look at the beautiful poppy.

Patrick

[Blithe]

Re: Remembrance

Thank you for the comments. I cannot retake the photograph as it was the last poppy that will bloom probably - that is what prompted me to take the pic. The last solitary poppy blowing in the wind is now a poppy head.

Patrick - Thank you for your input, your version is I think what I had in my head. I sometimes feel that I remove too much, but you have proved that in this instance it does throw all the attention on the subject. The quite subtle difference in the shading has improved it also. I liked the overall dark feeling but the poppy face is more luminous now. Thank you for telling me what you did. Back to the drawing board.