Lily with REPOST

Gallery: FloraPosted March 25, 2010129 views16 comments

Oregon Trout Lily, I shot this lily grouping yesterday while out experimenting with a new lens. The focal point is the bloom in the lower left and I'm aware of the the OOF blooms and short DOF. I would welcome any suggestions on shooting this arrangement and improving sharpness.... increase distance and then crop? The lens I'm using is a canon 100mm F2.8L IS USM. Thanks for your suggestions!

REWORKED AND POSTED IMAGE BELOW, "THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS!"

canon 7D
canon 100mm F2.8L IS USM
tripod, ball head, shutter release

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on March 25, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Craig, another possibility might be to add some canvas around these lilies.

I think for the future, there are many options. One idea would be to bracket your exposures so that you have the identical scene with identical POF but at varying f-stops. Another idea would be to experiment shooting a grouping such as this from different angles, and a third idea might be to get even closer to the object and fill the canvas with the blooms. Lots to try.

Regards,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on March 25, 2010 at 12:19 PM

Nice isolation Craig. The colors in the lilies are great. Nicely composed!

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Bernie Kasper on March 25, 2010 at 4:48 PM

Wonderful image Craig, love the color and your presentation !!

Registered on June 5, 2005, 251 Posts, 3734 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 25, 2010 at 5:50 PM

Craig: This DOF/POF choice works for me. My suggestions for improvement would be to clone the relatively bright line exiting the right side of the frame just above center and I wish the OOF bloom above the main bunch wasn't there. That would be a tough clone job so not sure how to remedy that. The OOF elements partially obscured by the FG flowers don't bother me at all. Stacking is an option and also try using your DOF preview with different settings. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on March 25, 2010 at 6:58 PM

The DOF works fine for me; aside from adjusting your aperture you can try different focal points and then blend them in CS4 if you've got that (which works ok, usually). But like I said, I like this just fine as-is. I might take just a hair off the top.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 25, 2010 at 9:14 PM

Many thanks for the critiques and suggestions. Here is a repost after adding canvas on each side, taking a bit off the top and cloning out some distracting OOF blooms and greenery. I really appreciate the ideas as I like the "new and improved" image.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Borzynski on March 25, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Repost is a huge improvement. It almost doesn't look like the same image and the eyes are very clearly drawn to the point of interest (the flower) and not towards the background like in the original.

I'd probably put a bit less space, maybe 3/4's, at the top but that is more my style that a real criticism.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 109 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on March 25, 2010 at 10:28 PM

I really like the repost Craig, your efforts really paid off. Good job.

Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Steven M Kahn on March 25, 2010 at 11:54 PM

Craig, the re-post rocks. Just wondering did you clone out, or use plug-ins to help? I could see a couple of plug-in's that might have facilitated the cleaning up - Viveza, Nik Color Efex 3.0, Bokeh. Of course, your retouching worked too. Sweet.

I just got the 100mm F/2.8 Macro L IS lens. I am so lovin' it. Enjoy your new lens.

Registered on July 20, 2009, 140 Posts, 1198 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 26, 2010 at 1:16 AM

Steven, I just plain cloned out the unwanted stuff, I use a wacom tablet to make cloning easier. I am not familiar with "plugins" to do that or how they work. Thanks for the comment.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on March 26, 2010 at 9:35 AM

Nice job on the repost. I like the composition

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 26, 2010 at 9:56 AM

Craig: Many thumbs up on the repost. Really good cloning work

. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on March 26, 2010 at 3:54 PM

Yes, really a good work in the repost, Craig. The dark, clean BG enhances the delicate colors of the flowers. I love those wilde lilies. We don't have this type here. Thanks for sharing.
Take care.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on March 27, 2010 at 4:35 PM

Good job on the repost, Craig, beautiful, so delicate looking, well done.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 28, 2010 at 9:43 AM

Beautiful grouping. Very well done.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 28, 2010 at 5:01 PM

Hi Craig

The repost is marvelous. The recloning makes this a winner.

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments