An excellent dogwood blossom image. I actually like the composition very much. At first I thought it was a bit one-sided with the blossom so far to the right. But I really like the shallow depth of field and the lighted, soft-focus background on the left. You could crop that lighted area on the left, but then I think that would change the image entirely and make it quite ordinary. I really like what you've captured and presented here.
Michael, I like the blossom but I'm not much a fan of such a major portion of the frame being out of focus especially with the brighter side of the background being at left. Just cropping off the left 40% would be an improvement while preserving some of the leaf/branches. For several years I've found better dogwood material in SNP versus YNP so have been more apt to go there. However the classic dogwood with giant sequoia trunks is somewhat limited as most dogwood grow below Giant Forest. Late May is also a good time to find large dense patches of mustang clover in the that area.
I just returned from a day trip to Giant Forest last night. The dogwoods are indeed at peak bloom, as they usual are around Memorial Day. I'll second David in that the thickest dogwood "groves" are found in the lower Giant Forest; if you're driving the Generals Highway, I'm talking about the area 1/2 mile above and below the Crystal Cave road junction (not on the Crystal Cave road itself, but on the Generals Highway above and below that junction).
A smaller spot with a lot of dogwood, up smack in the middle of Giant Forest proper, is the draw in the hillside across the Generals Highway from the handicapped parking at Round Meadow.
Currently the dogwoods are mostly leafed-out, but the blooms are still fresh and the leaves are not over-dominant. I like it that way. I know that some photographers like it before leafing out, but I find that a little austere. If that's what you're looking for, though, be aware its generally too late for that stage right now.
As long as you'll be in Sequoia National Park, let me put in a plug for the Middle Fork Kaweah River Canyon, down in foothills. Along the Generals Highway, I'm talking about the area between the park entrance up to about 4500 feet. This is fecund right now with late-bloomers like California buckeye (one of my favorite flowering trees) and yucca; the grasses are in the green-to-gold transitional stage; and the river is roaring. This is probably the lushest foothill river canyon in the central and southern Sierra (maybe I'm imagining it, but it even feels more humid, even well away from the river) and is a favorite location of mine from March through June. The madia bloom (a late-blooming yellow daisy-like annual) -- normally at peak about now -- is not so good this year, but otherwise its really nice right now. Good views of Moro Rock and Castle Rocks too.
Appreciate the reminder that the dogwoods are blooming - Big Tree State park is just up Rt 4 from me and I'm going to have to get up there soon.
Impressive detail on the single flower well placed in the frame. Like what you have done with the BG. Looks like a bit of post processing but effective.
Dan the the only post processing performed on this image is a bump in contrast and a bit of sharpening. The background is a result from using a shallow depth of field (f/4).
Camera model:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Focal length:280 mm ( Canon 200mm f/2.8 with 1.4x extender)
Max lens aperture:f/4
Exposure:1/160 at f/4
Flash:Not fired, compulsory mode
Exposure bias:0 EV
Exposure mode:Auto
Exposure prog.:Aperture priority
ISO speed:ISO 400
Metering mode:Pattern
I like the diagonal tension between the flower in the LR third and the high contrast surrounding the leaves in the UL third. I wonder what an image would look like where the camera was swung ever so slightly to the left to hide that brighter branch behind that center grouping of leaves more? That's the only thing I can suggest in terms of this well crafted image. Good stuff!
Discussion
10 repliesMany of the trees in the Giant Forest area are just starting to bloom.
An excellent dogwood blossom image. I actually like the composition very much. At first I thought it was a bit one-sided with the blossom so far to the right. But I really like the shallow depth of field and the lighted, soft-focus background on the left. You could crop that lighted area on the left, but then I think that would change the image entirely and make it quite ordinary. I really like what you've captured and presented here.
Lon
A smaller spot with a lot of dogwood, up smack in the middle of Giant Forest proper, is the draw in the hillside across the Generals Highway from the handicapped parking at Round Meadow.
Currently the dogwoods are mostly leafed-out, but the blooms are still fresh and the leaves are not over-dominant. I like it that way. I know that some photographers like it before leafing out, but I find that a little austere. If that's what you're looking for, though, be aware its generally too late for that stage right now.
As long as you'll be in Sequoia National Park, let me put in a plug for the Middle Fork Kaweah River Canyon, down in foothills. Along the Generals Highway, I'm talking about the area between the park entrance up to about 4500 feet. This is fecund right now with late-bloomers like California buckeye (one of my favorite flowering trees) and yucca; the grasses are in the green-to-gold transitional stage; and the river is roaring. This is probably the lushest foothill river canyon in the central and southern Sierra (maybe I'm imagining it, but it even feels more humid, even well away from the river) and is a favorite location of mine from March through June. The madia bloom (a late-blooming yellow daisy-like annual) -- normally at peak about now -- is not so good this year, but otherwise its really nice right now. Good views of Moro Rock and Castle Rocks too.
Regards,
Scott
Impressive detail on the single flower well placed in the frame. Like what you have done with the BG. Looks like a bit of post processing but effective.
Dan Ryan
Northern California
Camera model:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Focal length:280 mm ( Canon 200mm f/2.8 with 1.4x extender)
Max lens aperture:f/4
Exposure:1/160 at f/4
Flash:Not fired, compulsory mode
Exposure bias:0 EV
Exposure mode:Auto
Exposure prog.:Aperture priority
ISO speed:ISO 400
Metering mode:Pattern
Thanks for the input guys!