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Does this shot work?

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 23, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Does this shot work?
While hiking/shooting today, I came across these flowers with what I hoped would be a nice backdrop(the tree). I shot a bunch of pictures and while doing so, the bee came in to feed.
Now that I've processed the photo (lots of cropping), I don't know if the tree makes for a good backdrop, or if the bee adds or subtracts anything from the shot. Or...should I just toss the whole thing?
Opinions?
Posted by Jody Grigg on June 23, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Nothing looks like it is in focus to me, the foreground flowers left/right side blend in too much with the background flowers IMO.
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 23, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Thanks, Jody.
The focus point was on the flower the bee is on. The full-size image looks OK on my monitor...I think the compression I did to get it small enough to fit here may have caused the fuzziness...or I could be wrong.
Posted by Paul Martin on June 23, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Bob,
I think I know what you were going for on this shot, however I think the background needs to be more blurred than it is, or everything needs to be sharp -- this is kinda in between. I'm not sure what aperture you used but, something wide like f/2 might have been what the doctor ordered. As it is, I think the darkness of the tree trunk is a distraction.
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Thanks Paul!
I believe I was shooting at f/8 @105mm...
Posted by Jamie Botdorf on June 23, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I like the idea, Bob. But if the focus is the bee on the flowers on the left, it might be stronger to crop everything else out...I think the rest is just distractions from what you want the viewer to see. If you have the resolution, try cropping down to just the flowers on the left with the bee. The tree background might still be a bit dark but I think the comp would be stronger. Just a thot. A+ for noticing the scene and giving it a go!
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 24, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Jamie, is this what you had in mind? I left in the yellow flowers at the bottom for a bit more color, but can crop them out, too.
Thanks!
Posted by Richard Hartmann on June 24, 2009 at 1:25 AM
Nice going Bob.

I think the crop looks great and the yellow flowers in the bottom right add a nice splash of color in the right spot.
Posted by John Mumaw on June 24, 2009 at 7:50 AM
That crop made all the difference in the world here.
All the distractions are gone now. I like the inclusion of the yellow flowers quite a bit.
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 24, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Thanks John, and Richard. I knew there was a good shot in there somewhere! :smile:
Posted by Jamie Botdorf on June 25, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Nicely done, Paul! That is what I had in mind. Now I think the bee is the star of the show!
Posted by Kelly Black on June 28, 2009 at 2:09 AM
Hi Bob,
Your rework is much better.