Study Group 9

PPriscilla Farrell

Bill Thompson
Brian Swinyard
Beverly Caine
Priscilla Farrell
John Larson
Shaikh Amin

Jantina Tuthill

January      Image - "Phalaenopsis"

How I did it - I received a gift of an orchid recently. After taking a multitude of different views using a variety of different camera settings I am submitting an images asking for your comments or suggestions for improvement. Soft focus was a problem in the beginning of the project. I used a 90 mm macro lens set in aperture priority, with manual focus on a tripod. ISO 100, F13 @1/3 sec. I cropped the image slightly and added a stroke about the edges.

Comments

Bill Thompson A very attractive flower. You are aware of the old advice; never take a picture of a white object. However you have done a good job of getting detail in the white. I feel the real image is the bloom on the left. Maybe one of your other images would concentrate on it. If not you would need very tight vertical cropping on it.
Brian Swinyard Priscilla, this is a visually appealing image with a wonderful range of soft muted colours and detail in the whiter parts of the blooms. I like the way that you have filled the frame with the flowers and arranged them on a diagonal to enhance the overall visual dynamic. However, it is a pity that the right hand side of the picture features a large white partial flower and not a single green stem which would have improved the overall visual aesthetic. Although I like your choice of colour for the stroked line which reflects those on the flowers, I wondered whether a thinner line would have better reflected the delicacy of the flowers. You might think about drawing this stroked line such that one of the petals falls outside the box.
Beverly Caine Beautiful image but on my screen it appears a little soft. You might try playing with sharpening in photoshop to see if it helps.
John Larson Orchids are one of my favorite flowers, but they don't ever seem to come out as sharp as I would like. I think Shaikh is right in my needing to use a longer exposure. I am not real fond of the cutoff flower on the right and I think I would crop as much of it off as I could. Nice colors.
Shaikh Amin You have done well but you could try using f-16 or f-22 with longer exposure that might give you better DOF. I would also remove with Stamp Tool a small portion of flower standing vertically on top of left side. I hope you got my point because my English is not that good!
Jantina Tuthill
 
Member Biography
Priscilla Farrell

My interest in photography began a number of years ago. However, I lost interest for quite some time. About four years ago, upon retirement, I rekindled my interest. I purchased a digital point and shoot camera, registered for a variety of photography classes and joined a camera club.
Presently I have a Canon Power Shot SX 200 and a Canon Rebel SXi. Lenses include a Canon 18-55 and a Tamron 18-270. I particularly like architectural, nature/landscape and travel photography. In the past it has been my thought to "get it right" in the camera. Although I still honor that viewpoint my opinion has changed in regard to post production. I am presently enrolled in a Photoshop Elements class. I am looking forward to being part of a PSA Study Group..