A weed

[dreamy5]

I like this one, but suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

[tegan]

I assume that this was done with flash to create the dark background and contrast, which is very effective. I would have tended to take the flash off the camera and go for side lighting to create a more sculpted, less flat, visual effect. Morning backlighting is also very effective for this kind of shot, particularly with water droplets or a bit of frost on the flower.

For a new enthusiast, it was extremely well done. Don't let my critique dampen your enthusiasm. I have had the benefit of a mother who was an extremely talented photographer and got me into it at a very early age.

Tegan

[dreamy5]

Critique is MOST welcome, the pickier the better. I want to learn and that's the only way.

I'm allergic to flash. (Joke, but I won't use it.) I did hit the contrast some when I got it on screen. Otherwise, cropping is the only alteration.

I'd love to have gotten the fluffiness a bit better, more of a feel for the texture.

I've been shooting since about August. My husband asked me to photograph his guitars and I found it was hard to do well. By the time I shot a few I liked, I was hooked.

I've done a lot of portraits and flowers along with some scenic stuff. I'm branching out now, getting more experimental. A recent attempt I liked is this one, but it still seems there could be improvement.

(Not posting this for critique here...just an example of how I'm branching out.)

[Marko]

This an interesting shot and is well done IMO - Nice Job!

[dreamy5]

Thank you. Part of being a newbie is second guessing yourself. I like this one myself, but second (and third) opinions are helpful.

[miguelcandela]

Hello dreamy5,

Good to know we can be picky.The picture is not bad. I dont like either to use flash so I wouldnt have use it either.

I´m not an expert either and I have only taking pictures (more seriously) about a year or so.
Anyways, I think you need more light so it can be reflected in the water... so it can have even more texture and become more vivid. I also think the background is quite disturbing (the different vertical and horizontal lines). Even though it´s a dark background, it would have been better if it´s entirely black...so we can focuse primarly in the object. Anther idea is to use a colored drink...like red or blue..maybe it would become more attractive the glass.

So basically need to fix two things (if you considere you need to):
- Search for a source of light; natural or artificial
- Find a solid color for the background.

If I was taking the picture myself I probably have approach the object in a different way...different angle (maybe closer?). But that´s the beauty of photography, nothing is wrong or right because each of us perceive things differently.

I hope I have been useful.

[dreamy5]

Oops! First response thought you were talking about the weed. Fixing now.

[dreamy5]

This is an early foray into using natural light. That limited the background since I wanted the light shining through the glass.

I've tried to replicate with artificial light on the black background (I've painted two walls of my house black) but so far haven't gotten the effect yet. In order to mimic sunlight I need a strong but diffused light source I think. Ideas?