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This is a simple Lobelia taken in my garden shortly after I got my camera last Summer. It is my first attempt at something like this on EPZ and would welcome any mods. or suggestions that could enhance a basic shot like this. It is just as it came out of the camera
| Brand: | Panasonic |
| Camera: | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 20 Jul 2012 - 5:09 PM |
| Focal Length: | 4.5mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/2.8 |
| Aperture: | f/4.0 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/200sec |
| Exposure Comp: | +0.33 |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Exposure Mode: | Program AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | Off, Did not fire |
| White Balance: | Auto |
| Title: | Lobelia |
| Username: | 
mauriceegan |
| Uploaded: | 6 Feb 2013 - 12:42 PM |
| Tags: | Close-up / macro, Flowers & plants |
| VS Mode Rating |
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| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
Comments
Quite nice. It could do to be a bit crisper. When shooting with plenty of time, use camera support if possible, a tripod. Then manually focus with care. Here on the flower centre. Use a small aperture for best depth of field and chose a perfect bloom, or clone in any petal defects later.
Paul
A lovely photo !!
Thank you all for your comments much appreciated. Tish you are right, just checked with my wife who is the gardener in our house and she tells me it is Bizzie Lizzie, shows how much I know about flowers 
Maurice
Yes a nice picture. Good colours.
Because of the camera angle the main subject looks flat.
Like a human face flowers often better and more interesting photographed from an angle rather than full face. These flowers have some pleasing curves to their petals as seen top right.
Try and include all of the flower well within the frame rather than having a bit touching the edge.
As regards the composition try to have just one flower in the frame or at least in focus, this directs the viewer to the main subject.
Look at the plant from different angles to see if one flower stands alone, consider the background, out of focus or plain as possible. A lot of flower photographer when taking a flower portrait place a plain card behind the flower.
Sometimes one flower in focus on a full plant can be interesting.
Best of all study other flower photos, there are some brilliant ones on this site.
regards
Ian
Your Exif says AE, but you tag this as Macro, Maurice, and so I am wondering if you used the macro setting on your camera for this.
You certainly got nice and close, and have focused on the centre of the flower. You have a very shallow depth of field, with the outside of the petals not so sharp. It all depends upon your intention, of course, but a smaller aperture/higher f-stop would have given you more of the flower in focus. Although this gives you a greater depth of field, it also gives you a slower shutter speed, for which you might need a tripod or some kind of support for your camera, to avoid movement. Experiment with your shooting distance, taking shots of just the centre of the flower or try changing the position of the flower to shoot it on a slight angle.
Ian has made some good points, leaving little else to say. However, it's important in flower photography to either shoot a part of the flower or the whole of it, as here, and to keep all of the petals inside your frame.
Compositionally, if you can avoid including other flowers in your frame, so much the better, as they tend to distract the eye from your main subject. A little bit of judicious "gardening" pays off, just moving others out of the way. An alternative is to have two or three flowers together in your frame, possibly overlapping, as it adds depth and interest. Including foliage is a good idea, as it's quite natural and yet not distracting.
Try to get your flowers photographed when they are at their absolute best, and avoid any damaged ones.
Some flowers look better shot straight on and others straight down, it all depends on the flower, and the best way to find out is to experiment.
Pamela.
Two people say they cannot advise. You can. Does it seem sharp enough to you? Could it be better composed? Would you do anything different.?
Beginner or advanced, you do have an opinion and this is where to say it. You don't need to be an expert to have an opinion. If you cannot recognise un-sharp images, those incorrectly exposed etc. How are you going to improve.
Paul
Quote: Your Exif says AE, but you tag this as Macro, Maurice, and so I am wondering if you used the macro setting on your camera for this.
You certainly got nice and close, and have focused on the centre of the flower. You have a very shallow depth of field, with the outside of the petals not so sharp. It all depends upon your intention, of course, but a smaller aperture/higher f-stop would have given you more of the flower in focus. Although this gives you a greater depth of field, it also gives you a slower shutter speed, for which you might need a tripod or some kind of support for your camera, to avoid movement. Experiment with your shooting distance, taking shots of just the centre of the flower or try changing the position of the flower to shoot it on a slight angle.
Ian has made some good points, leaving little else to say. However, it's important in flower photography to either shoot a part of the flower or the whole of it, as here, and to keep all of the petals inside your frame.
Compositionally, if you can avoid including other flowers in your frame, so much the better, as they tend to distract the eye from your main subject. A little bit of judicious "gardening" pays off, just moving others out of the way. An alternative is to have two or three flowers together in your frame, possibly overlapping, as it adds depth and interest. Including foliage is a good idea, as it's quite natural and yet not distracting.
Try to get your flowers photographed when they are at their absolute best, and avoid any damaged ones.
Some flowers look better shot straight on and others straight down, it all depends on the flower, and the best way to find out is to experiment.
Pamela.
Good advice..
Dave
Thanks for the many comments and suggestions they are greatly appreciated. This was one of the very first photos I took when I got my camera and had very little knowledge at the time. I will take all of the suggestions on board and put them to good effect. It has been a very valuable learning experience for me Thank you all again.
Regards
Maurice
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