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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 176 - Macros >> Challenge 176 - Eligible > Lily
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11-JAN-2009 Rod

Lily

Backyard Brissie oz

I tried the flash & diffuser but I got a flash shadow behind the centre thingy so I ended up using bounce flash off the white patio roof.

Canon EOS 40D ,Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4L IS USM
1/15s f/5.6 at 200.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge12-Jan-2009 22:04
Such a lot of work for such a simple image...but it's certainly worth it, Rod. The soft bokeh is esp. nice, and well placed as well.
--Mary Anne
ctfchallenge12-Jan-2009 18:47
I like them both, but the background is nicer on the one in pending, imo.
-k2
Rod 12-Jan-2009 06:10
Thanks Penny, Carole, Jano, Christakis & Tommy:-) I really like your description of me Jano.."very nice, silky and smooth" & Tommy saying I'm "perfectly free of spots and defects" I'm flattered:-)
ctfchallenge12-Jan-2009 04:13
This one looks good. The plant seems perfectly free of spots and defects - unlike the ones I always seem to find. -tv
ctfchallenge12-Jan-2009 03:45
This is your style Rod... very nice, silky and smooth. Love the lighting. jano
ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 21:00
Penny, I don't think we're really supposed to replace one picy with another, only with a re-edit of the original. We haven't been real strict with this, especially when the picture is almost identical to the original, like this one. It's usually easier anyway to just move the original picture to pending and upload a brand new one and then the exif will be correct. CJ
Guest 11-Jan-2009 20:50
I would re-try it before the sun goes down. I haven't seen the first one but this is defiantly better than the 2nd one.
ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 19:37
thanks.I don't really see the point of being able to replace a picy then unless it's the same one that you've re-worked.
Penny Street
Rod 11-Jan-2009 16:39
Thanks Penny & Carole:-) Yes I'm in two minds about the flash thingy on a flower. Maybe the back lighting on this type of plant didn't work so well or the way I took it was the problem. I'm just not sure about seeing everything so clearly for the mood factor. Anyhow I've at least learnt to consider taking the flash out of the bag now & then.
Penny To show the new exif I just posted this new picy as a new upload & then did a copy & paste of the old comments into the new post (I must have buggered it up a bit) I then changed the order number in the main edit page to put the post where the original one was. The exif never seems to show that flash was used when posted here.
ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 15:18
I like this version better Rod. The darker background contrasts better with the Calla lily and you can now see the details in the spadix. I might brighten this up just a tad and up the contrast a little to bring out the details, but maybe that's just me! :-) CJ
ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 14:30
what's with the comments? And I think I like the first one better.
Also - when updating an image do you know how to get the exif to change to the updated photo? Penny Street
ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 08:34

Rod
I wasn't so worried about the centre thingy being well lit Aamm, it was more the back lighting I was after. Anyhow I ducked outside & got a flash picy & the whites look more even now.
Thanks mate:-)

aam1234
It doesn't have to be a flash mate, you could use a reflector, even as simple as a white piece of paper.

Rod
Oh nooooo surely there's another way......flash on a flower picy........Wot will me neighbours say. OK I will try it again tomorrow afternoon after work using the the fla.......I can't even say it:-)
Thanks all I will give it a go.

ctfchallenge
Really nice comp and background mate, I'd give it a go with the fill flash to see if you can build on this even more- if you can make the time.
~Brent

Christakis
LOL... I didn't want to be the first to say it ;) Me, Rod and flashes go back hehe! Yes Rod try the same exact shot with a flash using it as fill flash. Use M mode and set exactly the same parameters as this shot (Or even use Av mode and let the camera calculate the rest). The long exposure time would ensure you use all this nice ambient light and the flash would take care of the dark area. If the result is too bright try putting some -ve flash compensation and use a diffuser to avoid ugly shadows! Can't wait to see the result :) Will show if I am learning or if I'm a know it all ;)

aam1234
A flash will come handy here.

Christakis
Rod I really like the composition DOF and background. Is that the real colour of the inner lilly (Not the white part; that looks great). It seems to look a little underexposed.
Here's a tip when updating an image go to the image you want to edit and on the top of the page you can find a link "Edit image", when you click on that scroll down on the new page and you will find the the "Upload an image to replace the current image for this image_id." Option, This will preserve comments and titles and captions etc of the previous image.

Rod
I shot it again without the sun on it & think it looks a bit better a.

Rod
Thanks Penny & Kurt:-) I took this one in the morning sun & trying to control the whites has given it a bit of a hard look. I will take another shot of this, this afternoon when the sun is off it.

ctfchallenge
Not comparing the two, I like this one very much. The composition is simple, the white is perfect, and I like the bg. You do a great job with light (but I'm sure you know that).
Penny Street

Guest
I think I like the other one better Rod. This image comes across pretty flat (perhaps the lighting) and not as sharp. - angioman