Roses at Dawn no edits/converted from RAW
© Susan M. Reynolds
PRO Website: simplydivinephotography.com
Uploaded: August 17, 2010
Exif: F Number: 2.8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/2000 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: NIKON D200
Susan M. Reynolds
August 17, 2010
Susan M. Reynolds
August 17, 2010
Susan M. Reynolds
August 17, 2010
Susan M. Reynolds
August 17, 2010
Dale Hardin August 17, 2010
Good morning Susan. You've given us a very nice image to welcome our day. The light at dawn is my favorite. This is a lovely grouping and you've selected a pleasing POV.There are too many examples to comment on them all so instead will make suggestions that could be applied to them all, or any image of this type. When I critique my own images, the first thing I do after deciding on the composition, is to find anything that draws my attention away from the desired message of the shot.
For me the message here is the beauty of the queen of flowers in the soft morning light and in this case, a group of queens.
The first item that caught my eye was a perceived loss of color in the rose on the right. Makes no difference if that rose is indeed another color, it distracts. So I would suggest selectively matching it's color with the rest.
The second item was the highlights so would suggest cutting down on those a bit. (all these steps are in reference to the first image posted) If you use the shadows/highlights tool I wouldn't go further than about 10 on the slider with the shadows at zero.
Another minor distraction is the partial leaf in the upper center and another at the extreme right. Small distractions to be sure, but there none the less.
Another is the soil with it's pearlite. A simple application of the burn tool is all that is needed here to darken the areas.
If you truthfully are objective about anything that draws your eye away from your main subject you have the capability to improve almost any image.
Based on the results you've achieved, it's evident you had a very rewarding time that morning. Well done. :o)
#8843363
Debbie E. Payne August 17, 2010
I'll bet it was a beautiful morning Susan. Plus, I'm jealous of your beautiful roses. Have not had luck with them in Colorado.I like the dark background but do think the soil could be a bit darker as per Dale's suggestions. I think I like your first one the best. #8843784
Carla Capra Anderson August 17, 2010
Hi Susan.These are beautiful flowers and I can understand getting up at 0 dark hundred to capture their beauty.
Before I read the comments, I too noticed the crystallization on the ground/soil; the leaf and the color variations of the flowers. Dale has offered great editing suggestions.
I will say that the color variations do not bother me much. I think it moves the eye and makes it more interesting.
Beautiful flowers, lovely image.
CC #8844114
Michael Kelly
August 17, 2010
I think Dale's tips along with a standard color work flow would make any of these a delightful image. I am not a fan of textures and filters so I am no help in that area and find that very few of those types of manipulations improve an image in my eyes although there some can be very spectacular. #8844569
Susan M. Reynolds
August 18, 2010
I don't know why, but this particular Old English Rose is a very delicate plant, the stems hardly being strong enough to hold up the heady blossoms. Another thing I find unusual about this species is the progression of color as the buds matures into all of their full blown glory.
It starts out as a bud a very vivid pink, and as it matures it fades to almost white, just keeping the faintest hint of pink, as you can see on the far left side is the oldest blossom of the bunch & the far right side of the photos is the next oldest...that's why they are lighter in color than the ones in the middle & the two buds.
#8845286
Susan M. Reynolds
August 18, 2010
Another interesting feature, is how even the blossoms themselves are not strong & sturdy like regular roses, (at least mine are not) sometimes even if you just barely touch them to cut for a vase, the petals will fall off.
That's why I cut them so very carefully, placing them on a piece of dark green fabric on a small table, so I could just move the table instead of having to move the blossoms, as the dawning sun quickly moved upwards changing the pattern of shadows as they played across the roses.
The only reason why I included as many photos as I did, was to let you see the subtle differences in the amount of light/or the way the shadows & light fell upon the roses. I wasn't sure if the roses in full light was more pleasing or the partial shade/light combination to go with the idea of coming to the garden alone early in the a.m.
p.s. Carla, (you're welcome) To make you feel better, please know that I don't get up at 0 dark hundred in the morning, I'm usually just STiLL up from the night before so it's pretty easy for me to catch very early a.m. light-it makes me look rather ambitious when I really just can't sleep!!! But, then staying awake has its benefits even though the old eyes burn like fire..."While sleep eludes...opportunity ensues!" Kind of like the blue hydrangeas in the middle of the night & early dawn light.
Note: Out of 5 dozen+ rose plants that we bought from Jackson Perkins when we moved to this, our 1st little home, only 9 plants have survived :(
After living in an apartment for 12.5 yrs, I always dreamed of having a little house called Rose Cottage....but, even though my pink hedge roses along the white picket fence w/ matching climbing roses entwined over the arch above the gate didn't make it, I'm still thankful that a few of them survived & especially, this delicate Old English Rose. (They surely didn't die from neglect/lack of care. There are 2 HUGE Silver Maples in our yards & they literally BREED aphids no matter how much we sprayed the trees/roses or even tried buying 1000's of ladybugs & turning them loose~but at least I have SOME roses now!) #8845336
Michael Kelly
August 18, 2010
Christie R. Bielss August 18, 2010
I LOVE roses....and pink roses are my all-time favorite. So viewing all of these was so much fun! These roses are wonderful bloomers, but like you said, if you so much as breathe on them, they fall apart. My fav of all of them is 1420am. I like the variation of light and how it could blend with your title song of "In the Garden" - it almost gives me the impression of "someone" waiting and casting His shadow upon the roses.Knowing these particular roses, I do not like the symmetry of color in the edit - but that's just me. I prefer the natural variation of color that goes with the lifespan of these roses. I think the sharpening on the left side is a bit overdone and gives it an unnatural look. I do like the crop and the elimination of all the negative black space. On the antique filter, to be honest, I can't tell you added one - and I think these shots are beautiful enough without the use of a filter on them. Just my 2 cents. #8845483
Susan M. Reynolds
August 18, 2010
Jeff E Jensen August 18, 2010
These are beautiful Susan!You have received some good advise from the experts and it looks like you have been able to put that advise to good use. #8846151
Aimee C. Eisaman August 18, 2010
A perfect bunch of roses....you have done a wonderful job with the circumstances of the aphids. My favorite so far is the roses at dawn revisited without the crop. It fixes the highlight issues I have with the other images by evening them out. I like the idea of adding text to these flowers. Would make a nice wall hanging even maybe a throw? YOu know those throws you can have made from a photo? :~) #8846710
Rita K. Connell
August 19, 2010
Anthony L. Mancuso August 19, 2010
A lot of great advice in this thread and a beautiful image to boot..I like your last post and think the words you chose for the shot were a nice touch.. #8848071Teresa H. Hunt August 19, 2010
My favorite is 1420 early am shadows w/script. These are beautiful roses and you've done a wonderful job editing them. I like the added words :) #8848453Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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