Canon 1n, 85mm f/1.8 USM with 25mm ext. tube, Kodak E100S

-- Jim Erhardt (jimerhardt@hotmail.com), October 12, 1999

Answers

I think there is too much clutter for such a close up shot. The main subject is also not that sharp, but this is difficult to achieve because the spikes project out of the front of it and dof is limited. The subject is also a bit bullseyed. I think that a less tight shot showing a covering of leaves and the thistle would have been better, but of course I wasn't there.

-- jason elsworth (jason.elsworth@xtra.co.nz), October 12, 1999.

I agree with Jason, also the light on the stem at the top of the photo is distracting, you might try reflecting sunlight into the area instead of using a flash, try using a soft white reflector with the sun, or if you want more color saturation try using a crinkled gold reflector. Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), October 12, 1999.

An interesting object. The spikeyness of the object contrasts well with rounded forms of the leaves.

I find that the colors distract for me, partly because they aren't from natural light, but also because they pull my focus away from the object, which needs sharper detail (I assume the original does). I want to load it into Photoshop and see what it looks like in grayscale. So I did, and after auto-level and one 'sharpen edges' I even more strongly think the colors detract. The curves of the greenery strongly contrast with the sharpness. Consider cropping the bottom 1/5 or 1/6 of the shot.

-- Tony (papajmama@yahoo.com), October 19, 1999.