Macro Mushroom - Please critique

Darrell Raw · 08-20-2013, 02:32 PM

PALADIN85020 · 08-20-2013, 02:57 PM

Very nice. Great combination of in-focus and out-of-focus objects. Good job.

Tako Kichi · 08-20-2013, 03:57 PM

I don't see much to critique at all, great shot!

**Canada_Rockies** · 08-20-2013, 04:00 PM

No criticism from me, either! Nicely done.

Kozlok · 08-21-2013, 08:00 AM

I like the lighting especially. I looked hard, nothing to nit pick.

Colbyt · 08-21-2013, 10:12 AM

I think the lighting sold me. Very nice indeed.

**Miguel** · 08-21-2013, 10:28 AM

Rich shot.
Generally the issue with fungi photographs is that a lot of ground matter and background bits get in the way and detract from the subject. In this photo, everything seems to line up artfully and in synch with the mushroom.

Nice work.

M

Colbyt · 08-21-2013, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by Miguel

Rich shot.
Generally the issue with fungi photographs is that a lot of ground matter and background bits get in the way and detract from the subject. In this photo, everything seems to line up artfully and in synch with the mushroom.

Nice work.

M

Absolutely correct. I can't imagine the position the photographer must have been in to pull it off. I probably would not have been able to get up.

**pbancr** · 08-21-2013, 12:52 PM

Very nice indeed. Colors, focus, sharpness, perspective...you nailed it.

fuent104 · 08-21-2013, 02:29 PM

Love it. I could probably do without the clipped highlights, though.

Darrell Raw · 08-21-2013, 03:17 PM

Thanks all! Fuent104, I tried to recover as much of the highlights as I could but it just ends up grey - is there a way to do it that won't affect the brightness of the rest of the image in Lightroom?

Jamfke · 08-21-2013, 08:17 PM

For a fungus, that's a beautiful image! Excellent work.

Gregory_51 · 08-21-2013, 09:26 PM

Nice detail. I especially like the veins under the cap. I'd get a really sore neck trying to frame that up down that low. You said the highlights were blown and you couldn't get them back, was this a RAW file? I used PS to see what I could do with it. I knocked down the cyan too. Don't know if you care for it or not. Just noodling around a bit.
alternative edit on right of photo by Darrell Raw | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Regards
Greg

ToyTank · 08-29-2013, 05:46 PM

Hey darrel in lightroom you can take down the "whites" it shouldn't effect much but the highlights. I'm learning how to use it still.

The tone curve is supposed to help here too but I don't really know how to use it

If that doesn't work go to HSL and luminence then click the little circle, if you click and drag down where it is clipped that may help bring it down that is how I usually bring skies down, but it could also affect other colors.

That is a SLOW shutter speed, but I don't see any motion blur. Great shot, it does look like you worked for that one!

imaspy · 08-29-2013, 07:52 PM

i like the colours, the OOF areas, and the subject is very interesting

did anybody else see the top of the larger mushroom and think "rhino skin"?

The only suggestion i would make is to dial back the square vignette a bit - it's seems too strong/obvious... or perhaps play with a more circular one. cool work though!

08-20-2013, 02:32 PM	#1
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134	Mushroom - Please critique Lens: Pentax DFA 100mm Macro WR Camera: Pentax K5 IIS Photo Location: UK ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/8s Aperture: F13.5

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08-20-2013, 02:57 PM	#2
PALADIN85020 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 442	Very nice. Great combination of in-focus and out-of-focus objects. Good job.

08-20-2013, 03:57 PM	#3
Tako Kichi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,296	I don't see much to critique at all, great shot!

08-20-2013, 04:00 PM	#4
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	No criticism from me, either! Nicely done.

08-21-2013, 08:00 AM	#5
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	I like the lighting especially. I looked hard, nothing to nit pick.

08-21-2013, 10:12 AM	#6
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,417	I think the lighting sold me. Very nice indeed.

08-21-2013, 10:28 AM	#7
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Rich shot. Generally the issue with fungi photographs is that a lot of ground matter and background bits get in the way and detract from the subject. In this photo, everything seems to line up artfully and in synch with the mushroom. Nice work. M

08-21-2013, 12:42 PM	#8
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,417	Originally posted by Miguel Rich shot. Generally the issue with fungi photographs is that a lot of ground matter and background bits get in the way and detract from the subject. In this photo, everything seems to line up artfully and in synch with the mushroom. Nice work. M Absolutely correct. I can't imagine the position the photographer must have been in to pull it off. I probably would not have been able to get up.

08-21-2013, 12:52 PM	#9
pbancr Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southeast Connecticut Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,575	Very nice indeed. Colors, focus, sharpness, perspective...you nailed it.

08-21-2013, 02:29 PM	#10
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Love it. I could probably do without the clipped highlights, though.

08-21-2013, 03:17 PM	#11
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134 Original Poster	Thanks all! Fuent104, I tried to recover as much of the highlights as I could but it just ends up grey - is there a way to do it that won't affect the brightness of the rest of the image in Lightroom?

08-21-2013, 08:17 PM	#12
Jamfke Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Crossville, TN Photos: Albums Posts: 272	For a fungus, that's a beautiful image! Excellent work.

08-21-2013, 09:26 PM	#13
Gregory_51 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: London, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 343	Nice detail. I especially like the veins under the cap. I'd get a really sore neck trying to frame that up down that low. You said the highlights were blown and you couldn't get them back, was this a RAW file? I used PS to see what I could do with it. I knocked down the cyan too. Don't know if you care for it or not. Just noodling around a bit. alternative edit on right of photo by Darrell Raw \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! Regards Greg

08-29-2013, 05:46 PM	#14
ToyTank Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 675	Hey darrel in lightroom you can take down the "whites" it shouldn't effect much but the highlights. I'm learning how to use it still. The tone curve is supposed to help here too but I don't really know how to use it If that doesn't work go to HSL and luminence then click the little circle, if you click and drag down where it is clipped that may help bring it down that is how I usually bring skies down, but it could also affect other colors. That is a SLOW shutter speed, but I don't see any motion blur. Great shot, it does look like you worked for that one!

08-29-2013, 07:52 PM	#15
imaspy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 294	i like the colours, the OOF areas, and the subject is very interesting did anybody else see the top of the larger mushroom and think "rhino skin"? The only suggestion i would make is to dial back the square vignette a bit - it's seems too strong/obvious... or perhaps play with a more circular one. cool work though!