Light and Dark issues

[SpiderBob]

I have a photograph, actually two, the original and my PP. I am trying to accomplish a good appeal between the dark part of the flower (natural) and the white flower, and with detail the other colors around it. No flash, not really sure that would have helped in this case. Your comments are more than welcome.

[Geoff F]

The edit works OK for me, Bob. Maybe I would have liked to see the tip of the horizontal leaf, but not a real issue for me.

And there is a slight spot (possibly sensor dust) just above that leaf; and another one further up on the far right edge.

[SpiderBob]

Yes Geoff, I see lots of dust spots! I think I better clean the sensor or have it cleaned. Thank you for pointing them out.

[Shadowman]

Flash would have provided some fill light but you might have lost some of depth in your shadows. You could have also used exposure compensation or blended multiple exposures. The edit looks good.

[SpiderBob]

Thanks John. Exposure compensation, why do I not think of that when I'm taking pictures?? I do later or when someone says so. I'll try the multiple exposures next time, I was on the top of a ladder I carried with me as I spotted this site yesterday and came back today.

[IzzieK]

For different reasons, I like them both...In the original, the dark part of the plant is appealing to me like a bird feeding or drinking whereas the edit is also good that you revealed the plant itself. Is this plant a variety of Bird of Paradise? Just curious...

[AB26]

Rob,

To me, #1 looks natural. There is something missing in #2.

[deetheturk]

Hi Bob,no2 for me!

[bnnrcn]

I find #2 better

[SpiderBob]

thank you all, Andre, what is it you think is missing? I'm curious. Isabel, yes it is a variety, but much bigger, this one was just over 10". I don't know the proper name for it other than what some people around her were calling it a "giant bird of paradise" I find it hard to believe that is what it is really called even if it's the same but bigger. I should fine out, when I do I'll let you know. I should mention, I took a ladder and I think some thought I worked there, had some pretty funny comments. I just went along with it

[outwithmycamera]

For me I think what is missing is composition - mainly i am not sure what i am supposed to be looking at. That makes your job of trying to adjust the photo more challenging because you don't know what the subject matter should be that needs emphasis. Since this is a static object more or less can you go back and reshoot? Perhaps a different angle, or framed so that the size of the plant is emphasized, or a bigger aperture to isolate parts of the plant?

[SpiderBob]

Chris, I'm sorry, but this picture was not about composition, I didn't really try to make a composition, I was working with light and dark. I thought that when I originally started my thread and mentioned light and dark, but I was not clear and to that I apologize. I totally agree with you, I didn't even get the whole flower in the picture

[Wavelength]

i like the edit more...

[FootLoose]

I don't know the proper name for it other than what some people around her were calling it a "giant bird of paradise" I find it hard to believe that is what it is really called even if it's the same but bigger.

That is a Strelitzia.

I think the 2nd shot is too bright. It washed out the shadow detail of the leaves behind the main (dark) flower. Overall, brightening it has decreased the contrast and the shot has lost its 'pop'.

[SpiderBob]

Greg, if I understand you correctly, I have another shot. This one I did not use the Highlight key or the Brightness either. In fact, I didn't add or delete the contrast at all. Is this what you mean?

Oh, and thank you for giving the flower a name a "Strelitzia" I can't say the word, the common name is Bird of Paradise, but thank you.

[FootLoose]

Yeah, that looks better to me, Bob.

[SpiderBob]

Thanks for your input. There is more "pop" but I believe that is due to the fact that the long dark flower part is darker giving more emphasis to the stocks. Photography is so fascinating.

[Ken Curtis]

Hi Bob.

I think you went a bit too far in attempting brighten the dark areas (see bottom photo in original post). In your second posting, looks like you increased the contrast and lost information in the darker areas. I downloaded your original image and used a shadows and highlights adjustment in Photoshop. A curves adjustment seemed to help too. Give them a try.

[SpiderBob]

Hi Bob.

I think you went a bit too far in attempting brighten the dark areas (see bottom photo in original post). In your second posting, looks like you increased the contrast and lost information in the darker areas. I downloaded your original image and used a shadows and highlights adjustment in Photoshop. A curves adjustment seemed to help too. Give them a try.

Started over with the CR2 and brought up some of the darker detail, as you suggested. The curves adjustment still throws me for a curve (pun intended) and perhaps that is where I went wrong in the previous. I don't think I lost the brighter colors by doing this. I went as far as I could before clipping started to occur. Please judge.
thanks

[AB26]

Andre, what is it you think is missing? I'm curious.

Bob, In #2 you lost the calmness of the blue sky. You lost detail in the white flower. You lost the colour of the “tongue”. You lost the natural light.

I did this edit, hope you better understand what I mean.