Sharing a Flower

I didn't even notice the butterfly until I opened the thumbnail. Nice surprise. . .I like the way he is eyeing up that bee. Beautiful flower and good details on the bee and flower. I don't mind the butterfly being out of focus because he is not the star of the show which is obviously the bee. However, because of that I would like to have seen all the wings of the bee included rather than chopped off. Again the butterfly doesn't matter if chopped off because he's an "extra". I like the out of focus flower in the background behind the bee and focused flower. Great capture, Stephen!

Stephen, as usual, Carolyn's critique is right on the money. Certainly getting both the bee and the BF into the scene is an accomplishment. I also can live with the BF being oof, but this would work better if the bee was more centered (as well as completely in the frame) so that the bee, as the focal point, is the clearly the main subject. In your comp, the bee and BF are side by side. Given that comp, I'd have preferred them both in focus - not an easy thing to do while keeping the bg neutral (absent a stack, which is impractical when the image include moving subjects). However, I am nit-picking here as, overall, this is a fine image.

the only thing is... they were not side by side. the butterfly was slightly further from the lens. with the setup i use, it was impossible to get them both in focus. i understand about the bee, being more centered :), or at the very least not clipped. i will definitely keep that in mind, for the next time.

i do the best i can with what i have. i use a pansasonic dmc-tz3, point and shoot. i am able to get more out of the lens, with a home-made add on.

i am not even sure, what a "stack" is. can you explain?

thank you, both, for the comments and suggestions! much appreciated :)

Sorry, Stephen, I should have been more clear. I didn't mean they were actually side by side. I meant they appear relatively side by side and of comparable prominence in the image. I realize they weren't in the same plane of focus and that the bee was closer, but because they appear somewhat side by side, with relatively equal prominence in the image, the bee is not necessarily the main subject other than it is the one in focus. Had this been taken at a slightly different angle, with the bee place a little closer and more centered, and the BF further away, then the BF would more naturally appear part of the bg. The other option would have been to try to line them in the same focal plane and get them both in focus. The third option was a focal stack with a software program like Helicon or Zerene, or the program that is included with CS6 (I think). With one of these programs, you can combine images with different focal points and gain greater DOF while still using a wide lens opening with an overall shallow DOF. If you look through the images posted in flora, you'll see many "stacked" images, including ones posted by Eirini, Phil, and Mark Seaver, to name several. If you google Helicon or Zerene, you'll find lots of info on how these programs work.

hmmm... so "stacking" is a software "fix" or add on? I am not much for using software. I try to do, as much as possible, from the lens. I would rather learn how to do it right, with the lens, than try special effects and such with a software package. Nothing personal, just the way I like it :)

The only software I use is PS CS2 and even then, I adjust brightness and contrast and then I use a script, I found on this site, to size and save for the web.

Thank you, for explaining though, as I had never heard of it before. I will definitely look it up and see if I can notice or find more of it, in images I see online :)

I agree that it is usually better to get it right at the time of capture but some things are beyond the capacities of the equipment. If you are shooting a subject like a flower or an insect, and want to get the entire subject in focus while keep the bg soft, and if there is not enough distance separation between the two, then a stack may be the only solution since a wide lens opening will not allow sufficient DOF on the subject, and a narrower lens opening will bring the bg into focus. This is one of the situations, maybe the one with which I am most familiar, that may call for stacking. I tried it only a few times when I had use of Helicon on a free 30 day trial. I am sure I will be getting a stacking program some time in the future as I have some images in my computer waiting to be stacked.

Hi Scott,

I went to Helicon and took a look at their focus stacking software. Very interesting!


I was assuming that this was some kind of digital magic, that changed your primary image, but in fact you still have to use your lens to take multiple images at different focus points. I think, I might give it a try. :) The only issue I see, is that I shoot everything live, in the field. I can see this technique being much better, in studio, with consistent lighting and maybe even a focusing rail. Another challenge I see, is that I shoot everything "living"!! It is hard enough to get one good shot sometimes, before an insect moves or flies away. Never mind, trying to get multiple images!

Also, there are certain instances where I like what a very shallow depth of field, does to my images. It has become a bit of a signature for me, to look at a small subject and then focus in on just one tiny part that really interests me or draws my eye. I then work with a shallow dof to really highlight that one area of interest and allow the rest of the subject, to blur away into the background. I find the rest of the subject, rather than providing stark detail, simply adds to and highlights the beauty of the overall image. "Sharing a Flower", would not be one of those images, but if you look at "Orange Stamen", in the Macro gallery, you will see what I mean. I will post more of these.

I have had people tell me that, they do not like it all, because it breaks "rules". Others have said that it is "unconventional", but at the same time appealing.


Thank you for pointing it out :)

Lovely, Stephen. Ideally, I'd like to see the bee's full wing, but it's still very nice.