Bottle Brush

[bonsai418]

Is is my very first try of a closeup shot.
What could/should I have changed to make the picture look better?

[gjtoth]

Is is my very first try of a closeup shot.
What could/should I have changed to make the picture look better?

Move in REAL close. Fill the frame with the flower and that will give you a nice bokeh which will increase the central focal point and enhance the detail of the flower. Don't center the subject (rule of thirds).

[bonsai418]

@ Gary,
Just tried that, if I get closer everything is blurry. Could it be that the lense will not let me do that?

[bonsai418]

@Gary,
Same picture just croped it.

[gjtoth]

@Gary,
Same picture just croped it.

Much better. Try cropping it to just to the left of the bunch of leaves and buds on the right. See what that does for it.

[bonsai418]

@Gary,
Like that ???

[gjtoth]

@Gary,
Like that ???

Reeaaaaallll close, Linda. Howz this look to ya? When you get in closer with your camera (lens), you'll get a really nice bokeh. BTW, this IS a nice shot of an interesting flower. Is this a tropical flower?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2398680359_8cd91587ac_o.jpg

[gjtoth]

@ Gary,
Just tried that, if I get closer everything is blurry. Could it be that the lense will not let me do that?

Do you have a macro lens or converter?

[bonsai418]

@Gary,
The only Lenses that I do have are the ones that came with the camera (got camera abot a week now).
Wow, what a change it makes when a picture is cropped correctly.
Have no clue in what other growing zone the Bottle Brush will grow.
Gary, thank you so much for your help and input.

Here is some info on the Bottle Brush. (Mine is a dwarf Bottle Brush)

In many places Bottle Brush trees are just too big. Callistemon Little John provides all of the interest in a small package. The leaves and stature are reduced. The flowers, aside from being a deeper red are the same. They attract hummingbirds like almost no other plant. And they require almost no care. A little water keeps them looking much better, though they will come back from extreme drought shock. Callistemon Little John is frost hardy into the low 20's.

[LensBaby]

Hummingbirds LOVE that color! I have yet to see one in my yard though.

[gjtoth]

@Gary,
The only Lenses that I do have are the ones that came with the camera (got camera abot a week now).
Wow, what a change it makes when a picture is cropped correctly.

Well, I did do a bit of USM on it too. Not much. Just enough to pop it up a bit.


Have no clue in what other growing zone the Bottle Brush will grow.
Gary, thank you so much for your help and input. Well, not to worry. Peter will soon have you whipped into shape. heheheh That Oly is a nice piece of gear. I'll be sticking with my li'l P&S jobs. My Oly tends to stay afixed to a tripod because it's much slower than my Fuji. It's got a lot more nifty features and settings but, with that big, honkin' teleconverter, it's become my stay-in-one-place-and-shoot-the-birds camera.


Here is some info on the Bottle Brush. (Mine is a dwarf Bottle Brush)

In many places Bottle Brush trees are just too big. Callistemon Little John provides all of the interest in a small package. The leaves and stature are reduced. The flowers, aside from being a deeper red are the same. They attract hummingbirds like almost no other plant. And they require almost no care. A little water keeps them looking much better, though they will come back from extreme drought shock. Callistemon Little John is frost hardy into the low 20's.

Thanks! I'll have to look for them. Maybe even mail-order some. Looks like they're pretty hardy.

[bonsai418]

@Gary,

USM ???

[gjtoth]

@Gary,

USM ???

USM = UnSharp Mask (a filter in PS or Gimp)