PHOTO: Flower picture lighting

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/138773102/Blue%20Eyed%20Grass%20copy.jpg


 


This picture was rejected becuase of lighting:


We found the overall composition of this file's lighting could be improved. Some of the technical aspects that can all limit the usefulness of a file are:

-Flat/dull colors
-Direct on-camera flash and/or flash fall-off (bright subject, dark background)
-Harsh lighting with blown-out highlights that lack details and/or distracting shadows
- Distracting lens flares
-Incorrect white balance

For information about iStock lighting standards please see:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=524

For more information on iStock Lighting Standards, please see:
http://www.istockphoto.com/tutorial_2.2_lighting.php

Related Articles:
Lighting and Shadows:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=46
Setting up your own home studio:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=14
Custom White Balance:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=95

Decent Exposure:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=40


I was wondering what is wrong with lighting, and how to fix it. Also any adive on taking pictures in a high contrast situation like in a sunny forest.


Thanks


RMP

Lighting is not that bad, it just looks a little underexposed being in a deep shade. The biggest problem is a common and very over represented subject (random flowers) against uneventful background. I suggest you find something else to shoot.

Yes, underexposed and on the flat side. The overall scene, background, etc. is not terribly compelling, there are distracting shapes in the background that don't contribute positively to the feel and a lot of dead dry looking stuff. Unrelated to the lighting, the image looks somewhat overprocessed with what appears to be noise reduction.




Main advice would be: don't. But if you must, aim to be fairly early morning or late afternoon so the sun isn't so intensely high, which yields blocked up shadows and unsaturated colors. In general you probably want to compose your shots so that everything you see, subject + background, is either in the sun, or in the shade. Sun + shade in the forest is usually beyond the dynamic range of your camera. When composing your shots, look around the viewfinder behind your subject to see if there are any awkward shapes, bright areas, deep shadows, etc. which may be dominating the composition or otherwise distracting from the subject.

(Edited on 2013-01-22 13:28:40 by donald_gruener)

Thanks for the help. I agree with the critiques. I will put them to good use