Red Hibiscus (view Large)

dominick,  gosh what a beautiful presentation of the color red,  simply gorgeous.  lovely work!

Very well done...  Mike

Hi Dominic,

A pretty looking picture. The flower is rich in color.

The use of F/11 reduced the capability of this  lens to reveal the finer inner details on the "red" buds at the center of the plant.

I have imaged these plants many times and posted many versions on PN using Fisheye lens to telephotos, and one requirement that I like to see are the finer details comprising the plant. It is about using a quality lens at the appropriate f-stop setting.

However, if the "softer look" was what you intended, you are successful here.

Best Regards,  Mike

Thanks friends!  Mike P.,  would you then use f22 or step back and shoot wide open?  I know you're a fan of shooting with the lens all the way open.  Aloha.  

Great clarity. (6)

Dominick,

  Beautiful image with stunning colors, clarity & water droplets.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

Crisp/sharp image with great colors.  Well done.

Hi Dominic, excellent question.

The F-stop changes the behavior of any lens across a range of working distances. I have data on thousands of lens that I have tested over the years in my formal optical laboratory. What is found in the lab remains true in the field.

Most people consider that the F-stop controls the amount of light, thus the exposure required and allows for more DOF, which is a perception of focus (not true focus). These are both correct.

However, the F-stop also influences the true performance level of a lens as it relates to its resolution, color contrast, aberration correction and saturation level. The better lens do not require stopping down for better performance. There are some lens that do not perform well until they are stopped down to because they lack the design and materials to make them good.

In the case of a good lens, the F-stop represents a compromise in the performance level of the lens as the f-sop increases. This is why I do not exceed the f-stop point of my lens unless I have another agenda in mind.

For this flower shot, I would have shot near wide open, but at a longer working distance from the flower. getting too close will narrow the DOF rapidly.

Now if my goal was to concentrate on the center portion of the flower, then a close up , wide open would provide the maximum definition at that point, while the soft blur of the flower would surround that point of interest. This was not your intent here.

The other approach, is to stop the lens down a lot, like F/22, and take a longer exposure (perhaps using a tripod), for a softer representation of the flower. Perhaps a flash would be used such that a tripod could be avoided. At closer range with a flash, some details would be rendered due to the close range magnification factor, but those details would not be as defined as if the f-stop were open.

I advocate using very good lens to their optimal settings because that makes sense to me. If I purchase a $2000 lens and use it at F/11 or F/22, I will get nice results, but no better than another lens costing $200.

 In my work, the highest definition is demanded in the sciences that I contribute my works to. rarely are any of my best lens stopped down at all.

I share this information with members to bring to light that using a good lens is more than just focusing it and taking the picture. I understand that everyone can have different goals or preferences of what that like to see, but the technical facts about lens behavior do not change.

Best Regards,  Mike

A very beautiful capture Dominick. The water droplets certainly add a lovely effect on the petals. Very nice definiton and focus. I love Hibiscus, this one is a rare beauty.

Kind regards, Gail