Golden Gardenia by Weezilou

Golden Gardenia

As I've always loved photographing in the late afternoon light, I signed on to learn how to improve my skills while doing this challenge. It was suggested we set the White Balance on cloudy, so my first question is about the coloration here. I held back on altering this very much and did not change the lighting to brighten it. *Is that the correct choice? I think this is "pretty", but is that the way it ought to look in this light? Rereading the instructions, I see the mode should be in manual or aperture., but looking at my camera more carefully tonight, I see I was shooting in "Auto Mode", but what other choice might there have been with a camera like this? (I'd taken it to a baby shower to easily capture photos of friends without any fuss...)

Tomorrow I will try again using my DSLR. Except to follow the rules more closely, I'm open to all instruction and suggestions.

Care to join in?
http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/22340/camera-setting-challenge-golden-hour#comment-658033

This semi-usable link sets the hour:
http://www.golden-hour.com/
Love it*)FAV*)
May 9th, 2014  
Beautiful. Nice detail
May 9th, 2014  
One of my favorites
May 9th, 2014  
Simply gorgeous!
May 9th, 2014  
I think often we want to brighten and sharpen the colors in our post editing so it looks like we think it should, but really depending on the lighting as in this case, it lends to the soft silky look, and I believe the shadows truly enhance it. One way you will know better is if you go back and enhance the color, tweak it up some and see the differences. Personally I think this looks pretty much like a late afternoon shot, sun going down, casting shadows, the softer light.
May 9th, 2014  
Oh I do love the fragrance of a gardenia. I think you have captured its loveliness well.
May 9th, 2014  
Gorgeous Gardenia! Love it, its fragrance and your photo!
May 9th, 2014  
this looks about right for late afternoon to me. just wondering were you in auto or program auto. my camera won't do any adjustments in auto, but program is pretty handy.
May 9th, 2014  
Beautiful
May 9th, 2014  
Beautiful! Love gardenias and their fragrance.
May 9th, 2014  
Beautiful light!
May 9th, 2014  
@katerinatina @shepherdmanswife @jamibann Thanks for the faves, friends! I posted this before heading to bed at almost 2 AM and certainly hadn't expected a reception like this when I arose! It's most appreciated...certainly made me smile!
May 9th, 2014  
@digitalrn Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Rick. I DID use the auto color correcting which turned it white again, but I thought that wasn't true to the lighting, as you pointed out. I'm probably not a good judge of things at 2 AM, but I had serious doubts about this before turning in for the night. Thanks to the nice reception, I'm happier with it over-all this morning!
@chard I was using my Coolpix yesterday and it doesn't have a program setting. I discovered my primary 1-shot choice is between Auto Mode or "Easy Auto Mode" (which I haven't used). (There are all the lighting and motion settings in between on another panel) My question was, "Does using this camera disqualify the photos in this challenge?" I'm really not here to win the trophy, but I want to learn within the confines of course... Thanks for offering your two bits... :)
May 9th, 2014  
My favorite flower is the gardenia and I can smell it from your photo! I think the color is perfect for this time of day. The golden white is beautiful. I am not familiar with your camera so hard to let you know what settings impact the modes. But it appears what you did for settings worked! Ha!
May 9th, 2014  
@seattle Thanks for the vote of confidence, Constance! I can't wait for low light again this afternoon so I can give it a go again with the DSLR!
May 9th, 2014  
Yay another flower post, so happy to see this! This is beautiful and I think the lighting is lovely, I wouldn't change anything. This would make a great addition to the cards you print. Afternoon lighting is one of my favorites too as is this picture. :)
May 9th, 2014  
@dailypix Thanks, Susan...glad to see you here early today. I was thinking of you when I posted this...if you don't have an account, would you want to be sent a notice? Can I give you a free Shutterfly photo book?
(I hope that comes up as a hot link...it's on this morning's thread to the right on your home page...) Thanks for the sweet comment about the flower... within the confines of my neighbourhood, most any photos I'd take at that time of day would be the flowers! With the heavy freeway traffic that time of day, I'd have to leave much earlier to get to somewhere where I could get something more interesting at "the golden hour!"...but I've taken it into consideration! I wish I were back up the coast at my daughter's...SO MANY beautiful photo possibilities!
May 9th, 2014  
such a pretty shade of white love the shadow that Is coming from the flower behind the first one Fav Louise
May 9th, 2014  
@gerry Thanks, Gerry. I hadn't expected people would like this, so I'm most appreciative :)
May 9th, 2014  
A beautiful capture of this lovely flower and that wonderful light on it.
May 9th, 2014  
Lighting is smashing
May 9th, 2014  
@pyrrhula @june Thank you both! I don't often post Thank You notes on my comment list, but I was so unsure about this image, I'm most appreciative that people like it. I'll take what you'e all said as your true reaction & have come to like it better, myself! Thanks again!
May 9th, 2014  
this is a great shot for the challenge
I love gardenias, mine are maybe a month away from blooming
May 9th, 2014  
@Weezilou I understand the confines of traffic but it sure is nice to see your floral pictures. My picture from today was taken with the afternoon light about 2 hours ago. I am sure you would find great things at your daughters along the coast to photograph but it's not long before you'll be in Lunenburg. I do have a shutterfly account but Michael doesn't a free photo book would be nice. Thank you.
May 10th, 2014  
@dailypix You got it! Send me his email address. And YEA...yes...about 6 weeks from now I'll be unpacking my suitcase in Nova Scotia!
May 10th, 2014  
Deb
Louise, this shot is beautiful! It feels like late afternoon lighting/sun. Very romantic with all the shadows you captured. Gardenias are so gorgeous and this shot is nothing less. I wouldn't change a thing!!
May 10th, 2014  
truly beautiful.. wonderful light! fav
May 10th, 2014  
A very beautiful photograph a fave
May 11th, 2014  
This is so beautiful, Louise. The "warm" colors almost give off a heady aroma of gardenia. Really! Nicely composed image with the green leaf included on the left.
May 12th, 2014  
The light worked well for you here Louise. Very nice.
May 12th, 2014  
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