Hello. 

I would appreciate your feedback and suggestions for improving this image. 

feedback and suggestions for improving this image. 

Hi Sharon and welcome. The main improvement this fine image needs is to be taken in better light it's that simple. The light is flat and lifeless with no great colour or powerful composition. I did take it back into Photoshop but found nothing worked to light up my eyes. Thank you for sharing.

Hello Sharon

Thank you for sharing your Cherry Blossoms photo with us. I do agree with Daniel's comments, but it's a beautifully details image so I wanted to have a try with it. I have increased the contrast and given the colours a colder tint. 

Good light, Elizabeth

Dear Sharon,

Thank you for drpping us a photo in our forum. Like Daniel, I don't have that magic hint to largely improve this. Instead, I'd like to share some insight what's probably not so ideal in this frame.

Framing a subect by barnches, leafs and blossoms is a moody way to expose a subject. But overlaps shpuld be avoided. I don't even think that was your intention here, if the buildings and the wall are your subject. They are in shadow, not a real beauty, and as said, covered by front elements.

If the blossoms were your main subject - and it needs a _main_ subject in every photograph - it's not ideal they're only partly in focus shoting at an f/6.4 with probably a tele strating at 28mm does not give front-to-back sharpness. The first 2-3 meters in this are blurred.

If the blossoms are your subject, they should have some direct or background light. Only directional light gives items a shape, or can make them shine. This looks like shado on an almost overcast sky, not waht you need. I woldalso avoid changing backgrounds for a subject, like th blossoms have your sky and background trees. That's a bit un-sorted. Shooting wider aperture would then avoid the distraction of your background. A f/4 with a closest-by blossom of 1-2m to focus on leaves out the elements in distance by bokeh, so it's clear what your sbject is.

If you neither had the building in mind as main subject, nor the blossoms, then I'd call it an "overall impression" photo. Something that rarely works, as a holiday memory maybe - but only for who tooks it. The entire scene appears tilted to the left. Maybe because you wanted to keep the footpath in your frame. If you rotate it 1° clockwise it's straight again.

I hope you don't mind me only talking about negative points, I'm trying to help for next shots and can only refer to my preferences in photography.

Best regards,

Mike

Thank you, Mike, Elizabeth, and Daniel, for your thoughtful feedback. I really appreciate your insights—they’re helping me grow as a photographer. I’ll definitely keep your advice in mind for future shoots.