Why isn't it yellow?

[IMG]http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa417/walkeja/amaryllis/IMGP4390.jpg[/IMG]

I would also say why isn't it in focus?

I see that the shot was taken at 1/200 at f2.4

f2.4 isn't really giving enough depth of field for a shot like this making only the nearest part of one of the petals in focus! You could perhaps have afforded to use a smaller f stop and a slower shutter speed and focus on the stamen.

But back to your question: Why isn't it yellow? Presumably it isn't a yellow variety - it's definitely pink and white with perhaps a hint of yellow towards the centre! I presume the flower doesn't look yellow and the photograph made it totally different? Surely not?!

I see the light source is from the window behind and looks to be causing a dulling of the subject matter (underexposing it slightly.) Try again without having the window in the shot. If it has to be taken where it is, override the exposure by a stop or two until it looks right - but that would make the window brighter still.

One option to get it all exposed better would be to use the camera's HDR setting so that it takes several pictures at different exposures and combines them to avoid burnt out highlights and deep shadows.

Perhaps worth an experiment?

John

The real solution here is to light the subject properly, use a tripod and then use a small aperture. At the moment the lighting is from the wrong side.

Using window light is a good way to light this sort of subject but you've chosen a day when the light is terrible, you need a bright but overcast day, too much sun and you'll have contrast problems, too little and the shot will be murky like this one.
Use reflectors to bounce light back onto the subject, experiment with it in different positions or even try using two, Reflectors can be found around the house, try white card or even paper, tin foil screwed up and carefully opened up again works quite well too. Don't shoot with the window behind the subject, keep it to one side, if you've got a tripod then use it, experiment with different apertures to see what effects you get with varying Depth of Field.

Lighting is the key as other Pentaxians have said. Too much of red in the flower and bad lighting technique can throw a color cast obliterating the little bit of yellow. Note the red surrounds the yellow all around the flower overwhelming the yellow completely. If the flower is potted, move it into the morning or late afternoon sun. Use Bright mode with Saturation set to +1, Sharpness +3 Fine, Contrast +2, Hue 0. Use ISO 100. Set Auto Focus Point as Center on your camera. Try Spot metering. Play with the aperture - camera on Av mode. Use a tripod with SR Off and a Remote or 2-sec delay. Use both AF and manual to focus on the center of the flower - note if you focus on the stems, the flower will be out of focus. Post the same flower shot again. Good Luck.

It is a PUN

I'd say it is an amaryllis.

John

Exactly, and the Spanish for yellow is....?

Sorry, no idea. Say....

That well known Texan town and Neil Sedaka/Tony Christie song. Also home of the free 72oz steak, and not far from the beautiful Palo Doro Canyon .

And of course Cadillac Ranch!

Then again it might just turn out to be an Hippeastrum, a very similar bulb form South America, popular at Christmas, but no relation to the South African A....... but often given that name for historical reasons

Bernard

[IMG]http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa417/walkeja/amarylis2/IMGP4391.jpg[/IMG]

Taking in to account some previous comments, had another go today.

[IMG]http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa417/walkeja/amarylis2/IMGP4392.jpg[/IMG]

Sorry, should have been this one.

Much richer colours in your penultimate one.
Still waiting for ours to progress from the phallic stage, so no idea what colour it will be.
Got 14 in the greenhouse( saved for that many years) in the hope that they will one day re-flower

Bernard