I'm new at this, but . . . .

[Floogeldy]

. . . here is a Red Bud Tree!

[RagingInMiami]

1. Welcome to our group

I knew you got a new camera so that automatically makes you one of us.
I do have to tell you, from one amateur to another, you could have made that photo better by keeping the red bud tree in the foreground, and havings something interesting in the background.

You could use that tree to frame the subject. Here is something I did in Colombia, although I'm not very proud of it. But it's an example of me doing, what I'm trying to advise you to do.

[Floogeldy]

2. Thanks for the tip!

I like that.

I can't think if anything interesting around that tree; only buildings and a street heavily traveled by automobiles.

But I get what you are saying and will remember it.

Gracias

B-)

[RagingInMiami]

3. even a speeding automobile might do

If you can slow the shutter speed, and show the car's movement.

[Floogeldy]

4. Great idea!

Now all I have to do is figure out how to slow down the shudder speed (and hold the camera still).

I'll work on it.

B-)

[intheflow]

5. Hi, Floogeldy!

Blooming trees are one of my favorite themes to shoot, but close-ups of them are among the hardest to shoot imo. I've probably taken rolls and not been happy enough with one to even scan it in.

In this photo, I'd cut off the bottom part that's paved, cropping it so that closest branch becomes the focal point. My 2 cents, since Raging gave you his!

What kind of camera do you have? And what kind of tree is that, anyway?

[Floogeldy]

6. Hi intheflow!

Here is the whole tree:



I'm so new at this, and all of your suggestions are great. They seem so simple and I am somewhat embarrassed to have not thought of them myself. But that is the nature of good art - - - reducing things to beauty and simplicity. I have little natural ability in that area and have to work at it.

You are so correct. At least I should have picked an angle that revealed only sky and tree, I think.

Thanks for the help.

B-)

Edit: It is a Sony DSC-P73 digital. I think it is a Red Bud tree.

[okasha]

7. Or you can get really close up, like this,

and isolate just part of a branch:



Or get underneath, and catch a spray of bloom against the sky.