Here is a Sunny Sunday reader assignment. Which handling of this woody peony blossom do you prefer? Please leave your preferences in the comments section with details of your reasoning. Thank you!!
These photographs were taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV dslr, new for me as of 2020, and the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.2L USM lens stabilized with the Manfrotto BeFree Carbon Fiber tripod with ball head. This setup allowed me to fiddle with camera settings, here you see a variation in the width of the shutter diaphragm opening, or F-stop. The smaller the opening (higher F-stop) less light is let through to the image sensor, longer exposure time (allowing the subject to move, as in the morning breeze) offset by greater depth of field, more of which provides sharp focus as the subject elements are further from the lens.
In this first photograph, the F-stop is moderately high. The entire blossom and plant are in focus, the background moderately blurred though still recognizable.
ISO 200 1/6 sec f/16
For the second photograph F-stop is low, opening up the shutter diaphragm, allowing more light in for a faster shutter release, less time for the morning breeze to rise up and ruin the shot. The beautiful background blurring, bokeh, is a feature of this 50 mm lens. At the same time, at F/4.0 the shutter diaphragm is not wide open. The blossom is entirely in focus, many plant leaves and the other blossom, to left, are out of focus. This places emphasis on the primary subject of the photograph while providing a feel for the surroundings.
ISO 200 1/100 sec F/4.0
Here are the same photographs, click on one to open a gallery for you to flip back and forth to compare.
ISO 200 1/6 sec f/16 ISO 200 1/100 sec F/4.0
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
I prefer the first photo. The presence of the peony is so powerful that there is no need to blur the background, it seems to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand completely, Lazuli. Cheers!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I prefer the second. Regardless of the power of the flower’s colours, my eye still wants to investigate the background detail. Blurring the detail stops that response.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting….it is a feature of a semi-wide angle lens to capture surroundings. Well said, Jerry.
LikeLike
Lovely photos both, but I prefer the first one…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a diplomat, Francisco…thanks for answering!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure Michael, all the best,
FBC.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the second one better. If you have a macro lens, you would get a fabulous photo with great bokeh. However, that 50mm 1.2?L is a great lens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did a series of the same flower with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM will get around to posting it, maybe. Great to get your opinion, Hien.
LikeLike
Gorgeous bloom! My preference is the first photo. Irrelevant to me whether background is blurred or not – but first photo has sharper detail on the foliage in front of bloom, and I like that crispness. (This is not noticeable in the smaller photos but jumps out when I clicked on the full-size images.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The sharpness, Jazz, through the full depth of field is a feature of the higher F-stop. You have a sharp eye, pardon the pun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with Lazuli Biloba – I prefer the vividness of flower and background in the first photo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are with the majority, Lynne. Thanks for the input!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I prefer the first one although sometimes I love bokeh, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Tuesday, Kerry. Thanks for the good words
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome and they were both excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person