Perpetual flower photo thread

[kgosden]

MPT,

I like the 1st and 4th best. I would probably have liked the 1st better if it was portrait not landscape.

Falconest,

Love the rose, but the sky is a funky gray/green on my display. Looks like there might be a sensor dust bunny on the right side of the frame.

[Falconest174]

That 'sky' is a concrete wall. Sorry 'bout that:p
Have to check if that spot is on other pics, you might be right.:(

[Geoff Chandler]

Falconest174 - that's a lovely closup of that rose - nice with the plain background..

MPT - I love all those tightly grouped flowers - was it a bit telephoto>?
my fav was the side on pic of the pink Tulips

[MPT]

kgodsen - I agree on the portrait vs landscape. I seemed to be having issues that day with backgrounds and getting the right angle for portrait views.

Geoff - As I recall I did have the tele lens on for that last pic; I had switched just a bit before heading home.

[tom68]

Love the tulips MPT. I wish there were some like that around here.
I think these are clematis. The second one is my first attempt shooting raw. I did notice a difference in the sharpness and color compared to the jpeg.

[Geoff Chandler]

3 stages seen on one plant

First the Bud just starting to open:

[Geoff Chandler]

2nd - the bud now opening:

[Geoff Chandler]

Finally the flower opened up.
(Taken using the Tamron 28 - 200 on the D80)

[Falconest174]

Geoff;
Nice sequence.:D

[Phill D]

Same lens Geoff & same beautiful colours as the duck shot. You are definately on song at the moment.

[Geoff Chandler]

Thanks Phil
It's a close run thing between my 2 walkaround lenses,
they both seem pretty sharp and each has it's own slight
advantage

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. May. 2010

Iris
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4603961629_99c4df9325_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4603961629_588924564c_o.jpg)

Lilac
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4603953913_a3ca7568a9_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4603953913_2cb9437573_o.jpg)

?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1055/4603959857_38413974cb_b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1055/4603959857_ebedb33367_o.jpg)

[eddie haskell]

A few iris's that finally opened :D


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3750_edited-1.jpg


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3800_edited-1-1.jpg


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3799_edited-1.jpg


And then a pix of a full figured gal :p


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3728_edited-1.jpg

[kgosden]

Eddie,

I like the third the best. I love irises, but find that they are impossibly difficult to photograph in a way that pleases me. They have such a range of color and have what I can only call a truly 3-d shape with the resulting shadows and highlights I find it hard to know how to approach them as a subject. I probably need to look at them more abstractly.

[eddie haskell]

Eddie,

I like the third the best. I love irises, but find that they are impossibly difficult to photograph in a way that pleases me. They have such a range of color and have what I can only call a truly 3-d shape with the resulting shadows and highlights I find it hard to know how to approach them as a subject. I probably need to look at them more abstractly.

Yep, I concur. They have so much going on its hard to encompass all of it into one offering. That is why I put the whole flower in the one composition, so you can measure it against what I shared with the others. Pretty, but again, fails to deliver the beauty of the creation. I noticed some gold ones opened late today, I'll try and get a few of them, and I have some blue ones right behind these.
I believe if you try and capture a couple of elements, it makes it easier, and can give the viewer a new perspective they might miss by just a casual glance at the flower in the garden.
Here, look at this one, I can't help but think that Alice in Wonderland might have stepped through that passage way, do you?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3848_edited-1.jpg

[imagejournal]

Hyacinthoides hispanica

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/4604182123_aea4f335bc.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/4601710920_06b993d8a7.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1127/4604779726_534df5cefc.jpg

imagejournal.co.uk (http://imagejournal.co.uk/)

[Phill D]

Shot yesterday with the 18-180 zoom. Still getting used to its narrow DoF. Not quite sure where the sweet spot is yet but it looks like the tripod is going to have to get some use.
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[kgosden]

Eddie,

The colors are great, but it still doesn't work for me. It did make me realize what is so challenging about irises. The number of elements of the flower that are at the same distance from the camera are nearly always separated by sections that are much closer. This leads to distraction in the photo. In your example the wonderful golden glow and lines set the focal point right in the heart of the bloom, but those two sharp focused stamen in the upper corners take it away fast.

[eddie haskell]

Eddie,

The colors are great, but it still doesn't work for me. It did make me realize what is so challenging about irises. The number of elements of the flower that are at the same distance from the camera are nearly always separated by sections that are much closer. This leads to distraction in the photo. In your example the wonderful golden glow and lines set the focal point right in the heart of the bloom, but those two sharp focused stamen in the upper corners take it away fast.

Yes it does, you just have to try and find the angle that captures what you want to express. With this golden one I took yesterday, I now see a possibility that eluded me at the time. Next time I know what I want to try :)

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF3948_edited-1.jpg

[kgosden]

Eddie,

That one works better; looks like you increased the depth of field a bit. Was this in a studio setting or out in nature? I seem to remember you were getting the dark background with a cloth backdrop and flash.

[AdamW]

passion flower:


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[Geoff Chandler]

Our Passion Flower is not out yet - Nice close up work!!
:)

[AdamW]

Thanks, Geoff.

[rawpaw18]

Absolutely stunning adam, looks like I am still wearing my Shrek 3D glasses.

[AdamW]

Thanks, Rich. I do love that 100mm macro!

[Geoff Chandler]

Here's a flower from a bunch we bought and planted out -
I went for these as they are soo vivid
Image not tweaked - just framed and resized
I really wanted to share the natural colour of this!

[kgosden]

Geoff, the colors are great. I thought the overall composition would make a good flag. Then I googled 'flags of the world' and found that you had recreated the Bangladesh flag.

[Geoff Chandler]

Geraniums
They are all around our garden - and they attract the bees too

[Geoff Chandler]

I stopped to take a few photos of the Geraniums
This one ~ close general look....

[Geoff Chandler]

Lastly one with a Bee - cropped to square.
(All these set using the Tamron 28 - 200, not actually macro - but
not bad on close ups)

[Phill D]

That orange colour is tremendous Geoff nice one. Bee's pretty smart too. I don't think you need a macro lens ;).

[Geoff Chandler]

That orange colour is tremendous Geoff nice one. Bee's pretty smart too. I don't think you need a macro lens ;).

Thanks Phil - tricky one about the Macro lens though
The Tamron 28 - 200 gets in quite close if I use the telephoto end more
still sometimes not as close as I would like, and it is usually pretty sharp
provided I make sure it isn't wide open - F8 is pretty decent and on up to
F16.
However - the macro lenses I could afford are either 90mm or 105mm
and I am concerned I would need to be a bit closer to my subject -
which is fine with flora - but less clever with the likes of Butterflys
I have trouble like that with my 16 - 85VR - even at 85mm I am a lot too
close to the subject and tend to frighten some insects off.
So for now - the 28 - 200 is my best compromise.

[Geoff Chandler]

Re-visited those Marigolds in an attempt to get a natural sort of
perspective on them at the same time as a degree of isolation...
This shot shows the two different shades we got.

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Jun. 2010

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4688981642_1739077548_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4688981642_41fd73b229_o.jpg)

[Geoff Chandler]

Kushnirenko ~ nice close up work - did you take any from other angles>?

[Phill D]

Geoff I'm in the same situation. I use my 70-300 lens in the same way for butterflies etc It's quite good if its got good light & there is less chance of them being fightened off.

[Kushnirenko]

Kushnirenko ~ nice close up work - did you take any from other angles>?

Thanks Geoff.
This shot I take in the evening,. Therefore it was almost impossible to change shot angle.
And lens Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM not absolutely approaches for such shooting. The minimum distance of 1.5 m imposes serious restrictions on a composition

[Geoff Chandler]

Guys - I have a Sigma 70 - 300 APO - that claims to be macro -
but only at the telephoto end. In this case the lens is hard to use as
you need to be a long way from the subject - and it's all over the place
unless you use a tripod. The 28 - 200 is great as it gets it's closest throughout
the range and I find around 135 - 200 is best for close ups with it.
I am somehow concerned that the Tamron 90F2.8 macro I am considering will need to get
too close for insects - I have toyed with the idea of adding close up rings to the 28 - 200.......
Meanwhile - keep posting your great flower closeups here.
We are all learning from one another!

[Phill D]

Geoff I managed to grab a reasonable butterfly with my 70-300 the other day. Focus was a bit hit and miss but a bit of sharpening and slight crop in picasa improved it quite a bit. I posted it in the insect thread.

[Geoff Chandler]

Phil that image was good - what lens was it?

[Phill D]

It was the Olympus 70-300. The lens has its foibles & I discarded a lot of shots to get that one but it does perform pretty well when coaxed. I shot that at 239mm (478 35mm equiv) hand held at 1/640s, iso 800, F5.4 from about 2-3 feet away (about as close as it would focus) hence the very shallow dof. Actually I just worked out what the dof was and it was around 1.5mm so no wonder I had such a hard time getting the focus I wanted. I tried several different apertures up to f8 but soon ran out of sensible shutter speeds to hand hold. Even at f8 the dof was only 2.2mm and that halved again if I went up to 300mm!. It's surprised me quite how narrow dof this lens has at long telephoto. I'll have to spend some time with the dof calculator plotting out a little graph as a quick aid. I dont feel so bad about all the oof shots now :)

[Geoff Chandler]

I tend to just use the DOF preview on my camera - it was one of the
'Got to have's on the list when I got a DSLR - all my previous FSLR's
had one so I was used to it.
Yep - there is a fine line of compromise to work with
Get too close and the Butterfly is off - but closer with wider angle gives
better DOF
I am convinced the optimum in terms of my x1.5 calculations - is
between about 90 and 150mm - aprox 68 - 113 in Oly terms (x2)
90mm on mine is the old 135 in 35mm film terms
I am most likely, if I get one, to get the Tamron 90mm macro.
Although rings - or even a 2x converter are not our of the question.

Your image looks great to me - I can only say I always had a great respect
for Olympus / Zuiko glass and I was very close to an Oly when I first went for DSLR - merely the in my hands feel that decided between Nikon, Canon, Oly.

[Geoff Chandler]

I Just looked back - I thought I had already posted this - but couldn't find it
It's the top of an Alium in my front garden.....

[Phill D]

Yep I use the dof preview too but my viewfinder is quite small (even though I use a x1.4 magnifier) & often its quite difficult to judge dof properly. Plus the main problem I had was that hand holding easilly could move the focus position a mm or two if I was a bit slow pressing the shutter all the way. Sometimes I part press look at focus & then full press not a good idea in this situation. Really ought to get the tripod out more ;)
Lovely alium Geoff. Althouigh it appears a bit on the soft side for you, maybe that's just the resize?

[kgosden]

Geoff, I really like the colors in the alium shot.

[Geoff Chandler]

kgosden - thanks - I was happy too - it came out quite accurate and true to colour (the wonders of getting used to manual white balance!)
Phil - I know what you mean - I am not home just now to check - but I suspect it would have been f8 - but it depends on the focal length...
But when I took it I used manual focus as it seemed nearly impossible to get the whole thing nicely sharp - without resorting to much smaller apperture and therefor higher ISO to keep the shutter speed up.
I used the DOF preview to try to balance out the focus to cover all of it as best as I could
A tripod wouldn't help here as there is usually a bit of wind in that corner of the garden - so shutter speed needs to stay reasonably quick.

[MPT]

Here's one I got today that I liked...

[Geoff Chandler]

MPT - nice colours, I like the close focus/shallow depth of field here

[Geoff Chandler]

Spotted this Foxglove hidden behind some other stuff in my garden..

[Geoff Chandler]

~and a closer look at those trumpets.....

[Geoff Chandler]

A slightly different 'breed' of Antirrhinum....

[Geoff Chandler]

More conventional Antirrhinums -
nice yellow shade with pinky backs....

[kgosden]

Great colors once again Geoff.

Not sure what these little yellow field flowers are (too lazy to look them up). I just liked the sunny yellows.

[Geoff Chandler]

kgosden ~ thanks for the kind comment
I like your yellow flowers - I also have no idea what they are -
the shallow depth of field in that image really works a treat

[tom68]

I call this Cinderella and her 3 jealous stepsisters lol.

[Falconest174]

Tom68;
Great rose.:D Like the unique lighting.
Here are some lilys. The blooms on the red ones are enormous, 6-8" across, maybe larger. gorgeous color.

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Jun. 2010

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4744871876_25f0468c3e_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4744871876_c0af83287e_o.jpg)

[tom68]

Tom68;
Great rose.:D Like the unique lighting.
Here are some lilys. The blooms on the red ones are enormous, 6-8" across, maybe larger. gorgeous color.

Thanks Falconest! Love the contratst of colors in the first two of yours, with the red against the blue (teal?) background. The daylilies are blooming here too.

[eddie haskell]

Uh.....purple, yes?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF0577_edited-2.jpg

[AdamW]

Eddie--that's just awesome!

[kgosden]

Eddie,

I think that's my favorite you have posted. I love the textures; it has a very painted look.

[photowerkz]

D700 + nikkor 50mm f1.8

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v398/markryder/flower3.jpg

[danwiz]

Anybody ever seen the Calypso Orchid? These 2 shots were taken in the wild here in Japan.
http://danwiz.com/DCResource/Jun04_081_129VigCrop_Yatsugatake_Calypso_bulbosa_v ar_speciosa_Small.jpg


You can see several more photos here:
http://danwiz.com/Jul2010/JulPage1.php

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Jul. 2010

Tagetes
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4783356176_998212863f_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4783356176_27eefbe5d9_o.jpg)

Zucchini
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4782711939_476fe9d332_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4782711939_19def974d4_o.jpg)

[SpecialK]

Near the Korean freedom bell in Angel Gate park on Ft MacArthur.
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[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Just a random flower shot

[eddie haskell]

Eddie,

I think that's my favorite you have posted. I love the textures; it has a very painted look.

Thank you, but.....

What about this one?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/2009_0611these0030-a.jpg

Or.....

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/roze-1-1-1-2-a.jpg

Maybe a bleeding heart, yes?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF0795_edited-1-a.jpg

A ball of fire, eh?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/2009_0927these0030-1.jpg

Or simply, pink?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/2009_0927these0104-1.jpg

Well....:)

[Phill D]

Eddie those are just stunning - what are you doing to them? Whatever it is you should sell it. Are you still using your P&S or have you gone dslr yet?

[Falconest174]

Here are a couple of Lilys that I see on my way to work every day the last two weeks. the blooms are huge:eek: . 7-8" or better. As you can see the color is phenomenal.

[kgosden]

Eddie, I still like the purple one best.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

No flower photo's in 2 weeks?

This is Wolfsbane

[AdamW]

Amazing, DPR.

[TheWengler]

No flower photo's in 2 weeks?

This is Wolfsbane

Good one! Emo flower

Here's one from back in May (I'm pretty sure I haven't posted it). I didn't get out for much wildflower shooting this year.
54622

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Really nice one Lukas.

[AdamW]

Really nice one Lukas.

I agree. I'm seeing it in an ad for allergy medication....:D

[TheWengler]

Thanks guys


I'm seeing it in an ad for allergy medication....:D

Now that you mention it, my eyes are a little itchy

[eddie haskell]

It is always a challenge to me to capture back-lighting without blow-outs or flares.....but I absolutely love the effects it can bring to an otherwise "just another flower" snapshot.
Your thoughts greatly appreciated on this one!

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/DSCF0610_edited-2.jpg

[Phill D]

Eddie your backlighting shot made this catch my eye. It is actually a white orchid but the setting sun through our study window just caught it like this. Lighting was just pot luck really as the sun was shining through trees and it just kept changing all the time as the wind blew. This one I liked as I managed to catch some buds in shadow and the leaded window in the background.
54820

[Phill D]

DPR thats a nice DoF you got on that last shot it makes the flower look like it's just exploding.
Lukas I wouldn't have though a shot like that would have worked but it does. The combination of colours and isolated sharpness definately made it work.

[vid500]

TheWengler a very beautiful of wildflowers. Great photo depth.

I caught this on in Piran on a walk and played a little with it in Lightroom.
http://vidfaith.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p7176662.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Hey Guys - I am liking the lighting on some of your recent posts - sorry -
I haven't posted for a while - will try to rectify that soon ;)

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Aug. 2010 + Tamron SP AF90mm F/2.8 (Di) Macro 1:1

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4962175335_3b621f0c3c_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4962175335_689150121e_o.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4962772564_7b0bb6244e_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4962772564_e1a6f3a2cb_o.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4962179509_90e9d24dd9_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4962179509_22ee96493c_o.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4962775864_167d25e235_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4962775864_3ace2b03dc_o.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4962183183_7c3123940b_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4962183183_89415f5cec_o.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4962779288_b8521f5f61_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4962779288_b2514a81a3_o.jpg)

[kgosden]

Great colors Kushnirenko. I think I might have cropped a few more closely.

[eddie haskell]

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm288/eddy-haskell/book%202/DSCF3274_edited-1.jpg

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Either here or the abstract :confused:

[Geoff Chandler]

Early playing with my little P&S Panny ZX1
We get these flowers in our garden every year

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

They are amazing flowers Geoff. What are they passionfruit?

Like the composition on that one.

[Geoff Chandler]

Yes - it's a Passion Flower - many pics taken over the past few years -
so it makes a usefull standard to try the little P&S on. :)

[kgosden]

Dread Pirate Roberts,

Great abstract flower. I do think it would be a bit better if the small white portion was not right at the bottom of the frame. Being in focus combined with the leading lines in the petals is drawing me out of the photo.

[kgosden]

Vid500,

I love the colors and isolation of the flower. Good to see another Olympus user out there. Which lens was that on the 620?

[alexrw3]

First time post. Hope this works. Taken with a Samsung SL420 and touched up in Microsoft Picture It, or maybe Picasa. I really don't remember.

[kgosden]

Alexrw3,

You got it posted, but you need to remember to reduce your image size to ~800 wide at most or it will be too large for everyone to view. It also makes the entire page too wide to be easy to read. Thanks for resizing. Interesting little spider?

[Geoff Chandler]

Alexrw3
Your flower with a friend shot is great! - but somehow - you managed to post your full size image (10mp) on here - aside from size - we try to keep
the images under 500kb
~ If you can try to resize your images, as kgosden suggested, we would be
able to to view them easier.
Here is your image - just resized (in CS3) to 800x600 so you can see the sort
of thing we are talking about.

[alexrw3]

I realized that after I hit send. I will reduce the size in the future.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Alex, you can hit the edit button on your previous post with the big image, then click go advanced then remove the image.

Do you have software to resize an image?

Nice shot of the flower and spider btw.

[alexrw3]

Glad you liked the shot. I did as suggested and replaced the image with a resized version. I used the "Export" function in Picasa to resize.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Nicely done

[Geoff Chandler]

Trying to master a P&S again - so I don't ALWAYS have to take the
DSLR around with me...Close ups are hard without a viewfinder in some ways
it's harder also to keep it steady
Anyway - I had another go at some of the Passion Flowers we get in our garden - this one just squared off a little and slightly framed

[A.Crosby]

Enjoy!

55268

55269

55270

55271

55272

[kgosden]

These are some of the last flowers of the season in the eastern US. I passed them hiking to Laurel Falls in the Smoky Mountain N.P. On many of the unopened buds bees were just sitting and waiting. Apparently they eventually force their way inside through the top of the flower. I looked for and opened one on my way in as well as out. It was nearly dark when I found one and had to use the on camera flash. The first photo with the bee is natural light and shows off the subtle striping of the bud.

[Switchblade906]

Ill post my 1st two flower pictures. I got my 1st marco lens today so i was testing it out. These are both in my yard

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/switchblade906/DSC01122_2.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/switchblade906/DSC01112_2.jpg

[rawpaw18]

Saw these road side, fall on the way.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1040/5189518496_b5ce3d581f_z.jpg

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Nov, 2010

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5194239850_0ff717bf12_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5194239850/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/5193641043_b4732fa113_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5193641043/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5194237894_84273fa83f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5194237894/)

[Geoff Chandler]

Kushnirenko - you are doing so well with your camera!!
Superb images.

I recently got a new Macro lens and today, for the first time, I got a chance to play :)
So
This image is straight off the camera - only processing is the re-size in CS3.
(Actually - I am amazed these flowers are still going on so well - we got them in the middle of Summer!!!!)

[Kushnirenko]

Kushnirenko - you are doing so well with your camera!!
Superb images.

I recently got a new Macro lens and today, for the first time, I got a chance to play :)
So
This image is straight off the camera - only processing is the re-size in CS3.
(Actually - I am amazed these flowers are still going on so well - we got them in the middle of Summer!!!!)

Geoff - many thanks for a response about my shots.
Your flower too magnificent. In Ukraine they are called "Chornobrivtsi". There is a remarkable Ukrainian song with this name. Links to clips of this song below. I will try to translate to you a song refrain:

As for those Chornobrivtsi look
I see an old mother
I see your hands my Mom
Your grace I hear native

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f715B9VXosE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGn3z-nUVaE&feature=related

http://www.zaycev.net/pages/2938/293803.shtml?miniplayer=true

PS

Sorry for my little english

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. Nov, 2010

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5196875855_016314eb62_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5196875855/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5218222591_958cf4bbb3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5218222591/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5218808370_ab682e8c85_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5218808370/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5218225199_57b309c749_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5218225199/)

[kgosden]

Kushnirenko,

Your christmas cactus looks to be doing well. I always find them to be tough macro subjects since the blooms have such depth.

[Pacman642]

D700
60mm 2.8
(2) SB-900s through umbrellas
SU-800
ACR and Color Efex Pro

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/pacman642_2007/DoubleRedweb.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/pacman642_2007/spidermumweb.jpg

[kgosden]

Pacman, I like the high key of the second flower.

[kgosden]

Spent an hour in the Atlanta Botanical Garden orchid garden today.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

like no 2 kgosden

[SpecialK]

3 varieties.
56103

56104

56105

[kgosden]

A little extreme color from the Atlanta Botanical Gardens orchids.

[Phill D]

Yes lovely colours & nicely composed too.

[danwiz]

That's very beautiful. God makes the most amazing things for us to look at, enjoy and photograph.

[kgosden]

Thanks for the comments. The orchids are always worth an afternoon. Especially in February even here in Atlanta it gets a bit dreary.

[kgosden]

The cherry trees have quickly faded here in Atlanta. They are leaving wonderful drifts of pink and white along the roadside.

[kgosden]

Spring is progressing quickly this year in Atlanta. Always on the look out for the elusive pink dogwoods. There are a few in my neighborhood. It was dreary all weekend, but I needed to try out the latest toy; an Olympus XZ-1.

[raven15]

Niiiice. Looks like a pretty good little camera. Theoretically it should be about the same as a 4/3's camera with the kit zoom lens attached.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Great shots as always kogsen.

Special K, maybe it's just me but I think they're a little underexposed.

[rrose]

I think this will be an interesting study from you. Looking forward to the next few. Maybe after this someone will start a Flower thread. I somerimes wonder if I take too many flowers, then I see everyone else is doing it and don't feel quite so odd.
Thanks

[kgosden]

Thanks Dread Pirate Roberts. As for SpecialK's shots they seem pretty well exposed to me. The highlights are already a little clipped on my display.

[kgosden]

Took a brief trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens as I needed to play with some new toys; the Olympus XZ-1 and E-5. Had the 'doh' moment as my E-5 battery was going dead that I forgot to pack the extras. Anyway, I did get a nice shot of this clematis with the 50-200.

[Phill D]

Those flowers look nicely exposed to me too special K.
Kgosden nicely captured orchid & dogwood, looks like the little XZ1 is going to work out fine. Wish we'd got somewhere like your Botanical Gardens to go to locally.
I sympathise with your battery moment. Only done it once myself but it's annoying when you do. That clematis shot looks a bit soft to me, is it just that it's a very shallow dof and focussed a bit to the front of the flower?

[kgosden]

Phil, It was at f4.5, but a bit breezy. Thought the shutter speed would help that. No post processing except resizing.

[Switchblade906]

Thats a good photo. There are a couple different Botanical Gardens in the central Florida area, im gonna have to check them out one day.

There's also a 1,600 acre wildlife reserve that ive been wanting to go to but work, my wife, and our 4 month old take priority.

[Switchblade906]

Geranium

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5677851812_696ed60bea_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5677851812/)
Geranium (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5677851812/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

[Kushnirenko]

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Canon EOS 50D. May. 2011 + "Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM"

Viola tricolor
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5688899989_213dd79c07_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5688899989/in/photostream)

Petunia Juss
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5688899999_ffd8708497_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5688899999/in/photostream)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5688899995_69ac164581_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5688899995/in/photostream)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5688899983_6002b89da2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kushnirenko/5688899983/in/photostream)

[Switchblade906]

I like those, they have nice colors

[jr_rodriguez]

Off my backyard
f/5.6
1/125s
ISO 200

[Switchblade906]

I wonder why the photo has such a narrow depth of field when you shot it with f/5.6?

Anyway its a cool picture.

[jr_rodriguez]

Thanks. The reason for the narrow DOF is that I used my macro lens -- Tamron 90mm f/2.8, and the gear was literally on top of that flower.

[Switchblade906]

Oh ok, if you have time in the near future would you take another photo of the same flower a little farther away?

[Switchblade906]

Here's one i took today at the Central FL Zoo

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5696600177_1e762de733_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5696600177/)
Flowers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5696600177/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

[Switchblade906]

Here's one i took today at the Central FL Zoo

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5696600177_1e762de733_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5696600177/)
Flowers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5696600177/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

[Switchblade906]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/5701744898_991d7ca6ef_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701744898/)
Pin-cushion Lily (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701744898/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/5701746308_e5bf61d3ea_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701746308/)
Rose (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701746308/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

[Falconest174]

Spring has finally arrived here in the Northeast of the USA.

[Falconest174]

Did a real tight crop on the main bloom of the Apple Blossom cluster.57358
What do you think? This is now my desktop.

[Switchblade906]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/5701176339_25e3f7eb56_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701176339/)
Rose (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5701176339/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

[kgosden]

Love the color in that Switchblade.

[Switchblade906]

Thanks!!!!

[Switchblade906]

Heres a flower that i shot after the sprinklers went off

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/5717156358_6a417dfd89_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5717156358/)
Flower with water drops (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62099298@N04/5717156358/) by Switchblade906 (http://www.flickr.com/people/62099298@N04/), on Flickr

ISO:100, f/8, 1/100, at 30mm

[kgosden]

Some time off from my hawk theme to catch our hydrangeas in my favorite color phase.

[AdamW]

Beautiful soft focus on those hydrangeas.

[Switchblade906]

I really like the DOF on that shot, Id also like to see on with a f/4-5 too

[jr_rodriguez]

Some time off from my hawk theme to catch our hydrangeas in my favorite color phase.

Wonderful photo. Love the mood it creates.
How are you liking your E-5?

[jr_rodriguez]

Don't know the name of this flower. Please let me know if you do.

[kgosden]

Thanks all. I must admit to adding a little of the softness via PS. A few of the off center flowers were in a bit too sharp focus for the effect I wanted. Added a gradient mask around the central flower and some lens blur to dull the intruders. I generally like the flowers best before they turn full on blue. They always seem to be so pastel that soft focus treats them well.

The E-5 has been great. I do miss having a few direct access buttons, but I have not decided which to try and program just yet. I am quite happy with being able to shoot at ISO 800 with only a little drop in IQ.

[Phill D]

Some great flower shots on here guys, nicely done. Have been trying to shoot a peony recently but the red has defeated me so far, just can't get it to look right. Anyway had a go at a small dog rose in the evening light today.

57498

And a second bloom against the sky.
57499

[kgosden]

Phil,
Great detail in those shots. What kind of distance do you get from the subject with the 35mm macro? I have the 50mm sometimes it is just too close. On that second shot I would consider a little Photoshop blur on the green outside the bloom. Being that crisp it tends to pull the eye to the edge of the frame.

[Phill D]

kg the main problem with the 35 is that you do have to get very close. Even closer than the 50mm I'm told.

[Geoff Chandler]

Wow! - standards are pretty high here guys
I haven't taken any flower shots for ages!!
So - bearing that in mind - please don't laugh!!
This is one of my first shots with the new D90
I was basically testing it out - so no time spemt in carefully
arranging or composing
Manually White balanced (that's my usual way)
Taken with the 16 - 85 (not even a macro lens) - at around
85mm
All I have done is resized to post here - no other adjustments at all.
All things considered I felt quite posative
Need to try taking some serious shots!!

[Geoff Chandler]

& Here's my first snap with the Macro lens on the new cam

[Phill D]

Wow Geoff that's just stunning and red too! I've been trying to get some shots of red peonies on another forum site recently but I just can't seem to stop the red just glowing and loosing the detail even when the flower is in focus it looks blurred. You've managed to get a really saturated red look and keep the detail. What's the secret?

[TheWengler]

Wonderful shot Geoff. I'm sure you'll put that lens to good use

Phill D, here you go...
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?31308-The-trouble-with-RED
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?35877-Dealing-with-difficult-yellows

[Geoff Chandler]

Woah Lukas - how dod you manage to find those old posts - I thought they'd gone forever!!
The D90 is not as bad with Reds - but the underlying problem would still be there with most
cameras.
What I did was to click over to live view (bit of a cheat) and I work these days using the Kelvin scale
but Daylight with fine tuning would have a similar effect.
So what I do is compose the image then rotate the roller while the WB button is pressed and while I am in
Kelvin - to increase or decreas until the flower looks virtually exactly the same colour
Basically -in daylight most cameras are set to around 5200K or 5400K depending on brand
but reds are funny things and benefit from a lower setting - so don't be suprised if it looks better at 5000K
or even 4600K
Then - if all else has failed - there is always Photoshop and the explanation that Lukas found.
In isolation a strong Red, Yellow or Purple will confuse the Auto WB - so it is probably better to
use a manual WB

[Falconest174]

Liked the colors I saw in this backlit rose.:D

[Geoff Chandler]

Falconest174 - nice detail in those petals showing through
I like the fine detail and different colours in those petals

[Phill D]

Yes Lukas that's some serious memory skills you've got. I even posted in that thread and I'd forgotton it. Thanks for the reminder. Lots of tips to try there just need a red flower now (wind and rain got our peonies) and some time of course.

[Geoff Chandler]

Well - my red flower offering was the first one of it this year, (and the first with that macro
coupled with the new cam) - the first shot was in fact slightly more orangy but a small tweak
of the colour fixed it - the next one I took was merely dialed back a little on my Kelvin scale and
lo and behold the same colour.
Oddly - this is the same plant I had back in 2007 and over the past few years that red colour has changed -
it used to be a very dark metalic shade - now it is...well - on my monitor - just how it looks on the screen
Here's a closer look - straight off the cam - no tweaks, colour or otherwise - just resized
Red is a little truer on the D90 over the 80 - but, TBH I still like the D80 just as much despite
a couple of minor niggles.

[Geoff Chandler]

Just thought I might just crop that a little- still needed resizing down
(still D90/Tokina 100 AT-X Pro D)

[kgosden]

Geoff,

That is kind of scary macro land. I thought I had fallen into a Roger Dean album cover. Probably should not view such images just before bed time...

[Geoff Chandler]

Just thought I might just crop that a little- still needed resizing down
(still D90/Tokina 100 AT-X Pro D)
Thanks - I got lucky actually - it was hand held and blowing a little in the wind - so I was rocking back
and forth rather than twiddling the focus ring.

[Phill D]

I see what you meen kgosden it does look reminiscent of an old album cover. Showing our age now. It's a great crop Geoff especially with the little greenfly underneath. Yes a bit of luck is nice but you need to be in the right place, right position, right angle, have a good eye for composition and have all the settings nailed as well so I'd say it was more skill than luck. You are too modest.

[Geoff Chandler]

Can anyone tell me what these little flowers are called>?

[kgosden]

Geoff,

Not sure where you found that in England, but it looks like Mountain Laurel. From Wikipedia, "Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a species flowering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, that is native to the eastern United States."

[Geoff Chandler]

It was at National Trust 'Standen' near East Grinstead
(on my Multiply photo site)
http://geof777.multiply.com/photos/album/102/Standen
Look like those icing sweets (Iced Gems??)

[Geoff Chandler]

I s'pose these also qualify as flowers (being as they are) - here's some of our
lavender in our back garden - just trying to see how my Tamron fares on the D90...
Merely resized - could be bothered to mess around with it!

[Geoff Chandler]

I s'pose these also qualify as flowers (being as they are) - here's some of our
Lavender in our back garden - just trying to see how my Tamron fares on the D90...
Merely resized - could be bothered to mess around with it!

[Light-twister]

Here goes...

[Falconest174]

Here is a Lily that was in the front yard of an unoccupied house on my street.

[Geoff Chandler]

Wow - that's a really nice one - love that colour - what a waste to be in
the garden of somewhere un-occupied - at least you spotted it and we can all enjoy!

[Falconest174]

Geoff, you thought that was lovely, take a look at these blood red monsters. These blooms are at least 6" across. I walk past them daily, on my way to work.
Shots taken from different angles. Sorry about the paint on the wall, it ain't my house.:rolleyes:

[Geoff Chandler]

They are amazing!

[kgosden]

Falconest,

Love that first solo lily shot as well. Found a huge pond covered with water lilies so this is my lily of the day.

[Falconest174]

Well, fry yer eyes out anyway.

[GabrielC]

One fresh from me - took it yesterday morning.

57845

[belljam]

Nikon D40
18-105VR
FL: 105mm
ISO 200
1/400 @ f/5.6
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5076/5883222066_9eb39877bc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557974@N07/5883222066/)
18-105 Flower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557974@N07/5883222066/) by bluenoser23 (http://www.flickr.com/people/10557974@N07/), on Flickr

[traildog1]

I'm not logged on very often and very rarly post but thought I would throw this out for comments.


57888

[kgosden]

Belljam, wonderful dahlia shot.

[kgosden]

Columbine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

[belljam]

Belljam, wonderful dahlia shot.

Thank you very much for saying so! I would also say that your Columbine image is lovely! Nicely done.

[AdamW]

I haven't done any flower macros lately, so I did these this morning:



58008






58009








58010






58011






58012

[kgosden]

Adam,

I really like the 3rd and the last. But what is the flower in the first two?

[AdamW]

Adam,

I really like the 3rd and the last. But what is the flower in the first two?

I have no idea!

[tim11]

Invitation to the bees.

[kgosden]

I like that last one Tim.

[Phill D]

Stunning detail there Tim and just right DoF.

[tim11]

Thank kgoden and Phill D.
I wish I had a real macro lens for that one though, and would then have more DoF for the pollen.

[Phill D]

Tim I thought the sigma 105 was a real macro lens and a pretty good one at that.

[tim11]

Tim I thought the sigma 105 was a real macro lens and a pretty good one at that.
It's true about the 105 Phil but that shot was taken back in 2009 and was only edited and posted recently. It was shot with a crappy Nikkor 24-85 F2.8-4.0 that I returned one week later for the 16-85VR. It was badly calibrated and couldn't get sharp focus at anything below F/5.6!
I haven't done any macro shots since despite having real capability now. Maybe this summer.

Those are jaws droppers AdamW.

[AdamW]

A trip to the nursery:

58171

.

58172

.

58173

.

58174

.

58175

.

58176

.

58177

.

58178

.

58179

.

[kgosden]

Adam,

I like the 2nd and 7th best.

[AdamW]

Thanks. I think I like #2 best as well.

[K1W1]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6172/6203112728_57d0479ed6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreeve/6203112728/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6197431120_fd07e38ffd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreeve/6197431120/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/6197433336_6f0c61b0f7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreeve/6197433336/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6196915055_1d8d9d7dd3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreeve/6196915055/)

[kgosden]

It is about the end of the season here for outdoor flowers. I shot these over the weekend. Cannot recall what they are called, but they are some of the last to bloom in the western North Carolina hills.

[Geoff Chandler]

Lots of really nice blooms shot recently - all of them worthy of a mention
really
K1W1 I especially like the 3rd one - nicely composed perfectly exposed.
Well done everyone - I feel like I need to get out there again now and
get shooting!!!
:cool:

[Sir Les]

Just having fun with a Canon S95 and Picasa 3.

58728

[kgosden]

So I am guessing that the S95 has the 'selective color' mode. About time you blokes from the other side of the world added to the flower thread. For us northerners it is greenhouse and florist time if we want flower shots.

[Sir Les]

Yes, the S95 has the usual Canon 'My Colours' mode, but I didn't use that mode for the shot. All the colour manipulation was done in Picasa 3, which makes it very simple to get some great colour effects. I think the overall look is very 'Tim Burton-ish', don't you?

Just for comparison, here's the original photo. It's OK, but I don't think it has the dramatic impact of the altered one. Still, not bad for a point-and-shoot on a windy day. Taken at 1/60s, f/2.5, ISO 80.

I'll try to keep the Antipodean end up with some more photos, but lately it's been too bloody hot to go wandering about with a camera!58730

[kgosden]

I took a couple of trips to our botanical garden orchid show. I am not having much success getting shots I like. I just do not feel I have found a style or approach to orchids that works for me. I did like the color of these with the contrasting yellow centers. I merged two shots of them to get both the flowers in focus.

[Geoff Chandler]

kgosden - amazing looking flowers - beautiful colour!!!

Here's a snap of our Magnolia in our front garden - just come out into bloom.
(Usual favoured easy combi for this is the D90/ Tamron 28-200)

[kgosden]

Geoff,

I love tulip magnolias, but the blooms do not last long. Atlanta had such a warm and early Spring that ours have nearly dropped their last petals. Even our cherry trees are finishing up. I am going to try to get to Washington DC this Sunday since I have business in the area Monday. Peak bloom around the tidal basin was predicted for this Friday. I just hope that the weather holds out for Sunday afternoon. I really was not thinking of cherry blossoms in the rain...

[Geoff Chandler]

Be sure to post any pics you get then - will look out for them :)

[kgosden]

Well, you cannot easily time weather and flower blooms at a distance. If only I could have had a reason to be in the DC area Thursday of last week, before the rain came for 24 hours. Most of the cherry blossoms were at my feet or in the water. The sun finally came out after I walked around the entire Tidal Basin. There were still a few trees on the Mall side with okay flowers, but not easy to frame a good shot with the crowds.

[Geoff Chandler]

Blossom looks lovely - how ever did you capture that huge mass of it in the first
photo??

[kgosden]

Geoff,

The first photo is where the tide in the Tidal Basin was pushing the floaters against the retaining wall. So they were floating right about a foot below the path.

[Geoff Chandler]

Would make a good wallpaper for the computer I guess
Amazing mass of flower petals...
I like the other image with the tree alonmg the left hand side
of the image.
:)

[Geoff Chandler]

Returning to our Magnolia - within a week the wind has done it's worst!
Very quickly those petals come off!
Here's all that remains (1st pic)

[Geoff Chandler]

Here's a general view of the carnage - but somehow it is still
beautiful!!

[Geoff Chandler]

Finally - 2 pics, side by side, of lower down on the plant
I would say tree - but it is still quite small.
(All taken with the Tamron - my prefered lens for general plant shots that
aren't specifically macro)

[kgosden]

Geoff,

That lens performs well. Nice bokeh and I love the subtle shades of white in that very last shot.

[Phill D]

I agree too those are lovely shots Geoff. The rest from photography has done you good.