Perpetual flower photo thread

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_060805_1.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_060805_2.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Congratulations to jeff31 on posting the 1000th post on this thread! And, may I say - it's a very nice set of pics.
Great pics everyone on this thread.
Here's what I would consider to be one of the hardest to capture right in my front garden - there are several of them. Even after a few shots and underexposing and trying the flash turned down ~ I still had to reduce the brightness a tad more in curves after. This one taken around 8pm.

[Geoff Chandler]

-and this one taken about a month back - in bight sunlight.
It's a touch lighter in shade than the real thing - it's actually a jolly
dark coloured flower!!

[Tyger]

i think both Jeff and Geoff have posted some great stuff along with everyone else.

Here's a couple more from me. I never thought taking pics of flowers would be so fun, go figure:)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/498/flower40nc.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5273/flower59pw.jpg

[Bald Eagle]

Fantastic flower shots from everybody. Here is my contribution. hope you like.

[gstafleu]

jeff31, great pics, as usual. You really have developed a style of your own, excellent work.

Geoff, I like the first dark blue one the best, it came out very well. It is amazing how many shades of dark blue there are!

Tyger, two excellent shots. The translucent quality of the blue flower is very appealing.

Before I go on to my contribution of the day, I would like to point you to this thread on dpreview (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=14535873). It may throw some light on the red-oversaturation issue. I got the idea from one of the pics below.

Today I have another garden series, this time concentrating on yellow/orange. I'll start with light yellow, a Marygold:
http://photos22.flickr.com/32105442_30e5baf362_o.jpg

There is a darker yellow variety as well:
http://photos22.flickr.com/32105454_7a5f027ac6_o.jpg

Continuing in this direction we get to a yellow/orange Marygold:
http://photos21.flickr.com/32105460_0ac8902800_o.jpg

And a slightly different version of the same:
http://photos21.flickr.com/32105473_d1ac2a8a84_o.jpg

We are threatening to stray into red territory here, so let's hang a left (or maybe right) back to yellow:
http://photos22.flickr.com/32105477_c928a11260_o.jpg

OK, maybe a little more red, a back-lit pansy (but it has a lot of yellow :)):
http://photos21.flickr.com/32105415_727ed8bbcf_o.jpg

I'll end with a very subtle yellow. It is really a white flower back-lit by the evening sun:
http://photos22.flickr.com/32105431_d161c8f9fd_o.jpg

[Wombat]

Before I go on to my contribution of the day, I would like to point you to ............. It may throw some light on the red-oversaturation issue. I got the idea from one of the pics below.

Thanks Gerard for this link and your excellent analysis of the problem. This is so useful and does explain why the histogram says "OK" yet the mark1 eyeball often says "not OK".

Geoff C - Sorry I took so long getting back to you. The neutral setting on the Canon A80 is not, as I said, under the white balance section but under another section called "special effects". The user guide says it tones down contrast and colour saturation. As mentioned I find it really useful for saturated colours - it certainly works.

Here's a shot of a toad lily, I think :confused:

regards
Wombat

[Geoff Chandler]

Wombat - whatever UR doing with that A-80 - the results are just great!
Interesting how they all go about things slightly differently though.
Here's a flower in our garden that we all know - these are not quite out yet - I posted the leaf of them in the leaf thread...

[Geoff Chandler]

This one in bloom. & What is that odd blue background...?
Well it's our quilt cover on the washing line!

[Geoff Chandler]

While I'm still online ~
The Agapanthus is over - I reckon we could collect the seeds

[Geoff Chandler]

Finally ~ remember my dark purple flowers?
Here's a more natural looking shot of a small bunch. :)

[snowrdr]

A couple from the Portland Rose Garden. No post-processing, just resized. :D

http://www.pbase.com/image/47416052.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/47416091.jpg

[Wombat]

Just a dahlia flower. Canon A80

regards
Wombat

[Coltess]

p.s can someone tell me why my pictures dont display in this main window??
If you attach more than one file they only show up as links. Attach only one file/picture to a file, or link to the pictures hosted elsewhere to make them show up.

[hollidunn]

My first photo's taken with my brand new Nikon D-70...

It is a light, vanilla/yellow daisy from my garden:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/hollidunn/D70%20pics/diasy.jpg

I also took this one of my succulent plant:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/hollidunn/D70%20pics/succlulentplant.jpg


Holli

[Geoff Chandler]

My first photo's taken with my brand new Nikon D-70...
It is a light, vanilla/yellow daisy from my garden:
Holli
Holidunn - welcome to the forum - 2 great shots - the second is splendiferous!
snowrdr - great reds - no sign of over saturation there - lovely shots
wombat - brilliant A-80 Dahlia shot!
keep it up everyone - maybe a small comment about how we took the shots as well???

[nuvolino]

here is a picture of a small flower that I took in 0cm macro mode
just to get an idea of the size...

then in the next photo....

[nuvolino]

in this shot is a close up pic of the previous flower but using a closeup lens set to zoom in on the little bulbus bit in the middle of the flower and looking right inside...the tip of this flower is only about 1.5 mm

sorry for redoing this post but i finally worked out what was going wrong :p
thankyou coltess :rolleyes:

[American Nomad]

Taken in New Bern, North Carolina April, 2005.
I'm enjoying all the beautiful photos!!!

[D Thompson]

Been a while since I've put one here, so here goes.

Dennis

Canon 20D, EF85 f1.8, 1/200 @ f7.1, ISO100, convert from RAW & crop

[Phill D]

Its been a while since I posted here too. I was going to post this on the small world thread but as you posted that nice bee & flower shot Dennis I thought I'd put in on here. Straight from the camera just downsized & cropped a bit. This bee was basking in the sun & didn't move very quickly hence the capture I have a few others I'll post on Small World with a bit more movement when I get time. Taken with FZ20 at f2,8, 1/125s, iso 100 & 6mm focal length.

[debbie_v]

Wow... Seeing a photo such as this gives me a lot of inspiration. Your flower is so crisp and clean, the color so vibrant and full.
I am a newbiw here and haven't yet gotten my camera, its coming by mail (Canon S2).The pic that I have posted was taken with a P&S, HP PhotoSmart 2.1 mps. It may be inferior to what you have posted but oh, I have had fun with it and being my first digital, it opened a whole new world for me. I am hoping that I can do the Canon justice, living in the Pacific Northwest, there is no end to the creative shots that are in my backyard.

[debbie_v]

Another by the 2.1 HP PhotoSmart

[ReValveiT]

Couple here taken with the 20D / Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 combo...

Even got a Bee for good measure.

http://www.dtsabers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pics/flower_4.jpg

http://www.dtsabers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pics/flower_5.jpg

[Tyger]

great pics everyone!

Phill D- that's a beautiful presentation:)

saw this at my walk at lunch, i couldn't resist:)
http://www.monzoncreations.com/flower-aug1105.jpg

[gstafleu]

Well, I don't visit here for a few days, and a whole bunch of great pics have appeared. Excellent work, everyone.

You may not have noticed it, but Fall is (almost) here (this only works if you live North of the tropics, of course). The imminent arrival of Fall in Canada is heralded by a very Canadian plant: Canada Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis (Asteraceae). As you see, the word "Canada" is in the name twice :). It flowers from August all the way into October.

Here is an overview shot, a bunch of Goldenrods at the side of a path:
http://photos21.flickr.com/33256960_57cde9206b_o.jpg

This is a closer view:
http://photos22.flickr.com/33256979_0d1572ab7e_o.jpg

And to finish, a "bouquet shot" (meaning there is more than one type of flower in the shot:
http://photos22.flickr.com/33256988_2cfc97bfcc_o.jpg
The whitish flower is Hedge Bindweed, Calystegia sepium.

[lynchbird]

My first flower pic with my new FZ20.

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL66/86790/6669793/108073019.jpg

[arrgon]

Not sure what these are - I just like taking photos of flowers, never really get to identifying them - hope you enjoy!

Taken with Canon Ixus 500 just today, tried to get everything as manual as possible:

[Geoff Chandler]

Not got much to post at the moment - busy times!
After the passion Flower comes the Fruit - here's the first
sign of it - I think it changes colour next.
A-200 - nothing changed other than the size. ISO50, F5.6, 1/40th sec Anti shake,168mm focal length equiv.

[Coltess]

Arrgon,
How did you get the background to get so dark? Did you use a backdrop or something?

[Geoff Chandler]

Not sure what these are - I just like taking photos of flowers, never really get to identifying them - hope you enjoy!
Taken with Canon Ixus 500 just today, tried to get everything as manual as possible:
Could they be Freesias??
Nice pic!

[gstafleu]

Today I have another of these plants that are native to Europe but have been naturalized in North America: Brown Knapweed, Centaurea jacea (Asteraceae). It is family of the blue cornflower (C. cyanus).

First an overview shot of a bunch of them growing beside a path:
http://photos23.flickr.com/33518273_eb745a8d33_o.jpg

Here is a close-up of one flower:
http://photos22.flickr.com/33518277_4165760dbd_o.jpg

And another close-up that also shows the bud you get when the flower is finished:
http://photos23.flickr.com/33518294_b06858d82e_o.jpg

Finally, the bees like them too:
http://photos21.flickr.com/33518297_bbc482089f_o.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Gerard - nicely presented selection.
I like the way you introduce the overall view first then get in closer.
Quite busy at the moment - not got anything new to post - but keeping an eye on the threads.
Keep it up - I don't know how you find the time but your doing a great job with the pics. ;)

[jeff31]

A new compilation of my best shots taken during one week. Hope you like them.

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_2.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_7.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_5.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_9.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_3.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_4.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_8.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_6.jpg

[snowy egret]

One of my favorite places to visit every July is Perry's Water Gardens in Franklin NC.
The Lotus are in full bloom then & are the most interesting flowers.
I sometimes feel they must have evolved in another galaxy.
attached is a red lotus in full bloom & (hopefully) a very small iris
Thes shots taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700
Blair

[arwelw]

Just a couple of flowers out and about.
Fantastic colours to your flowers Jeff31, I am still jealous. I need to get some decent web space so I dont have to reduce my image quality so much to post, I suppose practice makes perfect.

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_sum_05_1.jpg

[arwelw]

I love your passion flower.
I have been meaning to get one for my garden for ages.
They have a fantastic structure.

[debbie_v]

Arron, do please tell us how you get that black background? Is it your software?

[Geoff Chandler]

Jeff - great to someone elses Passion Flower shot - today we had around 12 of them out!!! We have the fruit as well now (see previous in this thread).
Interested to see how the fruit progresses - is it your Passion flower or just one you spotted.??
BTW - love your series of shots - really enjoyed them - were they taken in France??

[jeff31]

This passion flower has been shotten at my mother-in-law home. She has about ten of these fruits.

[gstafleu]

Geoff, thanks for the kind words. I hope to see you back, photographically that is, soon!

Jeff31, your "best of" series is truely amazing.

It is always a question wether to post berries in the leaf or in the flower thread, a case can be made for both. Having recently posted some under leafs, I thought today I'd show some in this thread:
http://photos21.flickr.com/33748270_2872250718_o.jpg

[val123]

[QUOTE=jeff31]A new compilation of my best shots taken during one week. Hope you like them.

Jeff - these shots are amazing - you are doing a brilliant job. I always look forward to viewing your shots in these forums.

[arrgon]

Arron, do please tell us how you get that black background? Is it your software?

I took the shot in front of a black clipboard, which turned out a dark shade of grey, which i just darkened in photoshop.

[kewtpie]

Hello all-

Just found this great forum....
Here is a contribution using my Canon S410:

Take care,
Kristy

[Phill D]

Must add my congrats to you Jeff you have posted some pretty amaizing shots in the past but that "best of " series was inspired. So sharp & vibrant lovely lighting. You ought to make them into a callendar, I'm sure it would sell well. Any tips you feel you could pass on as to just how you manage to get that special look in your images would be very helpful.

[wall]

Great pics everyone.
Welcome to the forum, kewtpie.
As usual, your shots look awesome jeff. They blow me away every time :)

Here my contribution for today:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1931/f232sh.jpg

It's a Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina'.

[Mr. Bone88]

Hi everyone,

I live in the desert in California and wanted to share my picture with you. We had lots of rain during the winter and spring this year that isn't normal. We're normally really dry here. In all the 5 years of living in the desert I have never seen flowers like this let alone any flowers really. I took this picture back then. I did the best I could with my old Sony Cybershot 1.3MP DSC-P30 digital camera. Hope you enjoy it. I also have a picture of a cactus but I don't think it would belong in this thread, hehe. Take care, ~Mr. Bone88 :)

[gstafleu]

Welcom to the forum, Kristy. That is a nice "postcard." At least, that is what it reminds me of with the nice border you made. And I like the highlights you caught on the flowers,

Wall, that is interesting light on the Malva. It is almost fluorescent, very nice.

Today it is time to get impatient, flower-wise that is, with some Impatiens, or Touch-Me-Not, shots. Impatiens is the flower that makes seed pods that "explode" when you touch them, which can be great fun :).

I have two types for you, the pink and the yellow Impatiens. We'll start pink, meaning Impatiens glandulifera (Balseminaceae), the Glandular Touch-Me-Not. Here is a shot of the whole plant, next to a river (they like wet ground):
http://photos22.flickr.com/34006243_037a66d040_o.jpg
OK, so there are a lot of plants here, but the Impatiens is the one with the pink flowers, in the middle.

Next a close-up that shows the shape of the flower from the front and the side:
http://photos23.flickr.com/34006265_0c43542f11_o.jpg
As you may notice, it was a rainy day :).

Here is another close-up. For some reason it reminds me of a traffic light:
http://photos21.flickr.com/34006253_7ae0c92bb2_o.jpg

And to end the pink variety, here is a drippy group:
http://photos21.flickr.com/34006282_54a0e6250f_o.jpg

The yellow variety is called the Pale Touch-Me-Not, Impatiens pallida. The plant itself looks a lot like the pink one, but the flowers are, you guessed it, yellow. Here is one sheltering under an umbrella:
http://photos23.flickr.com/34006289_103e87399f_o.jpg

This one was also going for the umbrella-trick, but with more limited success:
http://photos21.flickr.com/34006304_c008cd6811_o.jpg

And to finish one that has basically given up on the whole umbrella idea. The poor thing is wet inside and out (if you look closely you'll see a drop hanging inside the flower):
http://photos21.flickr.com/34006323_9ecd51320d_o.jpg

[Wombat]

Great shots everyone and thank you for sharing them.

Here is a "soggy" Gallardia flower. Canon A80, f/2.8, exp 1/200s, exposure compensation -2/3.

regards
Wombat

[Geoff Chandler]

Sorry guys - I'm dropping behind a bit ~
Snowy Egret - very nice examples, red lotus & Mini Iris
arwelw - also really great shots - what was that first one??
Looks related to my Peace Lilley...
Gerard - excellent berry shots (berry good)
also the 'Touch me not' shots - again I like the way you lead
us into the subjct
& Kristy ~ lovely framing of a super shot!
Wall - great to see one of your excellent shots again
mrbones88 - amazing to think things grow out in dessert
areas - though they do and you have captured it well
& finally Wombat - that so colourfull your "soggy" Gallardia flower
great having the water on it - exposure is just right
Well- my FOTD is one who's name I will remember now (and in the Fushia :D )
I took this in the early evening - a 100 ISO, f5.0, 1/40thsec,-0.3ev,Anti-shake
I ever so slighty reduced the exposure a bit more after (maybe took it almost
to -0.5ev), but basically it's more or less as taken. A-200 - still I'm not quite happy as I was on telephoto and a bit shaky - so I didn' quite centre it as I wanted (sigh!)

[arwelw]

arwelw - also really great shots - what was that first one??

Geoff,
I have no idea, I went to the "living rain forest" near Newbury, and that was one of the better things, not many plants had labels.
I will post some more soon, but I need to find some plants that do this thread and all the fantastic photos everyone takes justice.

[ReValveiT]

http://www.dtsabers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pics/flowers_framed_1.jpg

[American Nomad]

You guys take simply amazing pictures! This coming from the amature that I am, I can only strive to be as good. Thanks for sharing your quality photos.

[Wombat]

A yellow daisy with spiral petals - not sure what it is called.

Canon A80, macro mode, Ap. f/4.5, Exp. 1/500s, exposure compensation -1/3. I was pleased with the composition as the buds help fill the frame.

regards
Wombat

[wall]

You're right - the comp is great on that one, Wombat.
Those are some awsome looking marigolds, ReValveiT.
Geoff, you got brilliant colors on that flower.
Gerard, thanks for sharing that photo essay on "dripping wet plants" :D

Here is a shot of some Cupid's Darts:
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2695/img0592crop20yc.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Revalve it - very striking and vivd pic - nicely presented too - I must try some framing...
Wall - a very natural shot - I like
Wombat - great yellow daisy, excellent composition.
I think it really helps us all to think about what we are doing when we take
a pic after seeing the quality of the shots on this thread
~ Anyway - my FOTD - one from my Mum's garden a few months back: -

[val123]

Another of my favourite threads - some really supper pics on here.

Heres one that only opens up when the sun is shining and it sure has been shining today! :)

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32479141-L.jpg

and a pair!

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32479128-L.jpg

[Coltess]

Does this look fake? I "cut" out the background because it was ugly and just to try it.

[RiCoChEt]

First-time photographer, 2nd day with my SD500:

http://photos21.flickr.com/34882978_8c74a1e566.jpg

I'm kind of tall, so it was hard to stoop so low.

[ReValveiT]

Does this look fake? I "cut" out the background because it was ugly and just to try it.
Doesn't look fake at all. Great Pic - well done!

http://www.dtsabers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pics/flower_framed_1.jpg

[Wombat]

A poppy flower. Canon A80, macro mode, f/6.3, exp 1/500s, exposure compensation -2/3.

regards
Wombat

[val123]

A change of colour now - was out walking earlier and spotted this one in a hedge, It was very small only about half inch accross but i thought rather pretty.

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32515790-L.jpg

[Coltess]

I quite like this one (these ones?). :)

[lynchbird]

Coltess:

I like it. Very dramatic! :)

[kewtpie]

Val--I really like your work

Wombat--man, great stuff--love the wet flower

Jeff--really beautiful

Everyone's shots are so nice!

Here are a few more contributions, not sure who was in the Pacific NW, but these were taken in Yakima, Wa.
I love purple flowers best, and I had never seen Clematis before--I love those stripes in them.
All with my Canon S410.

Take care all,
Kristy

[jeff31]

Val123 > Very nice shots.


2 new pics taken after after the rain
http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170805_1.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170805_2.jpg

[snowy egret]

No passion flowers here but many sunflowers
Here's a red one
Cheers
Snowy egret

[snowy egret]

Not sure if this one belongs here but it's fun
The double back of a yellow sunflower
camera is cp5700
in macro mode

[Geoff Chandler]

Great pics here everyone!
Val 123 - you're really doing well with that S2
Snowy Egret - great shots -
Jeff 31 - do I need to say anything? - mega!
Ricoshet - superb first pics - really great

Here's a tiny Tomatoe flower - I have these tiny toms growing - smaller than the usual little cherry ones, and really tasty - but the plant is quite tall
taken with the A-200 and the lighting a bit from behind.
I'll post a Tomato pic in the leaf thread.

[Geoff Chandler]

Oh - and another tricky red flower - no processing - straight off the camera taken at -0.7ev - resized and posted

[jeff31]

Thanks Geoff.
Here another very colored flower:

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170805_3.jpg

[wall]

One last pic before I go on vacation:

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1525/img0055b7zg.jpg

The "effects" are completely from the camera. The sun was just above the pic, so I got these strange lens flare and starburst lines. The starbursts on the flower are from water droplets.

[Jim Last]

Out for Lunch?

http://www.lastconsulting.co.uk/photos/19-08-05_002.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170805_5.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Out for Lunch?

Jim - Ahh - I see you bought one in the end!
Great shot! - & I see you have a host website.
My Yahoo doesn't attach to here - so I have to reduce all my pics
Geoff

[jeff31]

Background removed manually

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170805_4.jpg

[Wombat]

A cardboard box studio shot of a marigold flower. Canon A80 , macro mode, Ap f/8.0, exp 1/3s, exposure compensation -1/3. Natural light no flash.

regards
Wombat

[Coltess]

A cardboard box studio shot of a marigold flower. Canon A80 , macro mode, Ap f/8.0, exp 1/3s, exposure compensation -1/3. Natural light no flash.
Cardboard box? How does that work?

[Wombat]

Cardboard box? How does that work?

Just a cardboard box lined with black card, the box is turned so its interior is in the shade. The black lining and the shade gives a beautifully smooth, and uniform black background against which to shoot flowers or other objects. So much cheaper than black velvet and no specks of lint :) .

regards
Wombat

[val123]

This is fast becoming my favourite thread - once again some great shots

Geoff - love the tomato plant - you have captured the colours beautifully,
Jeff31 - great shots as usual, amazing colours,
Wombat - love the marigold, really delicate colours looks great on the black
Jim - beautiful shot, great detail.

Loved them all...........here is my offering for the day - hope you like... :)

firstly a basket of flowers from my garden.........

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32730223-L.jpg

Followed by some closeups......

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32730232-L.jpg

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32730221-L.jpg

[Coltess]

Just a cardboard box lined with black card, the box is turned so its interior is in the shade. The black lining and the shade gives a beautifully smooth, and uniform black background against which to shoot flowers or other objects. So much cheaper than black velvet and no specks of lint :) .
Thanks Wombat. I'll have to give that a try.

[Geoff Chandler]

Val - lovely series of shots - I like the framing - was it easy???
I'd like to try some framing when I find some time
Here's my humble offering for today ~ one from my Mum's
garden for a change: -

[val123]

Val - lovely series of shots - I like the framing - was it easy???
I'd like to try some framing when I find some time
Here's my humble offering for today ~ one from my Mum's
garden for a change: -

Hi Geoff - thanks for the comments, As you will have guessed from my recent posts I am experimenting with framing and presentation, this was quite easy -
Select outer frame area, invert and apply G Blur (about 88%) select inner frame, invert and apply G Blur at (about 12%).

Use Rectangle tool for outer, apply required line thickness and colour, repeat for inner frame area.

Sounds a bit fiddly but I can now apply quite quickly.

BTW love the White flowers, I'm still not getting settings quite right with white they tend to come out a bit overdone, yours however are lovely.

[Geoff Chandler]

Val ~ thanks for your framing reply.
Very clear instructions - I will try it out next time I am home alone!
Your pics on your website are great and I like the way it is laid out.
With your experience behind 35mm cameras and now the knowledge
you are absorbing from the world of digital it's little wonder your
photos look so great!! (Oh - and the S2 is pretty good too!!) - keep it up,
its great to view other peoples photos ~ especially when they are good at
what they do (like so many others who post here). We are all at different
levels of experience and knowledge and can all learn something from the
next person.
Thanks again - I will let you know how I get on with the framing...
Geoff :)

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/best_200805_5.jpg

[kewtpie]

Hi--

Val--your shots are so nice

Jeff31--you inspire me

Geoff--such wonderful work!

Ok--
I'm still learning and trying to figure this stuff out.
Here is my atempt at the "blurred framing" I keep seeing. I have MS Digital Image Suite, (can't afford the expensive software yet), so the instructions Val gave didn't work for me, but a little playing with it and I found a similar way to do it.
Tell me what you think--this example may be a bit too blurred??
Take care all,
Kristy

[jeff31]

what do you think about this one?
http://sonyv3.free.fr/best_200805_4.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_200805_1.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_200805_2.jpg

[val123]

Hi everyone

Geoff - glad to be of help - let me know how it works out.

Jeff31 - once again a great series of shots - like the new style. How do you get that shadow effect?

As always love your colours & water droplets look great.

Your final post is my personal favourite - colours perfect, presentation great once again! well done. look forward to seeing your posts - do you have an on line gallery we can have a look at?

Kewtpie - your framing looks great - if I can be of any help please feel free to email me or send me a pm. What camera are you using and what settings?

[val123]

Heres another offering - hope you like - my favourite flower the Pansy

let me know what you think..........

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32730231-L.jpg

[kewtpie]

Hey Val-

I have been posting pix recently that were taken with my Canon S410, using the p & s mode, and using the close-up mode. I started with an S30 and just loved it. My church asked me to be their photographer a year ago spring, and I had to have something with a bigger flash, so I got a G5 and a speedlite 420. It seems to be doing the job just fine there. My goal is a DSLR, Canon of course. Still not sure which one.
I've been doing some pix of my kids and shot my first wedding this past Feb. (talk about nerves!). Visited my friend in Yakima, WA in May and got on this flower close-up kick. She wanted something to enlarge and frame for her house...
Anyway, I love taking pictures, just would like to figure out how to make a living at it.
Take care,
Kristy

[Geoff Chandler]

Val - I tried the instructions out this morning before work - I managed to invert and blur etc - but couldn't find the one thing I wanted - a Border!
This was in Serif - so if anybody knows how to draw a border around a selection in Serif I would be grateful. I switched to PSP and found I couldn't open this particular picture as it seemed to think it was an Internet Explorer file!! I checked the properties and is was a JPG - at this point I was running out of time - so I tweaked the surround a bit more by reducing the saturation and mildly lightening and have posted the result so far. Maybe one of my other Graphics programs will allow me to do a border - I will try later when I have time again
Meanwhile hope you like the pic...

[jeff31]

Hi everyone
How do you get that shadow effect?


With PhotoShop, shadow on layer.


Ok, now a last one because i'm not very convinced by this style.
http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_210805_1.jpg

[Wombat]

Great shots everyone - I enjoy and learn from every single one.

Here is another indoor shot this time of a Nigella flower. Canon A80.

regards
Wombat

[Coltess]

Jeff,
I'm guessing you added a drop shadow to the flower? I would probably then have "raised" the left most petal of the flower above the frame. Sort of like having the flower floating above it all, but that is just me.

Just took this one. No tinkering, just scaled from RAW file.
I quite like it myself. :D

[val123]

Hey Val-
Anyway, I love taking pictures, just would like to figure out how to make a living at it.
Take care,
Kristy

If you figure that out Kristy let me know - something I would love to do!

btw.....you have posted some nice shots on here.

Geoff - love that rose bud , beautiful colour with the frame try drawing in the border using the pen tool.



Here is todays offering from my garden......

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/32730228-L.jpg

[gstafleu]

A few days ago I posted some drippy Touch-Me-Nots. In addition to the ones I showed there, the Pink and the Yellow varieties, there also is a very nice orange/yellow one, called Spotted Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens capensis). It is also called Jewel Weed, for reasons you can probably gather from the pictures.

Here is the whole plant, beside a waterfall:
http://photos31.flickr.com/36025480_bee26be03b_o.jpg

A close-up from the side, the flower is bashfully hiding from the sun:
http://photos30.flickr.com/36025486_4a0079a155_o.jpg

And from the front:
http://photos28.flickr.com/36025490_227d42663b_o.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Gerard - those are lovely shots - could even have gone in the Waterfall thread.
Val - I guess that's the answer - I had tried the pen but it wasn't quite right - but I was in a hurry - I will try again when I get a moment...
I will be a bit (totally) quiet next week as I am off to La Rochel (France) for a break for a week - hopefully I should get some decent shots while we're away >>>

[Geoff Chandler]

I have to admit temporary defeat!
I have tried all my graphics programs andnot one will do a border like some of the above - my main program is Serif - like PSP - I also have PSP4, and Picture it, and Arcsoft Photo impressions 4 - PSP has "Add Borders" but it is only around the edge and can't be moved.
I probably need a friend who undestands one of these to sit beside me, I shall see who I know that knows about these things
So, sorry - no lovely bordered pics from me for the moment
Here's some tulips with a black background to be going on with. (C-740)

[gstafleu]

That's a dramatic tulip pic Geoff, impressive even without a border :).

If you are into gardening you have probably heard of Clematis. It is a vine with large spectacular flowers. It is also family of the lowly buttercup!

Here in Canada we have a wild variety called Virgin's-Bower, Clematis virginiana (Ranunculaceae). It tends to climb over everything, here is a shot of it covering lots of other plants:
http://photos22.flickr.com/36349515_a7cfcd2f39_o.jpg

Here is a close-up of the flowers. They aren't as large (say 2 cm) or as colorful (they are white) as the garden variety:
http://photos33.flickr.com/36349538_1151bee013_o.jpg

And another one, because I wouldn't want to leave you without a drop-shot:
http://photos33.flickr.com/36349551_150777407f_o.jpg

[gstafleu]

And while we're on the topic of white spindly flowers, here is a Wild Cucumber, Echinocystis lobata (Cucurbitaceae):. It is also a vine:
http://photos27.flickr.com/36353507_32de7925af_o.jpg

[gstafleu]

Oh, Geoff, especially for you I've added a border to your tulips (with Corel Painter), whadayathink:
http://publish.uwo.ca/~gerard/photos/OtherPeople/TulipsBorders.jpg
I told you the pic looked good without a border :).

[Geoff Chandler]

Gerard - that's pretty good with the tulips - Like all the Clematis shots.
Arcsoft Photo Impressions will let me do things like this: - but I'd like to create my own borders...

[val123]

Gerard - lovely series of shots - its great to see the full plant and the close ups.

Geoff - I love those Tulips, they look fantastic on the black background.

Here's my attempt at the background ......what do you think? This lovely rose starts off yellow and as it goes off fades to white with pink highlights. It also has a beautiful scent.

Hope you like.

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/33248181-L.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Val - how did you get your black background??
Lovely shot however you achieved it!! (Shame you can't attach the smell!!)
Mine? - I had the flowers on the table - a dark green carpet in the background - under exposed a bit because of the darkness of the flowers - then used the flash to light them so the backround turned virtually black.
Not so with this next one - I cheated!! ~ Good old Serif, cropped, drew around the flower, inverted and changed the colour of the background .. Not really my usual style - but fun! (Took a little time though!!)
This one was A-200 originally

[Geoff Chandler]

& here's the orig - just resized only.
Happy to accept any constructive critisism on this mini project...

[gstafleu]

Val, Geoff, that is a nice yellow-against-black collaboration :). The black background makes the flower really stand out (cheating or not!).

I have two disparate offerings. First, I found out that that last spindly white thing I posted, of which I didn't know what it was, is, hold for it, a Cucumber! The Wild or Prickly Cucumber, Echinocyctis lobata (Cucurbitaceae), to be exact. It is also a vine and it climbs all over the place:
http://photos25.flickr.com/36674029_68ecf9b02e_o.jpg
The white is a mixture of leaves in the sun and white flowers in the sun. OK, so they are blown out, it is the thought that counts here :).

My other FOTD is not just one ore two, but a whole riot of Petunias (I think, garden plant names are not my strong point...):
http://photos23.flickr.com/36672628_307efc1072_o.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_280805_1.jpg

[Wombat]

Great shots everyone - what a thread this has turned out to be - and all in a few months. WOW.

Here is a wet dahlia - Canon A80.

regards
Wombat

[jeff31]

Amazing shot Wombat ! :)

[Geoff Chandler]

They just keep on coming - great Dahlia shot Wonbat!
jeff - another wonderful pic
I took a handfull while out & about - here's one of my Mum's weeds
Like the white one I posted a month or so back - but this one purple..
(or whatever shade you wish to call it!)
Apart from the rain, and the drops - it was the way it almost has it's own
light source coming from the centre that caught my attention.

A-200 - as usual struggling with the low light - 100 ISO/ASA - F5.6 & 1/15th sec
200mm (so anti shake working hard here!!)

[Geoff Chandler]

We called these 'Snap-dragons' as kids
Couldn't bring myself to tamper with this so I have just cropped the edges as it was landscape, resized it and posted.
ISO - 100, F5.6, 1 60th sec AS ...A-200

[bklassen]

Hey everyone. This was taken in my mom's garden. I'm not sure what type of flower it is. Taken in the Macro Mode of my simple Pentax Optio S4 point and shoot! (CAN'T WAIT to get my FZ30!!)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a400/bklassen/06c742c5.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Hey everyone. This was taken in my mom's garden. I'm not sure what type of flower it is. Taken in the Macro Mode of my simple Pentax Optio S4 point and shoot! (CAN'T WAIT to get my FZ30!!)

bklassen ~ If that's what you are taking with a P&S - we can't wait for you to get your FZ30 either. Great shot!
Here's my FOTD - I think these are called 'Pinks' like small carnations...

[musicarvind]

Taken with Samsung i5. Not much reviews on this camera but supposed to take macro shots at 1cm. Aperture at f3.5 as the largest. hmm .. oh well anyways here it is.

arvind sachdev,
chiang mai, thailand

[American Nomad]

I really enjoy the quality of the pics everyone posts.
Here is a tulip I captured.

[val123]

Val - how did you get your black background??
Lovely shot however you achieved it!! (Shame you can't attach the smell!!)

- I cheated!! ~ Good old Serif, cropped, drew around the flower, inverted and changed the colour of the background .. Not really my usual style - but fun! (Took a little time though!!)
This one was A-200 originally

Afraid it was a cheat too Geoff - similar to your serif but painted in background....

Here is an unusual plant - found it in the butterfly house at longleat not sure what it is..............but thought you might like

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/33375697-L.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Afraid it was a cheat too Geoff - similar to your serif but painted in background....

Here is an unusual plant - found it in the butterfly house at longleat not sure what it is..............but thought you might like


Val that really is unusual - almost like it's alien!
Yes you are right - I do like it!! It's nicely photoagraphed, if I may say, as well.
well - after later tonight - I won't be on here for a week as I am off on Holiday to La Rochel in France, with my little family (not so little! Kids 13 and nearly 11) . I shall take both cameras - but I will keep hold of the A-200!!
Hopefully I will pick up a selection of postable shots - I tend to 'record' the holiday with my camera - I try to photograph in a way that I hope will best rekindle the memory. But I will bear this site in mind at the same time.
Meanwhile - a patch in my front garden - including those Mauve flowers I posted a while back - the little blue flowers are quite hard to get - especially in the wind!!!

[Geoff Chandler]

Closer view of the little Blue flowers - had to use the flash really

[Phill D]

Just a little rose with my first real play with image editing - used auto levels & tweaked the curves a bit. Any other suggestions gratefully received.

[Wombat]

Phill D - you have really handled this shot very well - it is a really tricky colour especially with roses. They seem to be extremely shiny flowers.

Geoff C - nice shot of the Vinca with raindrops. What a beautiful blue and a class composition.

Here is a Japanese Anemone with my Canon A80.

regards
Wombat

[Jarod_Guan]

Well, how about this lotus, this was shot in Beijing.

[Jarod_Guan]

There are lot of lotus in Beijing.

[Jarod_Guan]

all of my photos are all taken with my A95.

In this one, the sky is over-exposure. :eek:

[Jarod_Guan]

the center of a lotus, a very nice yellow colow

[bklassen]

Very nice picture Jarod...not sure if I've seen a Lotus before (flower that is, although the cars are very nice too :p )

I really wish I aimed the frame in this shot a little higher, I unfortunately cropped a tiny sliver off the top pedal. I still enjoy the vibrant colors. Taken in my mom's garden (again).

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a400/bklassen/3856a8b4.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_260805_1.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_260805_2.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_260805_5.jpg

[val123]

Nice carnation Jeff - I like the black background - shows off the delicate colours of the flower.

I've been playing around with indoor shots tonight, here is a begonia flower - no flash, av Mode, Shutter Speed 1/5, F2.7. tripod & Studio lights.

What do you guys think?

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/33611409-L.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_260805_4.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_270805_1.jpg

[val123]

Jeff - I just love that peach coloured rose, It really comes to life with the rain drops on it.

I rediscovered this one today whilst sorting through pictures - pretty little rosebud complete with insects sheltering from the rain. Hope you like........

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/30801622-L.jpg

[val123]

A delicate little viola - again hope you like.....

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/33662664-L.jpg

[x3ro]

here are some flower shots I took this evening -- hope you guys enjoy :)

http://www.phoenixcis.net/~x3ro/park2_gallery/index.html

[coldteablues]

I am totally in awe. Such lovely, lovely photos. I humbly offer a few of my own.

http://photos23.flickr.com/37249726_fc5a6bf3e4.jpg
Glad3

http://photos32.flickr.com/37262356_15704eb211.jpg
Sunburst

http://photos23.flickr.com/32106776_930d3bfc7a.jpg
Sunflowers2

and finally:

http://photos21.flickr.com/29600497_01f38180b9.jpg
Moonflower

All were shot with a Kodak DX7590

Cher

[x3ro]

http://photos21.flickr.com/29600497_01f38180b9.jpg
Moonflower

All were shot with a Kodak DX7590

Cher

Cher, that moonflower is just beautiful! I wish I could find such wondreful subjects around here :( This Texas heat and lack of rain is really hurting our plantlife this summer. Hopefully spring will bring me much more beautiful subject matter!

[Phill D]

Cher welcome to the forum. If this is a humble offering please post many more, the colours are lovely. I especially like number two the out of focus detail in the background really makes the flower stand out - almost as if it was 3D.

[coldteablues]

Thanks both of you, for your very kind words. There are many, many beautiful photos shared here. Lots of talent and love of photography, methinks!

Cher

[D70FAN]

Found along side the road by Queen Creek.

[coldteablues]

A few more. I hope you enjoy.

http://photos22.flickr.com/32106542_5dc48f8cae.jpg
Life Cycle

http://photos21.flickr.com/27004291_8fd93f4005.jpg
Day Lilies

http://photos18.flickr.com/24160945_285402f0b8.jpg
Coneflowers and Elephant Ear

http://photos16.flickr.com/20333433_d67d321e61.jpg
Magnolia

http://photos16.flickr.com/20333223_f6979d18f4.jpg
Kaleidoscope

All taken with a DX7590

Cher

[Anjules]

Here's a photo I took a while back. It was my first time doing this kind of editing in Photoshop (still learning) and I was pretty pleased with how it came out.

[coldteablues]

Absolutely stunning, Anjules.

Cher

[Coltess]

That is awesome Anjules. :cool:

[SamPhilly]

That is awesome Anjules. That must have taken a long time.

[Wombat]

Congratulations to everyone for the wonderful shots and thanks for sharing them.

Here are some red-hot pokers or Knifophia. Canon A80.

regards
Wombat

[Anjules]

That is awesome Anjules. That must have taken a long time.

The photo itself was pretty quick - but yes the photoshop took a while, but only because I didn't know what I was doing lol.

Thanks everyone for the comments :)

[jeff31]

Very nice anjules.

[Glenn Kennedy]

Life's too short to look at all 115 pages, or whatever, on this thread. I have looked at ten or so and have been immensely impressed with most of the shots that you have all posted. Here is one contribution from me - which I like almost as much for the out-of-focus boat in the background as for the flower at the front.


You can also spot the blob of dust on my sensor in top left corner... I hadn't seen that before.

[Wombat]

Great shots everyone - thanks for sharing.

Here is just a rose - Canon A80. Shot sharpened - rose shots seem to respond well to this treatment or maybe my eyes are not as sharp as they used to be.
Canon A80.

regards
Wombat

[brandname]

another rose

[brandname]

hello again

[brandname]

I like this one

[Belaya]

Nice sunflower,not quite sharp, but i like the colors(no editing)...Taken with olympus 7070

cheers

[Kman24beer]

Hey everyone, am blown away by all the incredible entries and thought I'd add my two cents (or one image). Hope it meets the criteria. Picture taken with a Canon SD400, couple of days after purchase. (possible Macro Mode - cant remember, no touch ups). Enjoy.

[coldteablues]

I've always had an affinity for dusk. As a child, a summer evening was a magical time with the coolness settling in, the sounds of crickets and tree frogs and the occasional grunt of a bullfrog. I remember the feel of 'shade grass' beneath my bare feet ... soft, silky and cool. I now know it as Soysa grass, but back then it was simply shade grass. The sun would hang low in the sky for what seemed ages sharing the heavens with the moon and finally the true magic would happen as the fireflies came out and began their dance. I took this picture at dusk this evening. When I printed it out, it brought back all these memories. I think the title of the photo speaks for itself.

http://static.flickr.com/28/39705404_82c2b9d354.jpg
Fairy Rose2

Taken with a Kodak DX7590

Cher

[coldteablues]

Hey everyone, am blown away by all the incredible entries and thought I'd add my two cents (or one image). Hope it meets the criteria. Picture taken with a Canon SD400, couple of days after purchase. (possible Macro Mode - cant remember, no touch ups). Enjoy.

Lovely! Hope you'll share more.

Cher

[Anjules]

First day of spring here the other day, had to get a flower shot to celebrate. :)

[Merlin]

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/3908/imgp05050nv.jpg

:)

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_030905_2.jpg

[Tyger]

another sunflower

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3351/sunflower3sx.jpg

[American Nomad]

Taken near Palm Desert, CA with a P&S

[astro]

http://astroguy.org/heavenbirds.jpg

Taken with Pentax *ist DS + Super Takumar 300mm F/4 prime telephoto

[Belaya]

uuu, me very likes the last one...

[mrshaase]

They call me the rose lady in my neighborhood because I have 70 rose bushes. Here are a few of my favorite rose pictures from my Nikon D70 this summer. Hope you like them.

[American Nomad]

Dogwoods in Wethersfield, CT

[Geoff Chandler]

Glad to see this thread still storing along!
Great shots everyone.
I'm just back from our La Rochelle holiday - still sorting my piccies out, and
straight back into work - so I haven't got much sorted to share just yet.
Here's one though...

[JTL]

I have no idea what it is. Just that it's tiny and in AZ...

Canon S2, 500D close-up lens, ISO 50, f/3.5, 1/160 sec.
http://JTL.smugmug.com/photos/34944618-L.jpg

[jeff31]

Taken with Pentax *ist DS + Super Takumar 300mm F/4 prime telephoto

Nice shot Astro

[cleo]

This is a sunflower shot I took with my A95 with a tiffen macro lens on it. Taken in my garden.

[Dawoofo]

Here's a little wild flower I found growing by the lake near my house. It's cropped and I had to reduce the resolution by half. Taken with my new Canon Powershot S2 IS on "super macro"...

[cleo]

http://astroguy.org/heavenbirds.jpg

Taken with Pentax *ist DS + Super Takumar 300mm F/4 prime telephoto


Glamorous!

[val123]

Glad to see this thread still storing along!
Great shots everyone.
I'm just back from our La Rochelle holiday - still sorting my piccies out, and
straight back into work - so I haven't got much sorted to share just yet.
Here's one though...

Welcome back Geoff .......great first post, looking forward to seeing those pics.

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_270805_4.jpg

[Bald Eagle]

hope you like.

[American Nomad]

Taken this morning at a park in New Britain, CT

[Geoff Chandler]

3 in a row. (OK - it ended up being 4!!!)
1st one shows these flowers in their setting , at our holiday residence last
week in La Rochelle. - Also a way of showing a bit of the character of the
place where we stayed...

[Geoff Chandler]

Looking the other way uo the side of the building - you can just about see that at the other end it opened out to a swiming pool area....
~ But the flowers! Sorry - this is the flower thread!!

[Geoff Chandler]

Finally!!
A close up of the flower itself
I took a few with and without flash in different lighting.
It is hard sometimes, as I have mentioned, with the reds and purples -
to get an accurate colour - this is close - there was an orange hint to
the flower in some lights ~ this one I like - no flash.

[Geoff Chandler]

Just for comparison -cos I know you guys are as daft as me with this sort of
thing!!
Here's the similar flower taken another time using the flash.
(BTW - all La Rochelle piccies are A-200)
Now
Which do people prefer?? to flash or not to flash? That is the question.
With flash you get a nice strong contrast - coupled with a dark, or even
black, background. Without flash - you get more fine detail and subtelety
but maybe a bit less vivid - personally - I often prefer the latter.
:rolleyes:

[jeff31]

A kind of flower ? ;)

http://sonyv3.free.fr/pay_070905_1.jpg

[Samegapiz]

My favourite flower pic so far:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/Sam11235813/Contrasty-Flower.jpg

I like the contrast in it.

[val123]

Just for comparison -cos I know you guys are as daft as me with this sort of
thing!!
Here's the similar flower taken another time using the flash.
(BTW - all La Rochelle piccies are A-200)
Now
Which do people prefer?? to flash or not to flash? That is the question.
With flash you get a nice strong contrast - coupled with a dark, or even
black, background. Without flash - you get more fine detail and subtelety
but maybe a bit less vivid - personally - I often prefer the latter.
:rolleyes:


Personally Geoff I prefer the first one without flash.........but then again I do like the dark background ............. :confused: Both were great. Just been looking at your holiday pics .....looks like you had a great time the pictures are super, looks like a really lovely place.

Jeff31 ..... love the carnation and the grasses, I had taken some similar last weekend but not as good as yours!

Bald Eagle....I really love the wild flower .......super pic.

As always great pics in this thread.

Heres one that I know has been in this thread before, the mighty Passion Flower! Unfortunately ours is a little behind everyone else and has only just decided to show us its beauty.......hope you like :)

http://mansaards.smugmug.com/photos/35366502-L.jpg

[snowrdr]

From the Cook Park Flower Garden. :D

http://www.pbase.com/image/48956414.jpg

[meillana]

my contribution for the day....
not as sharp but am fascinated by the reflection
hope you like....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/meillana/Nature/P1100353.jpg

[kewtpie]

I haven't had much spare time recently...but I have enjoyed the last few posts.

Meillana- I really like it--the reflection looks pretty sharp!
Snowrdr-love the circle flower
Val-so pretty, as usual.
Jeff31- I really love the wheat (?) / grass - such a nice composition

Here is a fushia (I think...) at a rest area (actually a state park) in Northern California when we were there in July.

[Geoff Chandler]

Kristy - very nicely presented Fushia shot
Meilana - nice idea with the reflection etc - I like that
snowrdr - superb composition on your pink flower
val 123 - great passion flower - mine are still going strong
lots of fruits on the way as well.
> Here's my subject for today - its been just a clump of green leaves
for ages until we came back from our holiday
- now it looks like this : -

[Geoff Chandler]

A closer examination....

[Geoff Chandler]

There is also this shot - but the weather has turned grey - less light and the wind is blowing - so I am struggling with slow shutter speeds and the flash made it look un-natural - so there is some softness and blurring. (excuses excuses!!)

[SamPhilly]

Nice shot's folks, too many names to list. :)

Shot from this weekend;
http://www.the-shelleys.com/Cotton_Ball_F32_S1_250_800x600.jpg

[Coltess]

I don't know what this is, but it looks kinda funny :)

[Geoff Chandler]

Colt - interesting flower - goodness knows what that is - maybe gerard or wombat might know...
SamPhilly - lovely lighting on your one.

Well - I returned to my earlier subject, after the sun came out, and took a closer look with a faster shutter speed and lower asa - so it was a bit better (I hope) - better leave that one now and find something different! :D

[scatamousche]

Hi All,

Kudos to everybody contributing to this thread. It is truly a living work of art!

Here is one I posted earlier of some beauty berry flowers and a shot taken about a month later of the ripening berries themselves. I wouldn't recommend eating them though unless you are a bird.

Scatamousche

http://www.karma-lab.nl/Pictures/BeautyBerryFlowers.jpg

http://www.karma-lab.nl/Pictures/AugustBerries.jpg

[scatamousche]

Here's a couple more taken in September. (Canon S2 with extender)

I know they look good enough to eat but I assure you they are not the "purple berries" being sung about by Jefferson Airplane and Crosby Stills and Nash in the song, Wooden Ships.

Scat

http://www.karma-lab.nl/Pictures/BeautyVertical.jpg

http://www.karma-lab.nl/Pictures/BeautyHorizon.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

This is just for all you Passion Flower people - a totally un-glam pic of our
plant - just to show how many buds there are - but how few flowers at
any given moment!

[Geoff Chandler]

It's time for me to post another Pansy!
This one I liked for it's delicate colour - which I seem to have managed to get
about right... Hope you like
Geoff
(A-200, f3.5, 1/60th sec, -0.7ev, 200mm/macro, iso50, anti shake)

[Geoff Chandler]

Here's a closer look at the middle...
shame I had to use compression to post it here!!

[Geoff Chandler]

Oh Gosh! This thread has paused for a change!!
I have just come back expecting loads of new posts ...
Anyway.
I have just got up (doing night shift - it's 5pm in England) and
I took some pics of the passion flower fruits.
Had a bit of trouble first thing in the morning ~ lighting was all wrong
then I returned, this afternoon, with the C-740 and got a better shot - felt glum as I thought the C-740 had knocked the A-200 into a cocked hat - then went back once more witht the A-200 and faith was restored! - it was all about time of day and lighting in the end. That is not to say, however, that the likes of the C-740 (C-750, 765, 770 etc) are not very good little cameras.
here's the C-740's version of the Passion Fruits, no PP at all , just a resize...

[Geoff Chandler]

Here's the A-200 version: - (again only resized)
I didn't know which thread to post this in - but seeing as we have many Passion Flowers within this thread - it seemed most logical to put the fruit in here. A-200 version taken only moments after the C-740 version.
Obviously the A-200 resolved a bit finer as it was on 5mp vs. C-740 @ 3.2mp
C-740 = ISO 100, 1/30th sec, F4, focal length says 17.5 - don't know how that translates, but it will be just over the 100mm mark similar to the other one.
A-200 = ISO 50, 1/25th sec (AS), F3.5, focal length 113
Comments???

[jsla]

My first full day with the 8400...no post aside from a crop.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/jeremy0315/flwr.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

jsla
1st day with the 8400 (Nikon?) ~ lovely colour & contrast control - looks like
you & that camera are going to get along very well - please post some more...
Geoff

[eggrole1]

http://www.eggrole.org/images/IMG_1361.jpg
http://www.eggrole.org/images/IMG_1358.jpg

Both taken with my Rebel XT and kit lens... have only had it for 1400 shots (about 3 weeks). Both also compressed for the web.

The second is a little out of focus, but I am still learning. :o

[Geoff Chandler]

eggrole - great shots with your new camera - please post some more.
Here's this mornings contributions - more Pansy power!
We have a pot outside the front door - I got tempted when I arrived home from night shift - so I shot a couple off quickly. Low light and shaky, but AS came to the rescue.
A-200: - Purple flower - 5th sec, F5.6, -0.7 ev, Iso 100, 200mm Macro (pushing AS almost beyond the limit!!)
Yellow flower was similar - except a wider F3.5 apperture and 30th sec shutter
and I brightened it up after as I forgot to cancel the -0.7ev
I try to steer towards F5.6 as the lens seems a touch sharper there.
More soon
Geoff

[Geoff Chandler]

The yellow one...

[eggrole1]

Geoff, I love the first one. It has an eerie look of sharpness. Here is an old one I took with my a95:
http://www.eggrole.org/images/IMG_0171.jpg

[jsla]

Today's fleur

http://tinypic.com/dpcuao.jpg

[jwhite]

What do you think of this? First time out in a garden with my Sigma 70-300mm. It was approaching evening, so it was hard to capture some good macro shots with it. In some of the images the noise seemed high.

[JTL]

Wow...beautiful shots just keep on coming...:)

This one of a tree blossom in Arizona...

Canon S2, ISO 50, f/3.5, 1/800 sec.
http://jtl.smugmug.com/photos/36219668-L.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

This flower - I think it's a Scottish rose? - has been most tricky for the A-200.
Because it requires Tele-macro to capture it close up best, it tends to have a shallow depth of field.
However, now I come to post this shot I am starting to think otherwise.
First the orig untampered shot: -
A-200, Iso 100, 200th sec, F3.5,-0.3ev, 200mm telemacro

[Geoff Chandler]

Next my PP/Edit version - not much changed, just cropped to a portrait and a slight curves tweak, minimal USM
I know, I have said myself - the A-200 works better at F5.6 with these sorts of shots.

[Geoff Chandler]

This one is from last years blooms - taken with the Olympus C-740
Which takes at 38mm macro - so more DOF
ISO 100, 500th sec (brighter day) F3.5
Sorry If this was a bit long winded - but I would appreciate comments good or bad. On reflection I feel the A-200 renders nicer fine detail, and I need to practice more with it (F5.6 would have helped for a start, or maybe even a totally different approach???)

[Geoff Chandler]

Sweet Peas - front garden. A-200 - just resized

[American Nomad]

Nice pics Geoff. I like the sweet peas, so simple yet so beautiful.

Here is a photo of an azalia bloom at my home in Tennessee last time we were there in April. This pic comes around on my screen saver and, well, I like it.

[kewtpie]

Geoff--
you always have such great stuff to share! Love the sweet peas!

Scarmouche--the berries were so cool!

Here is an offering:

[kewtpie]

And here it is framed:

[kewtpie]

Me again...
I know these aren't really flowers, but for some reason I just love this shot.
We were taking the tour at Hearst Castle in California (highly recommend it!!!)
in July, and took this looking up the hill. The palm tree just seemed framed so neatly by the tangerines, I couldn't resist.

[jsla]

Sweet Peas - front garden. A-200 - just resized

Very nice Geoff. Crisp, clear and not oversaturated. Nice and natural.

[Geoff Chandler]

jsla - thanks for the kind comment,
kewtpie - what a beautiful blue that flower is - well taken.
Well - here's a dandilion - just before I mowed the lawn...

[Samegapiz]

I like the simplicity and colours of this flower shot:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/Sam11235813/IMG_2019.jpg

All comments welcome

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170905_1.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_170905_3.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

I like the simplicity and colours of this flower shot:

All comments welcome
It's definately a case of 'Less is More'
nice shot! Please post us some more of your shots.

jeff31 - an amazing colour you have captured with that flower! ~ edit - another one of yours popped up after my comment - that's very colourfull - how much PP do you do afterwards?? I like your 'Studio presentation' on your shots, the other flower is almost like a mushroom sort of colour - very unusual.

[Geoff Chandler]

A tiny flower on the grass - smaller than my little fingernail, so this is
very up close and personal!!
Does anyone know what these are??
Geoff
Info: - KM A-200, ISO 100, 200th sec, F5.6, 200mm telemacro
orig 8mp, cropped to around 2.5mp size (don't know how to calculat %crop) - resized for posting here

[Geoff Chandler]

Moving slightly more into the red part of the colour spectrum - from our bowl of assorted little pansies
(about half normal size - very sweet!)
An Orange one this time...
(A-200, 1/60th sec, F5.6, ISO100, 200mm telemacro, -0.3ev)

[jsla]

Are these even flowers?

http://tinypic.com/dqks44.jpg

[Phill D]

The flowers perhaps look a bit past their best but who cares, its a great "in your face" picture.

[Phill D]

Geoff that little yellow flower looks brilliant - very sharp & nicely thrown forward with the out of focus background. Sorry I don't know what it is but we get them here too so I know how small it is & how well you've got that A200 working nice one.

[Spot focus]

Here's my effort comments welcomed

[jeff31]

It's definately a case of 'Less is More'
nice shot! Please post us some more of your shots.

jeff31 - an amazing colour you have captured with that flower! ~ edit - another one of yours popped up after my comment - that's very colourfull - how much PP do you do afterwards?? I like your 'Studio presentation' on your shots, the other flower is almost like a mushroom sort of colour - very unusual.

Thanks Geoff for your nice words.
PP time is near 1.5 hour for the first one (with my low skill with PP ;) )
10 minutes for the second one.

[dust]

wanted it to glow, but i think i've missed the mark :/ needs more touching up

http://www.ire.za.net/dust/flowah.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_180905_7.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_180905_6.jpg

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_180905_4.jpg

[snowy egret]

Some day maybe one of you will talk to me.
Here's another potential sunflower
SnowyEgret

[snowy egret]

Lovely Jeff

[jeff31]

Thanks snowy egret
Orginal framing on your shot :)

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_180905_2.jpg

[jeff31]

http://sonyv3.free.fr/fl_180905_9.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

Dust, Snowy Egret, & jeff - great shots all.
I was walking down my road and spotted this garden -took a snap straight away...

[Geoff Chandler]

Then took a closer look at one of the blooms
absolutely no processing - straight of the A-200 then
resized to fit here.
F5.6, 100th sec, Iso50, 95mm AS
More to follow later - bit busy just now...
hope you like.

[jsla]

First time it's rained here in LA in about six months...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a369/seam123/DSCN0251.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a369/seam123/DSCN0243.jpg

[Geoff Chandler]

jsla - those a lovely shots there with your rainy weather - I particularly
like the white bloom - you've managed to capture all the detail without washing anuy out at all - great job!

This is another from the garden up the road - first a wide angle macro from
the A-200 (28mm) this shows how close (not!) it appears in wide macro and
why that is not too brilliant, and therefore why I mostly use the telemacro.
However... there is a certain quality to the actual bloom, maybe because of the depth of field....

[Geoff Chandler]

~ here's a crop of the same flower.
I reckon it's another option - to slightly crop wide angle macros.
Any comments or observations welcome.
(Orig detail: - A-200, 28mm, 200th sec, F5.6, ISO50, -0.3ev)

[Geoff Chandler]

Here's the tatty pansy pot by my front door that I have taken
a few pansy photos from recently...

[Geoff Chandler]

- and here's just one more close up.
A-200, ISO50, F5.6, 125th sec, 200mm telemacro,AS
I tried faffing around with it ~ blurring the background as I don't really like it
but it just made it look worse! - so here it is just a resize and no other pp.
Sometimes things are best left alone.

[Bald Eagle]

WOW ,you all have been busy posting some wonderful flowers, I took a break from bugs long enough for a few shots of flowers, here are my humble attempts.

[Bald Eagle]

some color :)

[Bald Eagle]

and more color

[Bald Eagle]

Sun Flower.

[JTL]

Forgot what it's called...

http://jtl.smugmug.com/photos/36889013-L.jpg

[jsla]

One more from today...
http://tinypic.com/dwe2r6.jpg

[American Nomad]

The pics here are so beautiful that I hesitate to post some of mine, but here is one of mine anyway. I hope it just comes close to what is in this thread.