Greg Molyneux Photography

Category: Blog

Greg Molyneux’s latest photographs and words presented in reverse chronological order.

  • Alternate realities

    Cross processed with Trey Ratcliff's 'The Navigator' Adobe Lightroom preset, this wide angle photograph features telephone lines backdropped by a dramatic sky, all in a blue monochrome treatment.
    Alternate realities — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/60

    Follow the plan, they said.

    Don’t break the rules, they said.

    Welp. Here I am. Breaker of Rules. Destroyer of Conventional Wisdom. Over and over you’ll hear keep those horizons straight! and get those power lines out of there! And that’s all well and good. Rules exist for a reason. They keep us focused and give us a proven roadmap for success. So whether it’s the rule of thirds or don’t shoot in bad light—ahem, midday—we’re given useful constructs for our photography. And I appreciate that but sometimes you’ve just got to throw the rules out the window.

    Just the other day I was chasing down a sunset at my usual Cedar Run Dock Road jaunt and could quickly tell it wasn’t going to materialize into much. Instead of setting up my tripod and stubbornly waiting for the color drama that would never be, I opted for the change-up and went old school handheld. Bugs be damned I was just going to have some fun photo walking for a few minutes. I began taking shots at odd angles using non-standard compositions. To remain off the beaten path I used Trey Ratcliffe’s Adobe Lightroom preset, The Navigator and rendered this post-apocalyptic look.

    So get out there and shoot what you feel. Rules be damned, I dig it.

  • Quick fire in the slow sunshine

    A late afternoon macro photograph of a newly blooming quick fire hydrangea. The fresh tender white buds are just set to pop with a soft focus settling around the two open flowers.
    Quick fire in the slow sunshine — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 |EXP 1/160

    This one took a bit of investigating. I have a prominent bush in my back yard that blooms in late summer with some beautiful and bug friendly flowers. As I type I’m certain it’s swarming with life.

    I’ve had my suspicion it was some kind of hydrangea but I was never certain as it seemed a little too sparse and a little too large. Alas, my mom got to the bottom of things at a local flower shop this afternoon and came through to let me know that this here shrubbery is a quick fire hydrangea.

    With all that said I look forward to more macro goodness at the feet of this flowering shrub in the coming weeks.

  • As close as I’ll get to painting

    An evening HDR photograph of a winding waterway adjacent to Dock Road in West Creek, NJ. The blue tone picture features a small beach opening between long marsh grasses with a looming bank across the calm water.
    As close as I’ll get to painting — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Some buddies were over last night and as we were scheming on a sunset locale, we (thanks, Jeff!) settled upon the other Dock Road in West Creek, New Jersey. Whether you go by Tips Dock Road, Dock Road II or West Creek Dock Road—we’ve got two of them in southern Ocean County and both are excellent for photographers, nature lovers and shore birds alike; not to mention all the good folks who live out there.

    As we were poking around waiting for the clouds to part (never happened) we happened on a new shooting spot (thanks again, Jeff!). A small section of beach—no wider than 10 feet—placed neatly and discretely between the ever lengthening marsh grass. Anyone got a name for that stuff? With the moody blue tones and low deck of undulating clouds I had a feeling I could salvage the sunset that wasn’t. But what I got was much more painterly than I either hoped or planned for. The lazy shutter of my multiple brackets brought enough movement in the grasses to bring an element of brush stroke into the frame. As someone who struggled mightily with painting in high school (I was a pencil and paper guy), I always held the masters of brush in the highest regard. It’s a skill I just don’t have the touch to match.

  • Check out all his majesty

    A cross processed photograph of a mature male Maine Coon with a beautiful grey coat and white markings under his chin.
    Check out all his majesty — 40mm | f/2.8 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/60
    • Name: Oliver
    • Known Aliases: Ollie, O-town, Oliver Twist, Laurence Olivier, [redacted]
    • Occupation: Cat Dog
    • Modus Operandi: Lures victims with underbelly. It’s a trap. Every time.
    • Known Affiliations: #catsofinstagram, #caturday, and Real Fine Felines of Baltimore County™
    • Mission: Escape

  • Summer sunset on the salt marsh

    A subtle lens flare sends a rich golden glow across the lush green salt marsh in this stunning HDR sunset photograph.
    Summer sunset on the salt marsh — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Finally, folks. Finally

    I’ve been in some kind of sunset slump. Whether by poor scheduling or just busted weather conditions, it’s been months since I’ve caught me a quality sundown. Somehow tonight my spider sense was tingling.

    During my commute home I was noticing some promising cloud development and decided to bail on my evening run. Somewhat hesitant in my decision, I got home, packed my things and made for my old standby: Dock Road. As pine forest gave way to sweet salt marsh the horizons opened up before me; I knew my slump was over. Drama was written the sky over and there I was to take it all in. Camera in hand. Finally.

    Interestingly, the photograph I wound up posting was not one of the shots I originally had in mind for a final product. I assumed I was going to go with one of the bracketed exposure sets that came about 7 minutes after sun went down, as is the my norm. Instead I went with a shot featuring the sun still with us. It just goes to show that you can’t always go with your assumptions (and the back of your viewfinder). You’ve get to get home, upload and take it all in. Let your photographs speak for themselves.

  • A crowning achievement

    Infused with pink and purple pastels, this colorful macro echinacea (purple coneflower) photograph features an early blossom with young petals that have the look of a crown for some kind of floral coronation.
    A crowning achievement — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/160

    This photograph with its smooth bokeh and colorful pastels brings a smile to my face. Standing sentry this solemn yet proud purple coneflower is ready to live out its reign having just donned its tender floral crown. It is here I only wish all rulers would radiate such modesty and grace under the seductive weight of power and responsibility. It ain’t easy being king—even if you’re just a flower.

  • Another look

    This time from a side perspective, a low key, fine art, black and white macro photograph of echinacea (purple coneflower) before its petals extend and progresses to bloom.
    Another look — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/200 

    What? More black and white purple coneflowers? Can’t stop, won’t stop.

    This is a natural successor to my shot last week; all the same principles applied rending a stark low key macro study of the echinacea flower. Approaching the shot from an angle this time allows the eye to travel through the shallow depth of field—in and out of focus—settling at the center point. It amazes me that this flowerhead was roughly the size of a nickel, and that despite its relative smallness it’s able to pack in all those stamen over such a small area. Not only that, it’s able to still create the feeling a room between them. No personal space issues here. As always nature is pretty cool.

  • Imagine gravity

    A low key, fine art, black and white macro photograph of echinacea (purple coneflower) before it progresses to bloom. This center focus floral study creates a gravitational web as the numerous stamen spiral inward.
    Imagine gravity — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/125

    My potted purple coneflower wins my appreciation this day. I spent a chunk of my afternoon shooting macros of a nascent cleome in my side yard making what I thought were good shots. They just weren’t as intricate and gripping as this echinacea. From the moment I saw this on my rear display I knew I was going black and white. This is a look (style?) I want to continue to develop; stark, low key still life studies with deep shadows, purposeful highlights, and enough contrast to let the negative space breathe. Photographs that accentuate clean lines and sharp edges that reach out for attention.

    And just to editorialize on this image for a little bit, this totally makes my mind think of the wondrous reality that is spacetime. The fabric of space is so well represented in the stamen here; with all in its invisible grasp falling ever closer to its lightless, collapsed center.

  • One down

    Four purple coneflowers (echinacea) in full bloom are framed in this solemn cross processed shallow depth of field photograph. With a bud in each quadrant one flower has succumbed.
    One down — 40mm | f/2.8 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/40

    Sometimes you’ve just got to bust out the 40mm pancake lens, set the aperture wide open and let it rip. I was initially drawn out by some interesting storm clouds off to the west but my attention soon turned to my purple coneflowers just chilling in the moody twilight glow; ominous skies have a thing for casting unique light and it’s always worth paying attention to.

    With a wide open aperture comes a shallow depth of field—an effect that has excited me since my earliest days of photography (when I first realized what the hell depth of field was and learned how to achieve it). You’re always going to trade-off sharpness and soft corners while wide open but based on your intent it may be just the look you’re going for. Such was the case here.

    As an added ode to my 40, since I’ve added this little guy to my bag my 50mm has seen almost no action. I know photographers the world over laude the potential of the nifty fifty but I just never seem to shoot with it any more (as of this post no photos here have been taken with my 50mm). I’m just drawn to the smallness, convenience, and overall versatility of this cheap little pancake prime.