Greg Molyneux Photography

New Jersey landscape and nature photography

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Scent to Delight

April 21, 2017 by Greg Molyneux

Lilac photo captured with soft focus in afternoon light.

Scent to Delight — 35mm | f/1.4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/2500

As if summoned by the light of spring and carried upon the wind there came a smell so sweet. A crown of purple sat atop lilac bushes standing straight and proud about the marches of my backyard. A royal guard if there ever was one. Fresh as new life full of possibility and untainted by avarice and poor choice. A smell so sweet garbed in purple so pure on a bud so fleeting. It will only be a few short days that my yard will border in such well dressed, sweet smelling attendants. Oh most welcome of guests, it is my hope you do enjoy your stay.

But enough with the flowery language let’s get real. To start I am shocked that on this my 351 post to this website this marks the first lilac photograph. The first?! Suffice to say I would have lost this bet. Yet as I pored over empty archives reality set in. Better late than never, I guess. There are reasons. First, this is the best lilac bloom my yard has seen in years. Predating the January 2014 launch of this blog at least. Second, despite being one of my favorite flowers—both in look and smell—I find them a tough study. As a collective the buds grow to large size, while the flowers themselves remain quite small. This dichotomy has left me with many a mediocre photograph.

Yesterday busted the slump. Decent afternoon light was spilling in from the southwest as the lilacs neared peak bloom. I first made a picture with my iPhone. And how about portrait mode, huh? Silky smooth background fade for the win. Phones today, they make some pretty great photographs, you guys. With the cell shot as inspiration I went inside, strapped the 35mm on the rig, and set aperture wide open for some real deal bokeh action. This brings us here—my first shot of spring 2017. More to come.

To all my allergy suffers: I apologize on behalf of my friends.

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 35mm bokeh flora lilac soft focus square format

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Photos from the archives

Pastel skies over a calm lake reflection in this HDR photograph taken at Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area
Blue hour landscape photograph over dormant marsh grass.
Wide angle landscape photograph of calm bay water and clear sky at blue hour
A minimalist high key macro of a Klondyke Sunny Red (cosmos sulphureus) flower that creates the look of a woman spinning a dress.
14mm wide angle sunset photo with pastel clouds and a glassy reflection on oxbow water feature at the salt marsh.

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