Serving up a soft focus dahlia on a Friday afternoon. Smooth and inviting this flower grows to soothe. When viewed through a macro lens we come close to the tiny tubular petals emblematic of the dahlia. These petals are numerous as they are fascinating. There must be 50 our more making up each full flower.
Lilium Inter Spinas
Paradox is life. Life is paradox. Loaded with diametrically opposed dualities at every turn. These are fascinating to think upon. Solid coincidence or a purposeful pairing? Regardless it is in the push and pull of these forces we find our space to grow, even when it becomes as uncomfortable as a lily among the thorns.
Green Sight
Served here a dreamy 35mm photo of a lilac blossom. Shot wide open at f/1.4, it features soft focus and smooth bokeh, cross processed to a green hue. As we lose ourselves in the fantasy of this photograph, we muse upon our futures.
Home Again
COVID-19 has given me time to work in the yard. With the cleanup has come better conditions for flower and plant life to thrive. Giving me ample opportunity to make macro photos without having to break any kind of social distance mores.
Color, Please
Achieving great results with shallow depth of field is all about your aperture and your distance to your subject. Close in shooting at larger apertures will help you produce this desired effect. Whereas backing away and stopping down to a smaller aperture will increase your area of focus. Get out there and experiment!
Spring Hyacinth
The hyacinth. A flower and name seemingly of bronze age origin. It’s a flower of imagination, fantasy, and hope. The kind of flower a concept artist would create when designing an idyllic alien world. I love them.
Whispers in the Dark
The exceptional thing about living through history is having, if only in a small way, the rare chance to shape it. By staying home, observing social distancing protocols, calling a friend, keeping a journal, checking on a neighbor, telling someone you love them, taking a walk, or making a photograph. Small acts when executed across communities and continents affect real change in response to an entirely new environment.
Relic
Photographs capture scenes to convey narrative in a visual medium. The story can be simple and straightforward, or it can mask in layers to tell multifaceted stories. It allows the viewer to imprint their own stories shaded by beliefs and experiences to connect in a personal way. This is the beauty of photographic storytelling.
Until Next Season
With autumn coming in quick it is near time to put flower photo season to bed. Here is a late season Black-eyed Susan blossom demure before strong late afternoon light; strong contrast driving home the power of the photograph.
The Collector
Understanding the uncertain fate of the honey bee, a lynchpin species for prolific pollination needed in a balanced ecosystem, I am beyond pleased to have them feast upon my Black-eyed Susan flowers in numbers. Oh, and they make joyous macro photo subjects, too.
