Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: flowers

Photographing the flowers I find. You will find wind open, bokeh smooth pastels of buds and blossoms here.

  • Heart of Rebellion

    Heart of Rebellion

    100mm 1:1 square format macro photo of two bleeding heart flowers hanging back-to-back.
    Heart of Rebellion — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/200

    4 May 2025. May the Fourth. Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you. Etc. Etc. Etc.

    Chat, anyone out there watching Andor season two? Two arcs deep—six episodes in total—and this political thriller keeps me on edge. Unsettling in the best way possible, it’s a welcome, if not uncomfortable, treat to be dropped into the early world of the rebellion olds like me grew up on with a story centered around—and explicitly intended for—olds like me. Andor picks at the raw under belly of the nascent rebellion’s leadership, exploring the insidious loss of humanity that corrodes slow and sure in the darkest corners of dying souls. A cause may be righteous; its effect on its people is not. And yet some fights must be fought—irrespective of the costs.

    Photo details

    • Photographed: 3 May 2025
    • Lighting: Late afternoon
    • Weather: Partly cloudy
    • Location: Ocean Acres, New Jersey
    • Time: ~1835
    • Tripod: No
    • Exposure: One at 1/200

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    Hey ChatGPT

    Riffing on the theme of the day, the thing that was hiding in the bleeding heart’s shape slapped me right in the face. The Rebel Alliance starbird is made to fit tattooed onto this flower. Brain gears begin to churn—let me see what ChatGPT can do. My suggestions proceeded as follows:

    Me: Yo chat, happy Sunday. If I send you a jpg of a bleeding heart can you embed the Star Wars rebellion logo inside the heart-shaped flower?

    ChatGPT: Yo! Happy Sunday to you too. (Smiling sun emoji.) Yeah absolutely — send over the JPG of the bleeding heart flower, and I’ll embed the Star Wars rebellion logo.

    Me: Uploads above photo

    ChatGPT: Shares first image

    Me: Now try it with the logo inverted

    ChatGPT: Second image, which is the same as the first image

    Me: Abandoning the inverted starbird idea: Create the logo in the street art style of Sabine Wren

    ChatGPT: Third image

    Me: Nice job recreating the goated Sabine Wren. Now, can you have the spray paint logo follow the contours of the flower?

    ChatGPT: Final result below

    ChatGPT aided creation. AI added a Sabine Wren inspired Rebel Alliance starbird superimposed on a 100mm macro Greg Molyneux photograph of bleeding heart flowers.
  • On Peonies

    On Peonies

    100mm macro photograph of a fresh opened pink peony blossom
    On Peonies — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/800

    Abundant spring rain paired with seasonably cool conditions gave us things to gripe about and a quality spring bloom. I’ve been slacking with posting them, but I have made some photographs as the flowers about my yard come and go.

    As far as favorites go, peonies are up there. Probably top five. Their pink blossom is about as ephemeral as they come; felling themselves by any combination of weight, weather, or a Planck length of time. Nevertheless it’s a stunner. Much like its partner in pink, the cherry blossom, its blooming met with such anticipation of its coming, yet throttled back by the anxiety of its going. A mental push pull with good lessons to unpack for sure.

    As for the goods: I present you with a 100mm macro photograph of a fresh opened pink peony blossom. Enjoy.

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  • Make It Home

    Make It Home

    100mm vertical orientation macro photograph of a clematis blossom dusted with pollen.
    Make It Home — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/80

    Seldom seen stirrings have set about my abode. Flowers are blooming amidst a rejuvenated yard; and indoors, far strangers things are afoot. An inspired streak of home making has left behind a proper office. No more work from home days set upon a wooden kitchen chair, flanked by hoarded boxes and a litter box. No more.

    Now I’ve a proper space, replete with curated wall art, solid lighting, a growing brood of house plants, a proper office chair, and a rug that really ties the room together. Driving it all is the record player and fretless bass sentries to the sonic element. This minor bit of self care transformed the entire vibe of the house. From worst to first it is now the best room in the house.

    And this relates to this neglect web site how? I’m not at all sure, but I can say it has my creative urge shifting out of groggy, why the hell did you wake me up? To rested and ready to go. It is with this preface that I noted my best clematis bloom in a decade so I set about making some macros.

    Fast forward to file transfer and scanning through my frames I landed on this, the last shot. And for the first time in years lost to clear memory I made a photograph that hit that heart swelling of unlocked inspiritation and pride. A chasing the unicorn type feeling my friends and I quip as the ‘h chord’. The resonant buzz of flow in pure spirit.

    Wherever this goes I am happy to be here. I missed this place. Cheers to the weekend.

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  • Best Photographs of 2023

    Best Photographs of 2023

    14mm sunset photograph working over a salt marsh in a hue of blues, pinks, oranges and yellows.
    When the Night is Over — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    When the Night is Over | Captured: March 23, 2023 | Location: Cedar Run Dock Road, Cedar Run, New Jersey

    100mm macro photograph of a purple clematis flower backlit by bokeh and the sun.
    A Look Back — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 800 | EXP 1/100

    A Look Back | Captured: May 18, 2023 | Location: Ocean Acres, Stafford, New Jersey

    35mm sunrise photograph of Dan Molyneux plugging the top water as he surf fishes for striped bass during the 2023 fall run. Captured on Long Beach Island on 12 November 2023, Ship Bottom, New Jersey.
    Fish On — 35mm | f/5.6 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/15 sec

    Fish On | Captured: November 12, 2023 | Location: Ship Bottom, New Jersey

    Retrospective

  • Hi, Biscus

    Hi, Biscus

    100mm macro photograph of a dark purple hibiscus stamen and pistils. Low key cross processing and buttery bokeh lend an air of mood to the tone of the image.
    Hi, Biscus — 100mm | ISO 100 | f/3.5 | EXP 1/200

    It is 31 December and I am out of days. It looks like this will be the last backlog photograph I get to post in 2023. So let’s roll back to 5 September and my backyard hibiscus. Not a ton of floral macro work this year, so it feels good to close out the year with this low key, cross process shot.

    2024 is mere hours away. Let’s get after it. Be excellent to each other.

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  • A Look Back

    A Look Back

    100mm macro photograph of a purple clematis flower backlit by bokeh and the sun.
    A Look Back — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 800 | EXP 1/100

    I have a photography problem. A mix of neglect, half measures and procrastination type problem. The neglect is simple: not shooting enough. The half measures and procrastination bit happens after the times I do shoot but do not process or post. Which brings me to today, sitting at The Union Market working at my backlog. And so we throw it back to mid-May and my backyard clematis. Thought it looked cute, probably won’t delete later.

    Thoughts and happenings

    It’s been a big year for me and live music, brought to you by Asbury Park. I’ve managed to see Rebelution, The Hip Abduction, Too Many Zoos, and Stick Figure in the span of about five months. I even scarfed a bunch of excellent Korean fusion street tacos along the way—looking at you, Mogo.

    2023 will go down as an all time banger year for video games. Tears of the Kingdom chief among them. I have 200 hours socked into this masterclass in game design, and it’s been superior summertime comfort food. A much needed palate cleanser considering the abomination that are the 2023 New York Yankees.

    Speaking of abomination: I cannot wait for Dune: Part 2. Which reminds me, I still need to see Barbie and Oppenheimer.

    The Witcher season 3 was a disappointment. I can’t decide if it was actively bad, or if I’m already missing Henry’s Geralt?

    Stoked for Ahsoka but not without concern. She’s my number one in the Star Wars universe, and I hope that don’t do her dirty like they did with Obi-Wan Kenobi which was decidedly mid. Andor, however, is LEGIT.

    Found out Andy Serkis has an audible voiceover for the Silmarillion. I’m souped to hear his version. Also, if you’re a LOTR fan with interest in podcasts and the entire legendarium, the Nerd of the Rings is an absolute must podcast.

    Buzzed my hair for the summer. So why is summer almost over?

    More to come in this space.

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  • The Way of Walking Alone

    The Way of Walking Alone

    100mm macro photo of a dutiful bumblebee collecting pollen atop a fresh daisy blossom. The image is cross processed to give it a more moody tone.
    The Way of Walking Alone — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/1000

    Or The Way of Self-Reliance (Dokkōdō).

    I’ve started listening William Scott Wilson’s translation of Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings on Audible. As something of a budding Japanophile, and a person long into all things history, the study of The Way and Samurai culture rings true to my soul as a monk’s bell meditatively struck in morning. In the forward, Wilson translates the final lesson handed down from Mushashi to his disciples: 21 precepts outlining The Way of Walking Alone. The teachings of Japan’s sword-saint are open to us all, and I thought I’d share a bit here.

    • Do not turn your back on the various Ways of this world.
    • Do not scheme for physical pleasure.
    • Do not intend to rely on anything.
    • Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply.
    • Do not ever think in acquisitive terms.
    • Do not regret things about your own personal life.
    • Do not envy another’s good or evil.
    • Do not lament parting on any road whatsoever.
    • Do not complain or feel bitterly about yourself or others.
    • Have no heart for approaching the path of love.
    • Do not have preferences.
    • Do not harbor hopes for your own personal home.
    • Do not have a liking for delicious food for yourself.
    • Do not carry antiques handed down from generation to generation.
    • Do not fast so that it affects you physically.
    • While it’s different with military equipment, do not be fond of material things.
    • While on the Way, do not begrudge death.
    • Do not be intent on possessing valuables or a fief in old age.
    • Respect the gods and Buddhas, but do not depend on them.
    • Though you give up your life, do not give up your honor.
    • Never depart from the Way of the Martial Arts.

    Second Day of the Fifth Month, Second Year of Shoho [1645]
    —Shinmen Musashi

    Shout-out to Digital Dao for providing the online text as I did not transcribe this from the audio text.

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  • Standard Orbit

    Standard Orbit

    35mm square format photograph of large hydrangea hanging baskets lining a greenhouse corridor within Longwood Gardens conservatory.
    Standard Orbit — 35mm | f/1.4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/2500

    The Longwood Gardens conservatory is a sight to behold. The crowning jewel atop acres of grounds fit for any court. It stands anachronistic of a place and time far more European in nature.

    Within the conservatory, under the eaves and broad glass panes spanning the angled rooftops with ease, light pours in from above and all sides; filling the open spaces to funnel the outside in. Packed within this elegantly manufactured nature is an impressive amount of growing life. Flowers of every color and type make their meticulously manicured presence felt backlit by an endless sea of green. From wall to ceiling everything is grown to perfection. There is deep experience here, and its experience shows off with a studied ease.

    It is a display for the senses. A panoply of light, sight, color, and smell conducted in well choreographed step. The entire design working its way from one simulated climate to the next. All interconnected with well grown corridors. Old growth holds sway here, and they serve as natural portals between zones. It is here I encountered the majestic hanging baskets bursting with hydrangea paced about 20 feet apart. A satellite welcome, a floral chandelier locked in standard orbit guiding me about this aged greenhouse manse. A natural footman speaking to the legacy of its Du Pont past.

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  • Ground Level

    Ground Level

    35mm ground level photograph of flowers at Longwood Gardens backlight by powerful golden hour sun.
    Ground Level — 35mm | f/1.4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/2000

    I finally found myself at Longwood Gardens. An exquisite bit of preserved property open to the public—for a fee, of course. And I do not mean to be cynical. Such a place needs and deserves its funding. I am happy to contribute to such conservation and presentation. My brother from another mother took me with his family, and we had ourselves an afternoon. Wandering the grounds, exploring the conservatory. An exceptional afternoon.

    Worthy of its name, flowers were everywhere. Color and smell played upon the senses on what proved an idyllic spring day. It was wonderful to take it all in. More uplifting, however, was to be among the people. The families families and friends; the solo wanderers, all brought together to experience a garden in springtime. I cannot wait to return.

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