Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: high key

  • Yum Yum Bumblebee

    Macro photograph of a bumblebee collecting pollen atop a purple coneflower
    Yum Yum Bumblebee — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/320

    Slacker Greg is is running a bit of a backlog so I beggin’ your pardon if my words are short—though let’s face it you’re here for the photos and not these silly word things, right? Right!?

    Bloggers . . .

    Anyways, this photo dates back to 25th July, and you’ll see something of a theme in the next few posts—flower and insect macro hybrids. My run of buggy good luck began last Sunday, and over the course of the week netted me bumblebees, a skipper butterfly, and some kind of cool ass fly. In each instance our bug friends were using purple coneflowers or black-eyed susans as their stage. It’s a p kool feeling when your able look down the barrel of your macro lens to dial in an insect with tack sharp focus. It’s a whole new world down there. From there it really makes you wonder what things look life down in the world of the planck length.

    As for the title? This comes from a song I’ve only recently been exposed to, though I’ve been told it represents an anthem of sorts from my friends’ hooligan heyday.

    Teenagers . . .

  • See to the real you

    High key black and white macro photograph of a clematis flower
    See to the real you — 100mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    It wasn’t until showering this morning—OK. OK. This afternoon. So what if I like to sleep a little late?—that I realized I totally forgot about this photo. Taken in my backyard all the way back on May 24th I processed this baby up and apparently moved on to other things. Cripes. Memorial Day parties to host, work to pay the bills and exercise the mind, and naps. But mostly naps.

    So here it is, mid-June and my clematis is finally getting its due. It’s certainly not my typical macro, but every now and then a high key black and white treatment on a flower photograph is just what the doctor ordered. And while this exposure doesn’t reach the heights of I’d love to see you in that dress, it does slot in nicely among my past work.

  • I’d love to see you in that dress

    I’d love to see you in that dress

    A minimalist high key macro of a Klondyke Sunny Red (cosmos sulphureus) flower that creates the look of a woman spinning a dress.
    I’d love to see you in that dress — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 500 | EXP 1/1000

    I’d be lying if I said I consciously set out to get this kind of shot. What started as a run of the mill macro shoot turned into a shot I’ll proudly claim as my own. Just looking—and falling into—this shot overwhelms me with flowing imagery; a striking ballerina spinning that stunning dress with a confidence all her own.

    What’s interesting is this shot represents several departures from my shooting norms. Rarely do I center a subject, and rarer still do I go for the brightness and glow of the high key style. But once again breaking the mold rewards with unexpected dividends. I’m sure there’s a lesson in that. In the meantime let’s all celebrate her dance.

    Interested in buying? Purchase

  • Callery pears and a little bit of whimsy

    A high key photograph featuring a flowering callery pear tree in Spring. Warm pastel colors and a loose film grain give this photograph a soft whimsical feel.
    Callery pears and a little bit of whimsy — 40mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/125

    After work yesterday I was milling about my front yard taking in the fresh blossoms and the last of the late day sun. Three cheers for later sunsets. At this early stage of Spring my two callery pear trees are in their full blooming glory. As the fading light of golden hour was dancing on the blossoms I made a quick shot with my mobile phone for Instagram. Inspired, I thought let me grab my camera and make an even better picture.

    Racing against fading light I grabbed my Canon, affixed my 40mm pancake, and fired off some shots. Sticking with a similar vibe from the cell phone photograph, I kept my lens pointed skyward, selectively focusing on the branch and blossoms at the bottom left of the capture. When it came time for post-processing I was running through some packaged presets in Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 4. I happily settled on the film grain preset. I felt the high key treatment really brought out the pastels and subtle hints of yellow and gold from the departing sun, and the grain brought an appropriately aged feel. This type of photograph is a departure from my norm—making it all the more worthwhile. I hope you enjoy.

  • Hoping to take you away

    High key photograph of a Washington DC cherry blossom. The fresh blossoms were bathing in a rich golden light just before the sun began to set over the Tidal Basin.
    Hoping to take you away — 40mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/20

    Friends and I decided to make our way to Washington D.C. this weekend to behold what is peak season of the District’s famed cherry blossoms. About a million other people had the same idea.

    Battling crowds, long walks, and beautiful weather, we made our way about the National Mall. Craning our necks toward monuments from afar, and making a late afternoon pit stop at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. One chicken on a stick and some cosplay people watching later and we were making our way back toward the Tidal Basin for the would-be glory of golden hour.

    Fighting throngs of revelers making the most of the wondrous spring weather, it became readily apparent that making any kind of sweeping landscape shot was not going to happen. There was simply too many people armed with camera phones to set up shop. My friends and I resorted to bumping our way through the crowds firing off occasional shots whenever we had a moment to breathe and extend our elbows.

    All complaints aside, it was a good time had by all.