Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: macro

  • Tucked away in there that’s the Fall

    A low key fine art black and white photograph of a small pine cone tucked away between pine tree branches. Sharp contrast and shallow depth of field add to the mood.
    Tucked away in there that’s the fall — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/250

    I’m not sure why but when I see pine cones I automatically make the association to Fall. A quick googling tells me this is the time of year said cones are approaching their max size and thereby most noticeable (even though the subject here is a little guy—no more than an inch in length), so I reckon it’s as simple as that. Not much mystery to this passing observation.

    I’ve had my battles with the Fall but this year I’m going to focus on its upside. Most notably: the pictures I’m going to take. Heading into Fall and Winter I know that fog, foliage, amped up sunsets, and snowfall are in store for my camera and I. And moving out of Summer, which for me is the least interesting time photographically, I am excited at what the future holds. I’ve been jonesing to get out there and shoot more. Here comes my chance.

  • There’ll be nobody home

    This square format photograph features a cross processed treatment of a painted lady butterfly at three quarters perspective and from the rear. The buttery smooth bokeh and shallow depth of field draws attention to the butterfly as it rests on a freshly bloomed sedum.
    There’ll be nobody home — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/160

    I arrived home from the foothills of eastern Pennsylvania stretched and worn. Bettered but battered after a long weekend celebrating my cousin’s pending nuptials. A good yet exhaustive time was had by all.

    Leaving the cousin’s shiny new F-150 my mind clung to the imminent hopes of a hot shower and a nap—here it is, victory. Or so I thought. Immediately out the truck I noticed 1) my sedum have finally blossomed, and 2) a butterfly had finally come to rest on one my flowers. I’d seriously been waiting all season for this.

    With the shower and nap plan on hiatus I grabbed my gear and tried to get a capture. I only got off two shots before this common butterfly was scared away for good—my approach wasn’t exactly one of stealth—and neither of which were from a frontal perspective. Even still I connect with the story this image tells. One of time. The never ending story of the inescapable passage of all things. And somewhere out there is the future we can’t quite see.

  • Working under cover

    In this low key macro photograph of a Black-eyed Susan (yellow daisy), miniature insects are working in unison under the cover of the illuminated yellow flower petals and rich bokeh fades out the background.
    Working under cover — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/400

    Yellow daisies. Shoot ’em while they last.

    Last week I was taking advantage of the late afternoon sun to create some dramatic flower macros with my Black-eyed Susans backdropped by a Japanese Maple. Some folks find too much sun a bad thing with their flower macros while I find it to be a most useful ally. It affords me stark contrast in lighting, muting the background to a smooth, dark bokeh.

    Now that’s all well and good but it wasn’t until I got behind the viewfinder that I saw what was really going on down there; roughly a dozen as of now unidentified insects dutifully consuming what I can only guess is some kind of sugar on the flower stem—please someone correct my ignorance: I’d love to know the type of bug, and what they were doing there. Thanks! Their legs were awful close to an ant’s however the abdomen was much different; oblong, elongated and raised toward the rear.

    At the end of the day shooting macro once again reminds me just how much is going on right under our very noses (all hail the mighty cliché). This is what drove me to become a photographer. Before I ever dreamed of shooting wide angle landscapes it was macro and macro alone that fueled my initial instruction and experimentation behind the lens.

  • Still remains

    A brooding noir macro photograph of a wilting Black-eyed Susan yellow daisy. Finished with a low key sepia treatment and grain (added noise), the picture takes on ominous tones.
    Still remains — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/400

    Stylistically I am drawn to deep brooding imagery crying out to the darker corners of the human condition. For me there is almost always an immediate emotional connection to the pain, an empathy of sorts. You see it is not lost on me that our deepest struggles, our rawest emotions, can fuel the creative process and become something more. Something beautiful. Perhaps even more important than the art we create is the catharsis that it brings to ourselves and to others.

  • Beeswax, are you minding it?

    In this macro photograph a carpenter bee is captured from behind as it pollinates a quick fire hydrangea, basking in golden hour light.
    Beeswax, are you minding it? — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    This shot is a holdover from this past Sunday. I spent a good half hour stalking my quick fire hydrangea as it lay awash in rich golden light and carpenter bees. Despite the abundance of airborne insects doing their pollinating thing it what seemed like fast forward, I couldn’t get a single carpenter bee to stop let alone face toward me. Left with just the business end of the abdomen, I’m still happy with the result.

  • 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.

  • 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.