Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: macro

  • 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.

  • It starts with one

    A black and white low key macro photograph of a single daisy blossom readying to bloom. Shallow depth of field and solemn tones lend mood to the photograph.
    It starts with one — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/400

    The daisy is one of the favorite flowers. Simple, plentiful, hearty yet understated. I have two small daisy patches in my front flowerbed and since getting into this whole photography thing they’ve proven some of my favorite flowers to photograph. The reason? Versatility. From bud, to opening, to full blossom, to death, the daisy’s life is an interesting one. A watchable one. Eminently photographable and pure in its plainness, simple white daisy I will always watch you.

    On a personal note, this kind of photography excites me: black and white, minimal, low key and emotive. It’s a style I wish to further develop. For me it sorta has this voodoo it factor and this is getting somewhere in that realm for me. My thoughts are vauge if only because my vision is as well.

  • Honeysuckle splayed out before me

    Soft greens, blues, and purples, mark this cross processed macro photograph of an unopened honeysuckle bud. The diffuse finish lends a soothing feel.
    Honeysuckle splayed out before me — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | 1/500

    Today was a day for flower macro stress decompression. In between course testing while working from home I picked up the camera and made my rounds throughout the yard. Stopping at the daisies, tiger lilies, and finally my backyard honeysuckle. It didn’t bloom last year so I’m happy to report its blooms are at the ready and won’t be held down this summer. No sir.

  • Can a peony bring one peace?

    A cross processed macro photograph of a pink peony as it opens to the world. This cross processed picture is cast in a pinkish hue highlighted by beautiful bokeh and the shadows of flora.
    Can a peony bring one peace? — 50mm | f/2 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/1000

    It’s been some kind of day. One of those gems where nothing quite seems to work as it should—as you need it to. I’ve been holding onto this peony photograph for a few days and now seems like the opportune time to post; I can use a bit of lift. Scheduling woes, chronic procrastination, and an upcoming art show have wrought the end of the rope for this guy. I’m a terrible multitasker to begin with and there’s just too much on my plate. But I’ll live. And I’d do well to remind myself the problems I have are largely the good kind. I will overcome and I will not lose sight of those truly struggling under the yolk of real strife. I will get beyond my struggles of the first world.

    That about covers it for this rant. Thanks for listening.

  • FYI: this pink peony is about to unfurl

    Macro photograph of a pink peony bud just about to bloom. Water droplets cover the blossom and adorn the petals as the ready to unfurl.
    FYI: this pink peony is about to unfurl — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    Memorial Day has come and gone and that means peony season is upon me. I have a total of four peonies scattered about my yard, unfortunately only two are set to bloom this year—not quite sure what happened (or didn’t happen) to the other two. Alas, they are set to open and they are seasonal favorites of mine; and while I’m bummed my purple peony won’t be in bloom this year, I still set my lens on this pink beauty just after I watered the lawn yesterday. Rich golden sunlight washed over the blossom and water droplets, just begging for some photo love. Having had limited time with my camera these past few weeks I was happy to oblige.

  • Floating on

    A macro photograph of a several wisteria blossoms. The diffuse processing lends a soft dreamlike mood to the picture.
    Floating on — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/125

    I know. I’m going nuts with the wisteria photos. This one should be it. For this season anyway.

    I’ve come to appreciate my wisteria. It’s seasonal bloom makes the extensive maintenance of trimming (re: hacking) and shaping worth it. If you’ve never encountered a wisteria just know that left unattended its creepers will reach out and take over just about anything. You can work this aggressive expansion to your favor if you plan a setup accordingly, as seen here. With a little forethought it’s certainly all worthwhile. In the interest of full disclosure my wisteria is not set up accordingly. I’ve always been better at giving advice than taking advice.

    As for the picture, I’m drawn to the diffuse processing; reducing the clarity lends an ethereal feel to the finish product. As I look about the photograph my whole world slows down. I better appreciate the little things that while small simply hide in plain sight.

  • Homing in on Wisterias

    A cross processed, close cropped portrait orientation macro photograph of a single flowering wisteria bud.
    Homing in on Wisterias — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    This photograph is a holdover from this past Sunday and represents a bit of a departure for me. It started as a standard landscape orientation macro shot that I wound up aggressively cropping and flipping to a portrait orientation. This is the first time I’ve ever done the latter and one of the very few times I’ve done the former (aside from going to a 16:9 for some landscape shots). But for me, homing in on this single flowering wisteria bud, as it readied to unfold, and eliminating the extraneous negative space was the right decision here. Perhaps I’ll look to explore more with cropping in the future.

  • Wisteria when you’re near

    A macro photograph of a freshly bloomed wisteria flowering plant. The shallow depth of field and deep vignetting evoke a moody feel among the flowers.
    Wisteria when you’re near — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/640

    I made some time with my camera yesterday albeit it brief. A steady wind backed by strong gusts made for futile macro conditions. Or so I thought. Having just uploaded my shots into Lightroom I quickly saw there were some winners in the set—in fact there were several. Luck was on my side, I somehow managed to snag some interesting selective focus with a shallow depth of field as blossoms erratically moved about the frame. Sometimes you gotta just go with it, right?

    Bonus points if you get the lyrically inspired play on words in the title.

  • A demure magnolia named Jane

    A vibrant macro photograph of a single jane magnolia blossom with a shallow depth of field and selective focus on the pistils.
    A demure magnolia named Jane — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/640

    My side yard where the back meets the front features a fence gate, a forsythia, some tiger lillies and one modest Jane magnolia. It’s taken a beating in recent years—it simply has not responded well to its transplant two years back. After a complete bust of bloom last Spring my magnolia bush appears to be getting some of its strength back. While hardly covered with blossoms, there’s at least some quality bloomage to enjoy.