It was fascinating. But I was worried that when concentrating and looking through the view finder, I might not be able to judge my distance away from this prickly character. Especially with the new tube attached making the lens longer.
I’m still learning to manipulate the functions of my camera, (despite having had it for years). I must have got over enthusiastic, because this shot (below) was, I admit, totally accidental. I wish it wasn’t! It’s just a double exposure, but to me it looks like little satellites surround the plant.
This shot is effective in black and white. Those thorns are sharp. I think I got a few in focus.
My new extension tubes arrived in the mail. They were the cheap plastic variety, but I was still thrilled. I found the first sweet pea of the season also today. It made sense that I played around with both. I have only used the first one so far. Two more to play with later.
I love this shot. I tried to move the camera so that the tendril underlined the curve of the flower.
I’m also playing around with different feels to my pictures. In the shot below I experimented to see if I could get a romantic soft fuzzy feel. I used some paper around the lens to confuse the camera. It’s like looking through the fuzz to see the sweet pea. I was annoyed that I cut off just a little too much of the stem, I wanted more. Maybe if I had a fancier program I could post edit it back. No, that’s too much of a challenge just yet.
I forced myself to NOT use auto focus. That’s a whole new learning experience. I moved around the subjects, and that makes everything much more complicated.
The shot below isn’t quite right. If only I could reverse the flower into the light. Maybe one day I’ll save up and buy Lightroom.
I got carried away with this last shot. Maybe there’s too much drama with the dark surround. Sweet Peas are too delicate for such a dramatic pose. But….I have just discovered vignettes. And I learnt how to use them, even if it’s only in paint. Maybe one day I’ll have Photoshop???
I’d love to know your thoughts. Which pictures do you prefer?
But I have always thought that these tulips must have had names. They were red, and orange and red, and red and orange and yellow, like the ember in a nursery fire of a winter’s evening. I remember them. ― Neil Gaiman,”Coraline”
Red tulips represent true love. Red evokes passion and romance.
Did you know that there are different colored bird of paradise plants?
This flower is also known as the crane flower because of its distinctive shape. Apparently there are 5 species of Strelitzia but I think I’ve only ever seen this one. I really want the white one, but they grow much, much larger. I read somewhere you have to wait for years for the plant to flower.
I tried to take some photos from more unconventional angles. From underneath….
This Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, also known as the Yellow Crested Cockatoo, was happily sitting among the blossoms in my tree. Don’t be deceived, cockatoos can be very destructive. They chew on the branches and in my large gum tree, they have denuded the ends of the branches and littered the ground with small pieces. They have even been known to vandalize houses. They gather together in large mobs and chew on timber, deckings and railings.
Luckily this one and his friend flew off when he noticed I was taking his photo. Camera shy!
I’ve been reading about what makes a good black and white photograph. I’m finding it difficult to get my head around. But I’m happy with this.
I like it geometric feel. The bird was kind enough to pose at exactly the right angle. I like the different shades on the pipes and I love the flair of white on the beak and tail of the bird.
I could have rotated the photo to make the cross pipe exactly horizontal, but I like the slight angle leading the eye up to the bird.
In colour the same shot.
This guy couldn’t resist posing for me. He’s a very different character. I just love him.
AT PATHO 