Monday, September 3, 2018

Flowering Shadow

Our Photo Club was shooting a small flower arrangement that was placed in a black box with a slab of a tree stump as a prop and fairy lights to produce a bokeh effect. The shadow was more interesting to me than was the flower itself.

Flowers and Fence

This was shot using a small wooden "fence" that I build as a photo backdrop, it was propped up against a concrete stoop with a potted flower on the sidewalk leading to our house. I exposed for the flower which I shaded with my own shadow and left the fence in full sunlight overexposing the fence, it is weathered cedar and quite dark.

Rose in Blue

These next three photos were part of an assignment for the Photo Club that I belong to. We were to shoot in broad daylight with the sun directly behind the subject (this photo), with the sun over our shoulder lighting part of the scene (next photo), or the sun behind the subject (third photo). These are the results that I ended up with. This one was shot with 2 two step CP filters over the lens.

Yellow on Black

I shot these yellow Lilies in deep shade with a gold reflector lighting them up from the sun. In post production I darkened the background and cleaned up a few distractions and items that caused tension in the photo. This was shot outside in a protected area where the wind was kept away and the bright sunlight could be controlled.

Last Rose of Summer

In this shot I was fighting against a breeze and had the sun directly behind the subject. I know that is not ideal photography conditions, however, I also believe one must learn to shoot under all conditions if you are to become a good photographer. As I looked at the results of this capture I really liked the surreal appearance of the whole scene. I makes me think of a paper collage with thin paper leaves and petals glued to the background. I also like the fact that nothing is really in focus due to the movement of the flowers. The rose was shedding most of its petals and other leaves were turning to fall colors, this was shot in late August.