Peace
Feb, 2014Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Honolulu Zoo on Oahu, HI.Time
It was around midday.Lighting
It was cloudier than i expected it to be, which helped soften the image versus if it had been a sunny midday (as it normally is in Hawaii). I was also careful not to block the natural light from hitting the flower, which is why the photo is taken from a front view instead of a bird's eye view.Equipment
This photo was taken with a Lumix DMC-FZ150 camera, with a 25-600mm (24X) zoom lens. Neither tripod nor flash was used.Inspiration
Originally, i went to the zoo with the intention of photographing animals. Apparently Mother Nature did not agree with my photographing efforts. It started down pouring almost immediately after i got there, forcing me to head back the way i came before i'd gotten a chance to photograph anything. But as i was about to exit the zoo, the rain died down. Right next to the exit was one of the most gorgeous water lilies i had ever seen. It was a bright purple, and there were perfectly scattered raindrops along the petals. It was such a beautiful combination between the color and the raindrops, i couldn't NOT take a picture of it. So although i missed out on photographing animals because of the rain, i gained this beautifully unexpected image instead!Editing
I did not enhance the color of the lily in any way. It just naturally looked really vibrant! I did darken the background water in certain areas so that the clouds' reflection wouldn't be as prominent. I wanted to keep the flower as the center of attention.In my camera bag
Normally, I carry an extra battery and SD card, my camera, a lens cleaning pen, and bug spray (not sure if that counts as equipment, but in Hawaii it's a necessity!).Feedback
Always keep your eye out for hidden gems. When things seem to be going downhill (e.g. the weather is being disagreeable), that's a prime time to look for something unexpected or unplanned to photograph. For flowers specifically, it's important to keep in mind the color, detail, and positioning of the flower(s) in relation to the rest of the image. Try to find a balance between the flower(s) and the background so that the image doesn't end up looking busy. Also, experiment with positioning the flower off to the side versus the traditional centered photograph. It can make for a really interesting composition!
