calla lilies
Mar, 2012Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this picture on the island of Alcatraz. The island is an amazing place that is different every time I visit. This particular time was early in April, when the gardens on the island were alive with color.Time
It was late morning/early afternoon by the time I made it around to the gardens. I could have spent the whole day shooting just the gardens. The fuchsias and calla lilies are found in lots of places around the island, but they're most prolific down around the side opposite the docks, where the gardens are. I was there with family, but they had all gotten hung up on the cell block tour, while I wandered, following the call of mating gulls and nesting egrets. The morning fog had burned off and the skies were only spotty with clouds, affording the deep blue of the water in the background and the answering color in the sky above it.Lighting
The lighting was nearly perfect, once I got down into the lower parts of the garden where the sun wasn't directly overhead. The stone walls of the prison behind me offered just the right amount of reflected light without casting long shadows. The biggest problem was dealing with tourists and other photographers either blocking the light or getting too close and shading the shot.Equipment
I was just getting back into photography and was working with my first DSLR, a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS. I had studied when I was younger, and had originally learned on film cameras, but had drifted away for a number of years. I started with the Rebel XS and this was using the kit lens, the 18-55 mm.Inspiration
The beauty of the flowers was a big part of it, but I am also fascinated by the contrast of that beauty to the location. Most people, thinking about Alcatraz, don't think about flowers. The island has a dark history, and the center of it to this day is a testament of humanities darkest nature, and yet, all around the island, nature proves she is greater than any darkness humanity can offer, and little by little she takes back what was hers to begin with. I was also playing a lot with focus and focal length on this day. Most of my shooting is performances in dark places and shooting outdoors in daylight is a totally different challenge, and an opportunity to slow down and maybe approach my subject with more intent, a chance to not just capture a moment but to paint a picture. They play of the white calla lilies against the deep blue of the bay and the bright pink of the fuchsias made this spot fun to shoot from.Editing
I did a little cropping in post and I played a little with brightness, particularly in the white of the calla lilies, but beyond that I did very little. This is one I was pretty happy with just as it was shot.In my camera bag
I always have my kit lens and my zoom (55-250mm). I've taken to carrying my 50mm prine as well. I find that it almost always find the sweet spot, particularly in low light situations. I have a hot shoe flash that I seldom use, but I put it in the bag when I'm traveling because you never know when you might need it. I find I prefer to shoot without a flash in most situations though. I carry a handful of filters, including a neutral density filter and a good polarizer. And I have a wallet of macro lenses when I really get into the garden and want to get up close.Feedback
Alcatraz changes from season to season, month to month, year to year. The gardens are the most active in April and May, particularly for calla lilies and fuchsias. It can be windy and cold though, and rain can wash out an attempt at shooting the gardens. If you get to the island on one of the first boats and skip the tour for later, you can head to the gardens while the rest of the folks on your boat are in the prison. That should give you some good shooting time. Take your time, be patient and be aware. You might get to see some of the snowy egrets that nest on that side of the island.
