Standing apart
May, 2013Views
2052
Likes
Awards
Featured
Contest Finalist in Spring 2016 Photo Contest
Great Shot
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Genius
Exceptional Contrast
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo, on May 10, 2013 at the annual Ottawa Tulip Festival at Commissioners Park next to Dows lake in Ottawa, ON, Canada.Time
I took this shortly after 2 pm. It had been overcast that day, after having rained for a couple days. We had gone a few days prior but it was amazing what a couple days of rain did and how the flowers all opened right up!Lighting
It was all natural light.... the sky was finally starting to clear, but it was still overcast but the sun was trying to come out. The colours of all the tulips just seem vibrant in the light. I did very little post editing of the image to brighten it.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D7000, 55-300mm nikon lens at f/4.8 at 105mm. No tripod was used. No filters were used.Inspiration
My friend pointed out the flower to me, as it was the first one in the bed that was starting to wilt. It stood out to me how it was losing its petals and how it stood out from the others. It was still so beautiful to see as you could see the insides of the tulip perfectly. Other flowers turn brown or parts of the petals wilt more than other but this was still perfect and vibrant colours. I loved the contrast of showing the insides of the tulip next to the closed ones. It was like it was saying, "Look at me!" A year later this photo took on a whole new meaning for myself and some close friends. To us it reminds us of a dear friend we lost to breast cancer in 2014. She fought with everything she had with dignity and pride in what she had overcome. She is the tulip losings its petals, standing strong in front of friends and family that are there to support her, putting on a brave face, knowing she would be the first to go.Editing
My post processing was minimal. I didn't want to change the raw beauty of this photo.In my camera bag
I tend to carry my Lowpro backpack with my Nikon D7000 body along with several lenses, as I never know what i will use. I now have a Sigma 18-250 DC Macro OS lens, a sigma 10-20mm lens, a Nikon 35 1.8 lens and a Nikon 50mm 1.4 lens. I also have a few filters, but tend to only use the neutral density or polarizing filter. I also always have my tripod handy as well.Feedback
Be patient and have an open mind. Look for that one aspect that stands out, then compose around that. Be prepared to visit the site at different times in the same or on different days, as the lighting can change and create a whole new scene, or you may even see it in a different light. Look at the your subject matter and or scene from different angles. Play with your shots, be creative... Just get out there an shoot. Find something you are passionate about and shoot it!
