Pallida Illyrica
I am fortunate enough to have these beautiful flowers bloom in my own backyard every year. shot with only natural sunlight, a soft focus and colour boost adds t...
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I am fortunate enough to have these beautiful flowers bloom in my own backyard every year. shot with only natural sunlight, a soft focus and colour boost adds to the delicate magnificence of this floral species.
copyright peterbaureiss
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copyright peterbaureiss
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Feb, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was actually taken right in my own backyard. I am fortunate enough to have all kinds of beautiful flowers growing on my property.Time
Mid to late afternoon, with natural sunlight illuminating the outside of the flower from the west side.Lighting
i usually favour late afternoon natural sunlight, because the side lighting and long shadows create visual interest and add an extra dimension to the scene. In the case of this photo, it gives the inside of the flower a magnificent luminous quality, like a lantern. The sunlight creates a certain internal glow that brings out the exquisite detail and anatomy of the Iris. Natural light will always provide the clearest and brightest and purest form of illumination, which is in keeping with my organic aesthetic and approach to photography. The light fell at the right time, and it captured my attention.Equipment
Just the camera itself: a simple Panasonic DMC-FS42, handheld. No other equipment was used. Keeping a steady hand at such a close macro distance and waiting for the wind to stop blowing the subject is a skill in and of itself! I enjoy the rhythmic interplay between holding one's breath and recognizing that split second when it's right to take the shot. I have always held the opinion that you don't need expensive equipment to take a great photo; all you need is an artistic eye and good sense of composition.Inspiration
What inspired me was the delicateness, the subtlety, and the refined detail of the iris itself, hence the Latin title of the genus "Pallida Illyrica". Upon looking inside the flower as an insect might, there is a whole macro environment waiting to be discovered! The camera lens allows a glimpse into this strange and unusual world that the naked eye doesn't see. Composing tight brings the viewer into this world and envelops you, allowing you to notice every vein, every petal, every fibre, the unique patterning and hues in the design, and also the graphic quality and the symmetry; nature itself and all its wonder was the inspiration for this photo.Editing
I usually do a bit of minor tweaking: exposure, contrast, and a saturation boost to pump up the gorgeous greens in the background to give it life and vitality! I very slowly drag the settings back and forth in order to notice whether details are brought out or disappear, until I'm satisfied with the look and it still feels natural, and I finish with some edge blur to further the illusion of depth of field and to really bring the viewer in to the central point of the piece. In this case I took some time to crop using the grid to make sure the symmetry was dead on center. But to achieve a stunning photo, you must of course start with a good capture to begin with.In my camera bag
This camera is pocket size and i can discreetly bring it anywhere. It comes in real handy when travelling abroad, or to get into places where cameras might be frowned upon. As the old adage goes: "the best camera is the one you have with you". I used to carry a big bag of gear and large lenses when i travelled the world and shot on 35mm slide film, but i'll save that story for another time...Feedback
I usually only take photos when they ask to be taken. A scene or situation has to really grab my attention for me to want to spend time with it. An artistic eye is the most important element to any great photo, and trumps all gear and fancy equipment. It's about being observant and noticing beauty and intrigue in the most unlikely of places. A great photo should have that certain indescribable quality to it, that X-factor that makes you stop and take notice; that thing that makes you make that sound, that breathtaking grunt. Be authentic and pure in your interests and believe in what you're doing!
