Attraction
Mar, 2015Views
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Contest Finalist in Bokeh Plants and Flowers Photo Contest
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barbararybolt
March 25, 2017
Your image is wonderful. I loved your BTL story - your rig is perfect for the other-worldly look of so many of your photos. Well seen, well made!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in beautiful Richmond Upon Thames. I had gone out with a mind to shoot some landscapes but instead stumbled upon this wildflower meadow full of poppies and huge bumblebees racing from flower to flower.Time
It was just after sunrise one morning last July at about 6:00 am. I hadn't had much luck with my landscape and I thought the sun was getting too high and harsh to continue. Time to go home... But the vibrant red of the poppies and the spirited flight of the bees started calling to me, and I decided to try and recreate their summer mood in a photo.Lighting
The sun was bright and fast moving clouds meant continually changing light. This was quite a challenge when simultaneously dealing with a fast moving subject, so I focused on my composition first and then played a waiting game with the bees and the clouds.Equipment
This was taken with a simple set up. Just a Nikon D90 camera and Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 prime lens.Inspiration
I was inspired by the bright colours of the flowers and the speed and urgency of the bee's flight. It made me think of spontaneity and also of a fierce joy and passion for life. The word 'Attraction' came to mind, and that is what I named this photo. I spent some time kneeling on the ground in order to angle the camera upwards enough that the out of focus light filtering through the trees would appear as though the poppy was releasing something to attract the bees.Editing
I set the white balance slightly on the cool side because I like how the colours appear, I think it gives it a slightly otherworldly look. I also gave it a square crop because I like the simplicity of it and there would have been too much background if I had kept it at it's original 3:2 ratio. Finally I made small adjustments to the curves and levels and added a small amount of sharpening to the bee and poppy.In my camera bag
I only have my Nikon D90 and Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 prime in my bag, along with my tripod. Everything I have shot so far has been with this set up.Feedback
Keep experimenting! Have in mind the feeling you want to express, think about what drew you to your subject, get close, and keep trying new things. The more you try the more you will learn, and what you're trying to express will manifest in the end. You need patience to capture bees and a fast shutter speed too! They are so quick that you may have to try many times before you catch one in the right place!
