© A Jeweled Tulip
Apr, 2015Views
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photograph was done on my coffee table using a sheet as a backdrop. I was trying to capture unusual angles of the tulip in a bouquet when the petals began falling off. In an attempt to salvage the flower, I began arranging the petals, but came back to the most natural shape. Something was missing. My pearl and gemstone earing just glowed and seemed to accent the color and lighting of the petals.Time
It was mid afternoon when we get better light through the windows in the room where I was working.Lighting
All I used was the natural, window light which was behind and to my left. Camera was set on 1600 ISO at F 10, shutter priority, -.3 stop.Equipment
Canon EOS 7 D, Canon compact macro 50 mm EF 2.5 lens that I borrowed from my husband, and my very old Bogen 3001 tripod with quick release ball head.Inspiration
I like to experiment but leave some aspect of realism. (In the 80's and 90's I loved to create images using Polaroid Transfer techniques, and by hand coloring my own black & white photographs.) For this image, the petals had a oyster-like shape as I tested various arrangements. A pearl seemed most appropriate. A single lavender pearl lacked the impact of the gemstone ringed white pearl.Editing
I did very little post processing. I worked from the Jpeg image. It was cropped to better match the subject's shape. I think I sharpened it, but little else. (The work I did in my slide film days taught me to bracket, bracket, bracket, and compose edge to edge of the frame).In my camera bag
Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Olympus SZ-14 Canon EF-S 18-55 3.5-5.6, Canon EF 75-300 4-5.6 Tamron 16-300 DiPZD 3.5-6.3 Tamron 150-600 primarily for birdingFeedback
This was a very simple, low tech set-up. The whole process took about 20 minutes once the petals fell off the stem. I would use a different background next time, something more elegant perhaps. I have used light stands and umbrellas in the past, and they have their place, but sometimes simpler is better. Don't discard aging flowers; just create a new unique one.
