Coneflower in the snow
I leave some of the flowers in my yard for winter to give something to look at during the long winter months.
I leave some of the flowers in my yard for winter to give something to look at during the long winter months.
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Feb, 2016Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in my back garden. I always leave some plants for winter visual interest and photo opportunities. It gets very cold in the winter where I live, making it difficult to spend long times outside, especially without mittens. So I like to create opportunities close to home.Time
I first noticed this as a potential image in the early morning, but the light wasn't right. I checked on it from my window throughout the day until it looked right. About 3 pm I was happy with the light and went out to shoot it.Lighting
I was looking for soft lighting to eliminate harsh shadows. As the day progressed clouds rolled in and created the lighting I was looking for.Equipment
I shot this image before I bought my Nikon DSLR. At the time I only had a Canon G12. The shot was hand held, natural lighting.Inspiration
The inspiration for this shot came from the remains of the dead flower stalks and the contrast between them and the snow. I could see the potential for a nice black & white image.Editing
To achieve the final result I converted the image to balk & white in Photoshop, adjusted the contrast, cropping and sharpened it a bit. I also retouch out a footprint at the top right to smooth out the background that I found distracting.In my camera bag
For equipment I have a Nikon D7100 with a Nikon 18 to 105mm lens. It's a great lens to travel with because of it's versatility. I also have 90mm Tameron macro lens, a sturdy but light weight Manfroto tripod, a circular PL filter, 10x ND filter and a remote shutter release.Feedback
Some may wonder why I would take a photo of dead flowers in the winter, but beauty can be found in the most unlikely places. Keep an open mind and experiment. of course the right light is important for an photograph. Being patient and waiting for the right conditions is key.
