2nd Life
May, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I'm madly in love with flowers. My boyfriend was out of town and I had misplaced my keys so I wandered around his property for some time debating why nothing was in bloom quite yet when I discovered this one hiding in the foliage. It was one of the very first photos I took with my T5i It was the colour and the contrast in the texture between the flowers that weren't blooming and this beautiful, large, vibrant flower that interested me. I taught myself to create layers in photo shop to highlight the vibrant purple flower that I'd found hiding.Time
It was mid afternoon - and it was scolding hot. One of those late Canadian Spring days that harbours the promise of a summer that's not quite here yet. I remember wandering around the yard photographing everything I could see. I was so excited to have a new camera, and be somewhere that I loved, and was finding inspiration in everything.Lighting
Lighting for this photo was 100% natural. This flower was growing on the southside of the house, sheltered by some surrounding trees which helped give it that vibrant depth.Equipment
I used my Canon T5i with 18-55mm Lens, Macro Mode, with no filters or flash.Inspiration
My camera was the actual inspiration behind this shot. I was so excited to just have it in my hands and be outside enjoying the day. I found the flower completely stunning. I've always found inspiration in contrast. Things that look out of place and odd always strike me as beautiful and actually fuels my interest in alternative culture and street art. Things that are out of place and different are worth observing. What made this flower beautiful was the scarcity of any other blooms in the area. It was alone and hidden from the world and for a few brief moments it felt like it was my own little secret that I was supposed to share with the world.Editing
Yes. This was one of my very first photo shop successes. By duplicating the image layer I was able to create a black and white layer overtop of a coloured image. From there it was a matter of highlighting the flower and the slow process of layer erasing began.In my camera bag
I always carry a telescopic lens, a macro lens, a spare battery (MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD), and at least three memory cards. I have a small portable flash but I often leave it at home to do more studio stuff preferring natural lighting for my outdoor compositions. Now you may think three memory cards is overkill... but I prefer to be over prepared. And it's easier to separate me from my cell phone than it is my camera.Feedback
Always keep your eyes open. Little, beautiful, things can slip by if you're not observant. And don't shy away from a little extra work. I wasn't particularly speedy at photoshop when I started this, but the practice and patience paid off to make this picture what it is.
