looking up
I was sitting and resting on a bench in Washington DC after a long walk around the cherry blossom festival, and around me were these beautiful great magnolias w...
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I was sitting and resting on a bench in Washington DC after a long walk around the cherry blossom festival, and around me were these beautiful great magnolias which also bloom @ the same time as cherry blossom. Some of the petals were falling around creating a very beautiful scene. I was sitting with my back rested against the bench and as looking it up and just see this beautiful petal. I took my 58, put the aperture as wide as I can and take the shot.
Let me know what you think. Comments-critiques are welcome and appreciated.
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Let me know what you think. Comments-critiques are welcome and appreciated.
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Sep, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo while visiting Washington DC for the cherry blossom festival. I was visiting a few museums in the area and was walking back towards the Washington Monument. As I was walking along I spotted 2 rows of beautiful large magnolia trees that were in bloom. It was in the Enid A. Haupt garden. Feeling tired from walking for the day I decided to go in and take a seat on one of the many benches underneath the magnolias to rest. As I rested I lean back on the bench, head tilted up and saw this single magnolia standing out in the bunch. Funny, I came for cherry blossom and the favorite photo was magnolia blooming.Time
I took this photo on April 12th 2015 at 3:19pm. I had walked along the Washington Mall area since early morning and my feet were very tired. I sat on the bench just to take in the light breeze, the shade away from a hot sun and just people watching. My camera was in the bag because I was going to just relax and enjoy the view. However, I spotted this flower at a unique angle so I had to pull out my camera and take the shot.Lighting
This photo was taken in the shade directly under the tree. The sky was clear blue and the sun was bright and up high even though it’s 3pm in the evening. Shooting in the shade helps diffused the light and provide a nice even soft light. I love this photo because it’s simple: just a magnolia with a hint of blue sky.Equipment
At the time I was using an entry-level Sony a58 with a Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZA SSM. This was my favorite lens for a long time until I upgrade my camera.Inspiration
I always look for a different, new and fresh perspective when taking a photo. But I would never anticipate this angle. It comes like a “eureka” moment as I was literally looking straight up when sitting. Straight in front of me, or should I say above me, was this single flower standing out alone on the branch. And so I open the aperture at max to get the thinnest DOF and isolate everything in the background. This helps drawn the viewer directly to the single magnolia even though the background is same colors.Editing
Interestingly for me, I did very little post-processing with this photo. The photo was simple in terms of colors, subjects and I’d like to keep it that way. The only thing I did was up the exposure by ¼ stop and increase the vibrant of the pink/magenta and blue by a few points in LR.In my camera bag
Most of my photos were taken travelling around the world and so the most important factor in deciding my gear was weight. Image quality is also on top of the list and so most of the time it comes down to weight vs image quality; the deciding factor for my gear. I had a crop sensor Sony a58 and Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZA. I use this combo (along with the kit lens) for most of my travel photos. There are obviously disadvantages for the combo I used and after saving enough money I decide to switch to an entirely new camera system and lens. Now I’ve been travelling with Sony a7 mirrorless camera for better image quality (especially in low light situation) and Sony Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. Also in my bag is a small flash Godox TT350s, a Cameron CF500 carbon fiber tripod, an extension tube set for macro/close-up photos, ND, CP and macro filters.Feedback
Photography for me is a hobby and so I think before I bring the camera up and press the shutter button is to enjoy the moment first. Take in the landscape, enjoy the scenery, and only then I started to take photos. As well enjoy the experience of using your camera to take photos. Look for different compositions and angles. You may just find a beautiful photo by simply looking up. For me, each photo is a reminder of a time well spent with someone I loved. I hoped someway, somehow it can connect with you the way I do with my photos.
