Center of the Lily
Oct, 2018Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in my Beausejour, Manitoba backyard. I was experimenting with close-up shots of flowers and flowerbeds. When I came to this beautiful, bright orange-red lily and its stamens and pistil stood out so well against the bright color petals. They were just begging me to photograph them.Time
This image is one of my favorites and I have it displayed in my sample album. It was October and I was walking around my yard and flower garden, playing with close-up shots. It was late afternoon and the sunlight was great; it was filtered by a few clouds that were floating over-head. I took many photos that day while getting in close and personal with different subjects but this one was special. There were no bees to anger. Its bright petals were a perfect background for the stamens and pistil. I zoomed in on the flower's center and captured my shot.Lighting
I used natural lighting - the sun which was slightly defused by the soft clouds as they floated by. My camera had a small sunshield.Equipment
For this shot I used my Nikon D3000 with a 18-55 lens. No flash or tripod were used and the sun provided the light.Inspiration
I like using natural lighting whenever possible. I have been a gardener for many years and like photographing my garden and plants. The photographs are a great guide for the following year and shows me what plants/flowers I have in a specific area. I take many photos of my flowers and like to enter some in local contests or when I am selling off some of my plants, customers know what to expect as to size and color. I was inspired to take this shot because of the colors and photographic content of the flower.Editing
I don't use any special post-processing just a little cropping when printing. The only thing I do is walk around my subject or scene to see what is the best angle and possition to capture my photo. I try to avoid shadows and objects that obstruct the composition. I recently started using some editing software which I am still experimenting with.In my camera bag
I don't carry anything special in my camera bag. Too much equipment gets heavy when out on a long assignment and changing lens out on location can become cumbersome and can damage expensive equipment. Sometimes less is better. A couple of years ago I took a trip to Mexico and carried two small pocket cameras. Otherwise, I usually carry my Nikon D3000, a zoom lens and flash in a well-padded camera case.Feedback
I am basicly a self-taught photographer so I don't try and give out too much advice. However, like everything else, photograph things you love and capture the images you would like to see. As photographers, we must learn to see through a 'camera's eye' and portray the scene in the best light possible. Walk around the scene to get the right angle and try to eliminate unsightly objects. Sometimes that is not possible so we must rely on editing software. However, the more you can eliminate, the less work you will have. As for close-ups of flowers, try not to get stung by angry bees however, bees and butterflies add a natural touch to the photo. There are many oppertunities to take courses. Photographers can take the oppertunity to learn from others by taking a course and/or joining a camera club in your area. Most of all - HAVE FUN!
