Budding Hope
A manipulated interpretation of an iris bud on a rainy day. The iris is a symbol of wisdom, hope, trust, and valor.
A manipulated interpretation of an iris bud on a rainy day. The iris is a symbol of wisdom, hope, trust, and valor.
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Apr, 2020Views
582
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Awards
People's Choice in bokeh effect Photo Challenge
Winner in The Lovely Iris Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Genius
All Star
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Behind The Lens
Location
During the Covid-19 lock-down, I found myself looking for photography opportunities around the house and yard. On this day, the iris in the front yard were beginning to go through various stages of blooming.Time
This image was shot in late afternoon. My preferences for shooting outdoors is when the sun is low on the horizon up to about an hour before and after it crosses the horizon. Sometimes we just have to accept the conditions we are given and make them work for us.Lighting
There was a direct soft sunlight light because the sun was partially diffused by a thin layer of clouds. The direction was from the right and slightly behind the subject. The concrete driveway behind me acted as a reflector to open up the shadows.Equipment
For this image, I used my Lumix G9 with the 35-100mm f-2.8 lens. I did have the camera on a tripod because I was experimenting with various exposures and multiple exposure defocus techniques. This particular image happened to be a single exposure.Inspiration
I love it when the iris bloom in our yard at springtime. They are exotic and colorful. Typically I would shoot the fully bloomed flower, but this particular bud definitely caught my attention.Editing
Typically, I shoot straight photos with minimal to no alteration of reality. I this case, I took a totally different approach. I used Adobe Lightroom to do my basic image editing. I transferred the image to my phone and did some playful compositing in Snapseed to get the water drops and additional bokeh. I wanted to enhance to feel of a rainy spring day.In my camera bag
My photography experiences span the past 43 years, so over the years, I have accumulated and updated quite a bit. I taught photography for 35 years and also still do quite a bit of client work. I have several film, DSLR, and mirrorless cameras to help me get the jobs done. My latest acquisition is an infrared converted mirrorless camera that I have been having a lot of fun using. Brands include: Canon, Nikon, and Lumix (I'm not one of those who thinks only one brand is best). Lens focal lengths range from 8-800mm. I always carry a tripod/monopod...you never know when it will come in handy.Feedback
In photography, there is more than one way to interpret what you see. Sometimes, images are fully conceived at the moment you actuate the shutter. And sometimes, it is fun to let your imagination run wild. Like a painter or sculptor, rarely do they have a fully conceived idea when they start. Give yourself the opportunity to interact and explore the medium so the final image can evolve. The camera and software are merely tools for the photographic artist to do their creating.
