Amaryllis 2015

[Marie Hass]

My Chico is the first to bloom - this is the 3rd year in a row.

This is not the best picture, as the lack of light meant that the detail was just not there. I had very little light left in this day and the histogram is very flat. So, I did the open doorway thing and let the background burn so as to create a white background. I used a tripod and shot f22 to get more in focus.

If I get home in time from work, and the blooms have not started to shrivel, I will try again - with my black background.

(But...I just had to get the jump on Frank - unless he has already posted and I missed it, which was quite possible as I have been very busy these past 2 weeks with work).

One of these days, I will buy the equipment to create a small indoor studio where I can control the lighting.

Please feel free to c&c

'Rie

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[FrankMi]

If I get home in time from work, and the blooms have not started to shrivel, I will try again - with my black background.

(But...I just had to get the jump on Frank - unless he has already posted and I missed it, which was quite possible as I have been very busy these past 2 weeks with work).

Marie, you crack me up! LOL!

Lovely capture and I know it'll be even better with the blackground.

Our first to blossom will be the Emerald which should be similar to the Chico if I understand it correctly. It started a third scape today but it may be another week or two for the first scape to blossom. After that, there doesn't seem to be any others that are ready to start scapes as yet so you win first prize for this season!

I wonder if there is a camera small enough to put inside the blossom and photograph the gawkers looking at it?

[IzzieK]

I wonder how this will look like with a black background? The white is almost too blinding for my eyes...btw, it is my eyes, not your shot's fault...

[Marie Hass]

Thanks, John, as always for commenting. You are too kind.

I often wonder about the qualities of ambient light, and why is it that even a longer exposure wil not help to draw out the details in low light conditions?

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Thanks, Izzie.

I wonder how this will look like with a black background?

That is my goal. Hopefully I will be home tonight from work in time to do my blackground.

If not, I have other amaryllis blooms coming along that I will shoot.

Is that a grand-baby? Adorable.

'Rie

[ashcroft]

I often wonder about the qualities of ambient light, and why is it that even a longer exposure wil not help to draw out the details in low light conditions?

Good shot, but perhaps a blackground, as suggested.

I always use flash for shots like this. The light is intense and of very short duration so your shutter speed can be around 1/125s, although the flash duration is firing at below 1/1000s depending on the power level. I'm not sure of the technicalities of this, but I would have thought with a long exposure in ambient light you will start to get noise. All of the shots I do with flash produce excellent detail. But more than that, you can get (with some care) a really good visual effect, such as directional light.

Perhaps you need a small studio for Christmas?

[Stagecoach]

Hi Marie,

I like the composition and understand your light problems, 8 seconds at f/22, not a good combination but a surprising result.

Look forward to the black background one, hope you get time.

Grahame

[rudi]

Hi Marie, this shot came out very nice I think.
I wonder iff you could have turned the flower so that the anthers on the left are also in focus. But that can give you a different 'look' which might be not as good as this one, just saying.....

[Marie Hass]

Rudi,

I did turn, but also made the mistake of trying manual focus. Since I do not see well to begin with, all of the pictures were blurry.

Hopefully, I wll have the time to shoot again, tonight.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Grahame,

8 seconds at f/22, not a good combination

Explain?

I chose f22 so that I could create more DoF. I then had to do 8 seconds in order capture more ambient light. Other than flash, as Rob suggests, what else could I do?

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Rob,

I will give flash a try. I really hate the shadows that flash throws.

Yes, i need to build a small studio, but it will have to be on a low-income budget.

If you have some ideas along that line???????

'Rie

[Stagecoach]

Dear Grahame,


Explain?

I chose f22 so that I could create more DoF. I then had to do 8 seconds in order capture more ambient light. Other than flash, as Rob suggests, what else could I do?

'Rie

Hi Marie,

Explanation : Not a lot really other than possibly push the ISO up but I suspect that would have been a concern to you as your images of these amaryllis always ooze great DOF and high quality.

My fear would have been the 8 seconds due to any movement but you obviously had absolutely no breeze, and held you breath

I don't recall you having used flash with these before, but may be wrong?

Grahame

[bnnrcn]

Lovely flower Marie, I also like the shot It seems a bit overexposed to me because of the faded colors and bright BG. I think you can do something about it with PP. I can't wait to see the one with black BG.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Grahame,

You are right. No flash. but if I really knew how to master the flash so i did not get flash shadows, i would do it.

I used a tripod on this shot, and you are right. i tried not to breathe. I set the timer for 2 seconds, so I would not have camera movement when I pressed the button. I do have some shots were there was obvious movement. so now I am thinking that it may have been air from the heat vent when the heat came on? We have forced hot air and I set up next to the heat vent on the floor.....hum.....I will think on that.

thanks for explaining.

'RieI

[Marie Hass]

hi, Binnur,

I tried PP, but I think, in low light conditions, the details are not there?

If the flowers are still nice this evening, and i have time, I will re-shoot with a black background.

Hopefully, i will have more light to work with.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Good Morning, Frank!!!!

I cannot wait to see your blooms! Start a thread and keep posting to your thread. Please PM me so I know when you post. I will do the same.

I just purchased Tango, Merengue and Rosario from Royal Colors. All cybisters. Should be pretty. They will be coming in January. I pray that the weather holds.

My Aphrodite has sent up another scape. It will be open in a week or so.

'Rie

[Downrigger]

Dear Rob,
Yes, i need to build a small studio, but it will have to be on a low-income budget. If you have some ideas along that line???????

Maybe something like this? I made one of these in my basement in a few hours. Fun.

[DanK]

A very nice composition. I agree with you and others that the lighting is not optimal. The surfaces facing the camera are poorly illuminated.

Nothing wrong with long exposures if you can avoid motion, which you seem to have done nicely. Virtually all of my flowers are long exposures, although usually not more than 2 or 3 seconds.

Since you don't mind long exposures, you might consider a lighting setup like mine. I use two small "hair lights," which portrait photographers use to put light on the tops of people's heads. YOu need to have at least one that will hold an umbrella so that you can have some reflected light. I use baking parchment paper for diffusion, and 50 and 75W halogen bulbs. The whole setup cost me about $200. The disadvantage of this approach is that you need long exposures. The advantage is that you can control the lighting very well, moving the lights around until you like the effect. I'll post a picture of the way I had it set up once, along with the photo I was taking at the time.

[IzzieK]

Is that a grand-baby? Adorable.

'Rie

Yup! She's the only one. She'll be in Skype (not mine) this Christmas. 5 minutes is enough for this camera hugging brat! At count 6 I will have to escape.. Bill has more patience than me...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Rie.......I am glad you are well...