A dance with an amaryllis

[FrankMi]

I certainly like it better Marie. To me it looks more like what I would expect. I suspect that the pistil and stamen stalks would be less green in the actual view, more like they are in the first image.

Good for you, Marie! I have a bit of dread when I think about learning to use engineered lighting as I have shot with natural lighting for three years now. I'll have to take the plunge if I want to advance my shooting skills or remain limited to natural light shooting.

[Wavelength]

Really great; in this case, the white background does better than the black

[Brownbear]

Absolutely beautiful! One of my favourite flower images of yours. I prefer the white background, simply because I prefer lighter backgrounds. But the flower on the black background (final edit) is also lovely!

[purplehaze]

This is for my fellow traveler.

Hey, is that me?!! Thanks, Marie! Great job! Would love to see some of your dance steps, next time. Presentation board sounds like a great idea. Self-supporting, reflective... Am delighted to hear you have acquired some softboxes; I just love mine. My amaryllis is not even budding yet, but I have a few little houseplants that are starting to flower, so maybe I will join you in your dance tomorrow or the day after.

Keep up the good work!

[Marie Hass]

Hey, is that me?!!

It is you, Jan.

I will be shooting more, this evening. I have a Red and an Orange amaryllis that are just drop-dead glorious.

In the next two months, just about my whole amaryllis stable will bloom. I love that Spring comes so early in my house!

'Rie

[chauncey]

FWIW Marie...you're making great progress.
Have you tried shooting tethered...if only to give yourself an immediate sense of your lighting scenario.
I've found that white backgrounds look better if the subject is brightly backlit as in using a light box.

[selig1656]

What a difference a day makes !!!! Both are beautiful pieces,I love the colors as they are. They simply look natural and not over processed ,i would for fun play with the black background with the spotlight effect in one of the editing programs on the subject.Only a suggestion that never hurts to see the flower in a different perspective.

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Chauncey!!!!

i am shooting tethered. I love it. I can control my camera from my computer. It makes checking my lighting so much faster.

I am buying accessories piece by paycheck - Some items on my wishlist are - a hotshoe adaptor here, a longer off-camera flash cable there, a longer tether cord, bacground papers, etc. The painter's clip-on lights work great, now that I put daylight LED lights in them. I now own 2 nice softboxes.

I am grateful to have embarked on this journey. Having indoor projects in the dead of winter that involve growing things combined with photography has helped the time pass quickly to spring.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Nandakumar, I thank you.

Now that I have some equipment, shooting white backgrounds has become easier. I do not have to rely on natural light.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Christina,

Hopefully I will continue to delight your eye!

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Dear raymond,

You asked to see things from a different perspective, so how is this?

Amaryllis "Black Pearl"

c&c, as always, welcome.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

For Janis and Frank,

More traditional views.

Amaryllis "Black Pearl" - A glossy highly saturated red.

Amaryllis "Orange Sovereign" - A matte, crepey orange.

c&c welcome.

'Rie

[selig1656]

I love it and thanks for taking the time to show these great variations.

[Stagecoach]

Oh Marie, "Orange Sovereign" is stunning and my favourite to date, well done !

Please don't consider focus stacking these

Grahame

[Marie Hass]

lols, Grahame!

"Orange Sovereign" is now in full bloom. i will shoot some pictures for you!

'Rie