Project 52 - Botanical Subjects by Geoff F - 3rd Quarter

[Geoff F]

Decided to try to improve my botanical photography with this challenge. I have regularly shot flowers etc but too often I'm thinking 'I could have done better'. So this is a chance for me to experiment and learn a bit more. Most of the photos come from a wildlife reserve where I regularly record insectlife etc.

The previous second quarter is here:-

2015 Project 52 by Geoff F - 2nd Quarter

Week 28 Starting with a Dog Rose (Rosa canina)



7D with Sigma 180 macro lens 1/200 F 14 Iso 400 flash used in shade.

Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) A small delicate flower for a rather forceful weed.



Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/160 F4 Iso 400 in deep shade

A close up of that tiny flower.



Sigma 180 macro lens 1/250 F14 Iso 200 flash used.

Slender St. John's Wort (Hypericum pulchrum)



Tamron 24-70 lens 1/800 F 8 Iso 100. A merge of two shots taken when the sun went behind a cloud.

[Geoff F]

This one is from my garden. A Giant Mullein flower



Is it just me or can anyone else see a cartoon duckling there?

[IzzieK]

On the first batch, I like #1 and #4...they are perfect shots! On this one just above, no...it wasn't just you but I thought a baby duckling is just emerging from its sleep and stretching...I love that last one, very interesting pose of the duckling...

[Shadowman]

Nice series, I did a bit of botanical shots today; a rarity for me.

[Ken MT]

I find that the diseased leaf in #1 takes my eye away from the flower.

[IzzieK]

Nice series, I did a bit of botanical shots today; a rarity for me.

How did you go? Just curious...

[Geoff F]

I find that the diseased leaf in #1 takes my eye away from the flower.

I was wondering about cropping that image a little tighter on the right but thought it would be too tight then, so I left if as a real life and death together type of scene.

Possibly a mix of clone and crop might be an alternative to try.

[Geoff F]

Here is an edit of #1



OK or too tight now?

[IzzieK]

This is my favourite Geoff!! of the first batch...now it looks better...

[Cantab]

Here is an edit of #1



OK or too tight now?

A difficult choice but I think I prefer the original: the veining on the white petals is more obvious. But then I'm looking at this on an iPad, so who knows!

[Geoff F]

A Dog Rose from another site. Some places tend to be mostly white while others are mainly pink.

Three Generations of Dog Rose. So I have deliberately left the imperfections on the 'pensioner' parts.

[Geoff F]

Week 29

Starting with another plant which throws up a spike of small flowers that open one by one over an extended period, like the Enchanter's Nightshade.


Heath Lobelia. Generally rather scarce but there is a lot of it at this particular site.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/640 F3.2 Iso 100. A bit of a compromise to keep everything sharp while blurring the background. A lot of attempts were ditched to get this one keeper; and that is a merge of bits taken from some of the failures!

A closer shot of the small flowers.



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/250 F14 Iso 200. Tried several angles and once again most shots were quickly ditched!


Honeysuckle. Another subject where there was only one survivor from many attempts.



Back to the Tamron lens 1/640 F8 Iso 100

[IzzieK]

I love the angle of the right flower...

A Dog Rose from another site. Some places tend to be mostly white while others are mainly pink.

Three Generations of Dog Rose. So I have deliberately left the imperfections on the 'pensioner' parts.

[IzzieK]

These are all great shots...the first one is just an overview for me, but the second close-up is exquisite and the third, the Honeysuckle, I am a bit biased there because I love honeysuckles...very sweet...

Week 29

Starting with another plant which throws up a spike of small flowers that open one by one over an extended period, like the Enchanter's Nightshade.


Heath Lobelia. Generally rather scarce but there is a lot of it at this particular site.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/640 F3.2 Iso 100. A bit of a compromise to keep everything sharp while blurring the background. A lot of attempts were ditched to get this one keeper; and that is a merge of bits taken from some of the failures!

A closer shot of the small flowers.



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/250 F14 Iso 200. Tried several angles and once again most shots were quickly ditched!


Honeysuckle. Another subject where there was only one survivor from many attempts.



Back to the Tamron lens 1/640 F8 Iso 100

[Geoff F]

Week 30

Broad-leaved Helleborine. A relatively uncommon member of the orchid family growing about 4 ft high. First the overview.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens 1/160 F6.3 Iso 200. Flash. Situated in shade but with sunny areas showing through parts of the foliage. Flash was the only option but I found this scene difficult to capture; so this was the only one which came close to being a keeper.

A close up of one of those little flowers



Sigma 180 macro lens 1/160 F13 Iso 400 flash.

And two flowers 'holding hands'.



All in all, I found this to be a very tricky subject which meant getting down to ground level and looking slightly upwards at those difficult little flowers.

And a totally different very common plant. Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris.



1/400 F6.3 Iso 400

[Cantab]

The second and third photos are wonderful! A good look at the full plant shows most of the flowers hanging/pointed downwards -- hence your comment about getting down to ground level. Most inconsiderate of the plant!

[Shadowman]

Nice series, interesting specimens.

[IzzieK]

All in all, I found this to be a very tricky subject which meant getting down to ground level and looking slightly upwards at those difficult little flowers.

I like your narrative about these flowers plus the accompanying images with them. ... so...how is your back doing, mate?

[Geoff F]

Getting down to ground level was easy, Izzie.

The harder bit however . . .

[Kaye Leggett]

These are all fine shots. I especially like the last, but that is only because I like a bit of colour in a flower. Your depth of field is superb on it too.