Blue Dicks

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 4, 2010519 views31 comments

The richest area for flowers I wandered into in Arizona in early April wasn't so rich for compositions, especially the background. This photo, and another I'll post next, is primarily to just show the flowers. I've never seen hyacinth (Blue Dicks) anywhere near this prolific.

Compression is hurting this and I've probably over-sharpened it a bit trying to compensate, YMMV (your monitor may vary). Per usual, detail in the larger photo is better.

Nikon D80
Nikon 12.0-24.0 mm f/4.0 at 12 mm
1/125 sec at f/16 and ISO 100
Cropped from three photos- two photos hand blended for foreground DOF, and then stitched with a third for vertical FOV.
Hand held while jumping on a mini-trampoline (just checking who loves this detail stuff).

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 4, 2010 at 9:53 AM

Pretty good stuff for being on a trampoline, John. These flowers look great. Beautiful color and I think you did pretty good with the comp too. The large version is very nice.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on May 4, 2010 at 9:55 AM

This is a great scene. I am so amazed by the wild flowers you have out there in desert in spring. i haven't seen anything like this before. The flowers look great and the sky with its clouds look quite interesting. The large version is great.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on May 4, 2010 at 11:14 AM

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 4, 2010 at 11:18 AM

nice trampoline shot, john. too bad about the BG but the flowers are wonderful. you're right about the smaller version seeming a little oversharpend - not so with the larger. i almost wish for a comp of just the flowers and maybe some small thing to break up that composition that i see in my mind's eye ...

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on May 4, 2010 at 12:06 PM

That is an impressive field of color, someday I have to make it out west to check the wildflower blooms. The color does all the talking here, I don't mind the simple background.
So now I have to add a trampoline to the list of things I carry with me in the field...

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 4, 2010 at 12:17 PM

Beautiful sea of flowers John. I love the explosion of color and I like the clouds in the background as well. Wonderful sharpness for a hand held, trampoline shot!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on May 4, 2010 at 12:27 PM

This is perfect, John. Absolutely perfect. The colors, the killer clouds, the light...all are gorgeous in this photo.

I always bring along a mini-trampoline as it's a great way to gain additional height when needed.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on May 4, 2010 at 12:41 PM

Truly a sea of flowers. Imo the comp is still sweet despite lack of geographic features in the bg but the clouds make a wonderful backdrop. I have to try this trampoline thing - it seems to work.

(well, really I'm one of the guys who really doesn't care at all about the tech-stuff...)
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on May 4, 2010 at 12:59 PM

beautiful flower-scape, if one can call it so! mini-trampoline? looks like you had a great time there and even captured some nice shots! very pleasent image and the flowers just seem to pop out the screen. don´t know if I´m the only one feeling this but I wouldn´t mind seeing the lower quarter with a bit more contrast, just a thought. the color mix of the flowers is fabulous. great comp, John!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on May 4, 2010 at 1:01 PM

Sweet. Large version rocks.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Alessandro Carboni on May 4, 2010 at 1:59 PM

very nice image with beautiful colors and comp

Registered on January 21, 2010, 20 Posts, 98 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 4, 2010 at 4:10 PM

This looks great, John. The comp does a great job putting the emphasis on the carpet of flowers. Awesome display and well-captured.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on May 4, 2010 at 4:29 PM

awesome....

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on May 4, 2010 at 5:06 PM

Beautiful color. The foreground detail is great.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on May 4, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Absolutely GORGEOUS. You did a great job showing the massive flower field here.

If your secret to great photography is the mini-trampoline, I might just have to invest

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on May 4, 2010 at 6:26 PM

An amazing display of flowers! You conveyed the color and mass extrememly well. Gorgeous.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 4, 2010 at 8:24 PM

What a delightful flower display, John! I love the color palette, and the low contrast processing is perfect

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 4, 2010 at 9:03 PM

John, I like these images with a more cloudy sky instead of the bald blue sky as usual. Of course the poppies aren't open but the hyacinth fills out the image nicely. You struck it rich with this area.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on May 4, 2010 at 11:27 PM

Trampoline, huh? Beautiful! Love those colors.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 5, 2010 at 12:15 AM

Excellent shot John. Thanks for posting the large version. I really like this composition which puts the emphasis on the flowers. The sky is very nice as well.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 5, 2010 at 1:04 AM

That's an impressive field of color! Amazing density to the blooms, and the color combo is excellent.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Goldstein on May 5, 2010 at 1:47 AM

A shame the poppies are closed, but considering the conditions you did a fine job with this. This is an amazingly beautiful scene.

Registered on March 18, 2006, 119 Posts, 878 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on May 5, 2010 at 2:06 AM

Amazing!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 5, 2010 at 2:51 AM

Incredibel!
Nice comp too

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on May 5, 2010 at 4:50 AM

A amazing scene that has been showcased so brilliantly in this photograph. Stunning!

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on May 5, 2010 at 5:10 AM

Your work amazes me John, all I can say is WOW.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 5, 2010 at 8:23 AM

Man, that's some gorgeous color John, and the rolling hills make it even better! What camera bag do you use to haul the mini-tramp around?

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Bob McQuade on May 5, 2010 at 11:29 AM

The larger image is quite impressive, looks good on my monitor. I searched all over the state the year before last and never saw anything like this, must have been the bad weather this winter produced areas like this. I am envious. Very nice shot!

Registered on October 8, 2009, 214 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on May 5, 2010 at 4:54 PM

Glory be!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on May 5, 2010 at 11:29 PM

Beautiful! Wonderful color.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Pavel Cakl on May 11, 2010 at 5:29 AM

Hello John,
it must be unbeliaveable to witness such a beauty. Very nice one. I would not be worried about background too much.

Registered on April 8, 2010, 7 Posts, 178 Comments