Leadoff HItter . . .

Gallery: FloraPosted March 27, 2011246 views16 comments

. . . for the Texas wildflower season.
Bobby Bluebonnet. Bobby isn't as numerous as last year when the flower bloom was magnificent but I still think this little guy is big league caliber.

Sony A700
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 400, 1/60 @ f8

I went to a short medical conference in San Antonio yesterday morning and then headed north to Austin and back home through some of my regular haunts. There were drought conditions in most parts of Texas this winter and early spring so expectations are pretty low, especially compared to 2010 which was the best wildflower bloom in many years. I had planned to just do some scouting but still took the camera along and had some luck near Independence in Washington County. All comments welcome. The rest of the lineup to follow shortly. >=))>

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on March 27, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Well at least it wasn't a bunt.......Bill,

Nice close-up We're still getting ran here in So Cal so I'm hoping to get out before all the action is over. I guess the rain that hit here all late winter and spring passed North of Texas?

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on March 27, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Nice isolation and a great specimen Bill. Sorry to hear that your bloom is going to be down this year. We have had above average snowfall, so I am guessing that our year will be pretty good this year - not that I will make it out much for the wild flowers - I mainly do the flowers in the yard.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on March 27, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Looks good Bill. I was planning on going out tomorrow in search of some bluebonnets since I saw quite a few on my way to Dallas yesterday.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on March 27, 2011 at 8:14 PM

I'm looking forward to this Bill - a beautiful starter. Excellent subject isolation and a fine exposure. The last time I saw one of these was probably thirty years ago on the walk out to a puddle jumper at the airport in Temple. It's the first flower that Terri dried and kept. She still has it of course. (smile)

I envy you the start of the season. I think ours is still a month off at least - maybe six weeks.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 27, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Great shot. All of the sharp blooms in the front and center had me thinking that the entire image was in focus at first. Only after spending some time enjoying did I realize that there are a few blooms that are slightly blurred. We're starting to see the earliest bloomers here in the mid-Atlantic.

Mark: Even though this bloom was close to the ground there was a pretty stiff wind blowing and I did not want to increase the ISO for more DOF/SS. Also at f11 some of the BG elements got enough sharper that I didn't like the result. I tried to get the front petals and the crown in the plane of focus and let the rest of the chips fall as they may. . . Bill

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on March 27, 2011 at 10:04 PM

Simply beautiful. Great isolation, incredible detail, wonderful colors... you got it all here. This is really a prime bloom with no visible flaws. The background color is so complimentary, IMO it would be nice to have a bit more room around the flower. But nicely done as is.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on March 27, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Love the blues, Bill. I'm surprised you found anything. I've heard about the drought from many sources. No suggestions.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on March 27, 2011 at 11:20 PM

Love it, Bill...looking forward to all the blooms!

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on March 28, 2011 at 2:39 AM

Bill:
You are so lucky to have vast expanse of wildflowers to enjoy. Looks really nice and looking forward to see the rest of the line up.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Derek Yow on March 28, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Beautiful shot Bill! If this takes your leadoff spot, I cannot wait to see what's batting clean-up!!!

Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on March 28, 2011 at 6:20 PM

Great light to show off every nuance of the beautiful flower, Bill! Masterful work again!

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

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on March 28, 2011 at 8:04 PM

Wonderful DOF/POF choice Bill. Great crisp colors.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on March 28, 2011 at 8:33 PM

Wonderful color and comp. Envy you with all those flowers in bloom.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on March 29, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Makes me eager for my annual spring trip to Maine with my brother. That's the closest I ever get to lupines. None around here.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 8, 2011 at 7:43 AM

Perfect color and light. I like the POV/comp that includes the OOF bottom, it shows the plants leaves & stem at its base nicely. Just sold a closeup of the bluebonnet recently, they're a hot item here in Texas with the upcoming Bluebonnet Festival just around the corner..
Beautiful work

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on April 28, 2011 at 9:07 PM

Excellent capture of those amazingly deep colors! Just enough detail in the background to place this in it's environment.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments