Jacob's Ladder flowers

Gallery: FloraPosted May 4, 2011125 views16 comments

This plant is a Polemonium which is part of the Phlox family; Jacob's Ladder is its common name. The pictured plant grows wild in my shade gardens although I do have some variegated-leaved cultivated varieties also. The flowers grow in loose, arched, or nodding clusters. The divided leaves alternate on the stem looking like a ladder which is how it got its common name (this is not shown in the picture; they are lower on the stem).

Canon Rebel T1i. 90mm macro lens. F/29 for 2 sec. ISO 100. Studio shot.

Comments/critiques welcomed.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on May 4, 2011 at 12:21 PM

I love this one Carolyn. Curious about your lighting which I also think is excellent. DOF could not be better IMO. Overall about as good as they come.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on May 4, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Thanks for your comments, Charlie. My lighting "studio" (in my kitchen) is very improvised! I have 2 of my husband's portable shop lights; the stronger one on the left about 10 feet away and a less intense one on the right about 5 feet away. I also have daylight coming in a large picture window to the right. In addition, I put a 60watt simple gooseneck lamp shining up from the floor. I have a gorilla torch which I also experiment with running over the flowers during the long exposure. Many variations thus of this but I liked this one the best!

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on May 4, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Thanks for the details. I like the experimental way you get the job done. You go Carolyn!

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on May 4, 2011 at 3:25 PM

Loved the details and colours in these beautiful flowers. Those long curving leaves are equally attractive.
Some gorgeous back-lighting as well. My only nit is to do with processing - I find that the edges of petals against the black backdrop have some sharpening artifacts.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 4, 2011 at 3:37 PM

Very nice blooms and capture!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Bernie Kasper on May 4, 2011 at 3:37 PM

Beautiful work Carolyn, the color and light are wonderful in this...the subject is really nice as well !!

Registered on June 5, 2005, 251 Posts, 3734 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 4, 2011 at 6:55 PM

This is a beautiful flower. I'll have to look into putting some in my shady areas. The composition is great and I like the contrast between the flowers and the green leaves, but the flowers seem a little stark as if you've pumped up the contrast a bit too much.

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

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on May 4, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Wonderful job Carolyn. I'd never had guessed inside lighting as to me this looks like directional soft natural light. Superbly done.
Bob

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on May 4, 2011 at 9:56 PM

Love the composition in this Carolyn. The color palette is also beautiful. I like the warm lighting as well. I agree with Mark that there's a touch of harshness in the petal texture. I think it might be from the light coming up from the floor and that it's shadow. Just a guess though. It's no big deal regardless. There's just a touch of oddness there. This is a beautiful image exactly as posted.

pat

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 4, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Beautiful!
Love the "pose" and perspective. Great colours set off perfectly with the dark BG.
Just lovely!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on May 4, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Excellent! Super sharp throughout. Great colors combination too.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 4, 2011 at 11:35 PM

Carolyn: Beautiful subjects, fine lighting and wonderful color. Top notch shot. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on May 5, 2011 at 6:38 AM

The lighting set up you used really makes these glow. Perfect subject and presentation as well. I obviously like everything about this image!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on May 5, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Beautiful work Carolyn , I just love the rim lighting on the flower and stem it make the image that much more special!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on May 5, 2011 at 9:10 PM

Beautiful, Carolyn.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on May 8, 2011 at 4:26 PM

A beautiful photo of a beautiful flower, Carolyn. I love the lights and the many curved lines.
Take care.

Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments