500 Trumpet Explosion

Gallery: FloraPosted August 14, 201195 views10 comments

I didn't count the number of flowers in this buttonbush flower head, but that's what it looked like to me. This is another shoreline plant that I shot hand-held from my canoe, using a flexible-arm clamp on the side of the boat to hold my reflector. (This only works when I can paddle right up to shoreline flowers. Getting that close allows me to use my short zoom, which does a great job as a macro lens.) Although it's a pretty white and yellow flower, I wanted to emphasize the form here, so I converted to black and white in ACR, and then added a hint of a warm tint in CS5.

Canon 50D
Sigma 17-70; Circ. Polarizer
1/125 sec. @ f/11; ISO 200

Please check out the larger version for a better view.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 15, 2011 at 12:05 AM

I think the b&w treatment really emphasizes the "explosion". That is one very cool looking flower and the dof is amazing.

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on August 15, 2011 at 12:36 AM

Wayne: Cool find and a fine capture and conversion. 2 thumbs up! >=))>

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 15, 2011 at 12:59 AM

Perfect for B&W, very, very sharp and clear.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on August 15, 2011 at 5:26 AM

I agree the B&W conversion is appropriate and well done to boot. Glad you composed with the leaf in. Adds interest and dimension to the image. Aptly titled. Where are my ear plugs!

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on August 15, 2011 at 8:44 AM

You have done a beautiful job of dramatizing this, for me, unusual bloom. B&W seems absolutely right for this.

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

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 15, 2011 at 7:26 PM

Outstanding conversion to show the shape Wayne. Love the symmetry and the leaf emphasizes it by way of contrast. Superb detail. Very fine...

pat

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

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on August 15, 2011 at 8:25 PM

Wayne:

I am starting to appreciate B&W photo again after getting in radiography. Love the conversion which is great to show the shape, symmetry and contrast. BTW great dexterity to get the kayak and reflector in place and take the picture.

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on August 15, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Wayne, Its amazing what you do sitting on a Canoe

- This ball like flower looks great to me. Really pops like a bright star on my monitor. Great work on the conversion

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on August 16, 2011 at 11:44 AM

Sounds like your canoe setup works well. Nice comp including the leaf, and the button is so interesting it keeps me looking in depth.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on August 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM

I think it looks like an art decco light fixture! I love the B&W treatment here to emphasize the structure. I may tone down the leaf sligtly since it is distracting to me, but that is a very minor nit. Very cool that you are able to get right up to these in a canoe. I'd probably run right over them on accident! Great job!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments