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Ladies in Waiting
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Ladies in Waiting

by Benjamin Olson

Gallery: FloraPosted February 15, 2012139 views17 comments
As some of you may recall, I like to photograph Lady's Slippers and I pursue them rather diligently each year. I've been lucky in locating all but one that grow in Minnesota, but I've struggled on finding pristine groups of them. This July, while up in Bemidji, I hit the mother load and found over 500 Showy Lady's Slippers in less than 24 hours. After hours of examining group after group I finally found what I was looking for. To top it off... it was a pristine group of Minnesota's state flower!

Rather than isolating individual flowers, I was looking for an environment type image, so I used a new lens that I added to my arsenal this year... a 50mm. In my entire photographic career I had never even used one until this summer.

Comments and critiques are appreciated. Please view LARGE.

Benjamin

5D Mark II - 50mm f/1.4 - Tripod
ISO 400 - f/22 - 0.3 seconds

Comments

17 comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 15, 2012 at 5:57 PM
Benjamin: Spiked my :eek:-meter on a number of settings. Great subjects, great setting, great lighting. Superb shot. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on February 15, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Thanks Bill! I appreciate it!
Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by Bob Duff on February 15, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Most excellent comp of some very pristine Slippers. Love the lighting.
Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on February 15, 2012 at 9:11 PM
Benjamin:
Pristine group and perfect capture. Very well done. Like the comp including the environmental setting and lighting. :toast:
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on February 15, 2012 at 9:30 PM
Gary's comment perfectly captures my thoughts about your image.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Smith on February 16, 2012 at 12:35 AM
Yes! This is fresh and lush... bursting with life. The greenery, so complete, does a perfect job framing the Lady Slippers. I like the top fading to black to highlight the tallest bloom. Really hard to find a nit. If anything, I want ever so slightly a slice more room at bottom that avoids cropping the two leaves.
Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on February 16, 2012 at 1:15 AM
love the pyramidal shape of the patterns. :wavey: I like this. It would be interesting to see a second version with the top left flower cloned out...it would not be as "interesting" as this photo, but would be appealing in it's geometry. both versions would be very classy... :smile: :wavey: :smile:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on February 16, 2012 at 1:25 AM
love the pyramidal patterns of the leaves and flowers. :wavey: I, especially, like the slipper at the top left, that slightly breaks the pattern and gives it that perfect..extra touch...:toast:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 16, 2012 at 8:07 AM
Indeed the perfect group. Very beautiful
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on February 16, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Very lovely image, Benjamin ! Beautifilly detailed and superbly lit, with the flowers making a delightful dance across the frame.
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 16, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Beautiful! You found an interesting grouping and they're all in great condition. I also like the lighting. I do find myself wondering what including a bit more at the bottom would have done, but I'm not sure that it would be an improvement.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on February 16, 2012 at 11:17 AM
I too, wish there was more room at the bottom, but if I remember correctly, I chose not to include it because of something protruding into the frame that was unpleasant! Thanks for all the feedback!
Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by John Kerr on February 16, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Nice job Benjamin. I agree with your decision on photographing these as a group and including the surrounding environment. The addition of the green foliage compliments the flowers well. :toast:
John Kerr
Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments
Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on February 16, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Just plain beautiful :cool: - nice habitat, no overlapping blooms and a dark background really makes the Slippers stand out. Well done :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments
Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 16, 2012 at 5:57 PM
A lovely little find Benjamin, a sweet presentation of these Lady Slippers. Well done ! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments
Comment posted by Ned Fenimore on February 18, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Nice arrangement - accentuated well by the dark background of plants..
Registered on November 1, 2003, 467 Posts, 2803 Comments
Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on February 21, 2012 at 8:56 AM
What a beautiful image, Benjamin! Perfect execution, splendid soft light, pure colors, excellent shadow in the background.
My eyes unify two diagonal lines and a steady central point that anchors the composition in the frame.
Bravo!
Take care.
Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments