Hepatica Sunset

Gallery: FloraPosted January 4, 201674 views7 comments

A happy New Year to all! I thought i would post a couple of pictures which are 'a little different' this and the 'Primula Sunset' (which i decided to put in the Photo Art section) were taken with a Sigma SD1M and a Meyer Görlitz Primotar 135mm (mounted via a M42 adapter). With both images the emphasis is on the play of the light with the subject rather than the subject itself. In the image here the Liverwort (Hepatica nobilis), remains in focus though I have several (which I actually prefer) where the Liverwort is also strongly defocused.

A larger image can be viewed HERE.

Cheers, Mark

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 4, 2016 at 2:33 PM

Beautiful, Mark. I like the way the vegetation in the bottom of the frame anchors the image and the circles of light created by your lens are really cool.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 5, 2016 at 12:41 PM

Lovely, atmospheric image, Mark - the reduction of the flower makes for a delightful shadow play in the setting sun, with a strong sense of a moment in time.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 5, 2016 at 7:05 PM

Beautiful interaction between the flower and the setting sun, Mark. Very artistic, as per your usual standards.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 5, 2016 at 10:45 PM

Strong composition! cool

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 9, 2016 at 4:17 PM

Mark: I like your style with these strong BGs. I might be tempted to go to a full silhouette with the flower as the hint of detail in the petals pulls my eye to them and the apparent softness. Looking forward to more of your work in 2016.>=))>

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

Comment posted by Mark James Ford on January 11, 2016 at 6:43 AM

Many thanks to all for the positive feedback.

@Bill: I also have some shots with the full silhoutte and was a little torn which to post (both in and out of focus). I'll post one later in the week. The Primotars are very very soft lenses when wide open (both the 135mm and the 180mm: In fact, the change in the MTF curves going from F2.8 to F8-F11 is like no other lens I know) and it is not possible to get more out of them than what is shown here - They are indeed so soft that the camera really struggles to find a focus confirmation and you have to work on the whole by eye. That said, wide open they do deliver wondeful background structures (which is why I have used them). They are almost a lens that one could /should use (and are more suited) for 'soft' / semi-defocussed portraiture ...

Cheers, Mark

Registered on January 16, 2015, 60 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on January 15, 2016 at 11:12 AM

I like a bokeh that has to play a significant role ...I like this. The cross-hatch and swirls look cool...better that a globby blur. I might even force the halo effect in a circular form by darkening the left side along the border.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments