Summer Wildflowers b

This display was taken in the eastern side of the gorge this week. I love using the zoom lens/dioptor combination to create that wash of color and an even background. The shallow DOF helps out for a nice selective focus, so the stems all blend into green. This is a mix of poppies, bachelor buttons, and vetch to create a colorful display. I shot-through or crammed some of the foreground blues of the bachelor buttons, selectively focused on one poppy, and let the background flowers fade into color. I almost always give a flower scene a slight tilt to create more visual interest.

Canon 5D, Canon 70-200 + Kenko Pro 1.4x, ISO 320, f5.6, 1/200 sec., Canon 500D dioptor, CPL.

I posted an f11 version in flora if you'd like to compare DOFs.

You have a great eye for these types of photos, David. Colors are great and I like the smoothness of the OOF areas. They look like soft brush strokes to me.

I am curious how much the diopter adds to this style of shot? I'm guessing you were near the minimum focusing distance for the 70-200? The DOF is soooo shallow in just the right way.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the diopter plus tele-extender combo. I've had both of those items on my wish list for some time now.

Very nice, David. I like the f/11 version even better - still has that nice out-of-focus surrounding, but I like the sharpness on more petals on the central flower and the unopened blossom. Great color combo.

Thanks for you comments so far. Aaron, the diopter/and 1.4x combo is something I use a lot in photographing flowers. I like the enlargement of the subject and also the nice wash of color. I now use this combo for about 1/3 of all my flower images. I also have one for my macro lens too. Another reason I prefer the diopter over rings, is that I don't loose any stops of light. And when a flower is blowing in the wind, a stop or two can make a big difference. I sometimes use the diopter and rings for a super close-up abstract.

I could not have taken this shot without the diopter, so in my belief it adds to the style of the shot. It is a style that I embrace, and use more every year.

David

Thanks David. I never thought about the benefit of not losing any f/stops with the diopter as opposed to tubes. I have been trying to achieve a look similar to this lately without much luck. Sounds like the 500D is the answer.