One of the stonecrop family, mountain houseleek I think (Sempervivium montanum). Another new plant for me - not that that is particularly hard! They seemed to be remarkably habitat specific, I only found one location for these where they were very common on one set of boulders but totally devoid elsewhere on the mountain trail.
usual hiking set up, Oly E-3 and 50mm macro, iso 100, 1/15s at F9, hand held with IS mode 1. Full frame. Stubitai mountains, Austria
The "vine" stems are bilberry family, the stonecrop leaves are the tight basal rosettes.
One of those planst that are easily overlooked, about 2" tall, but once found and you get your eye in realise there is a huge localised colony of them amongst the boulders
Posted by Rene de Heer on July 23, 2009 at 5:13 AM
Very nice image Mike. Nice setting as well!
Rene de Heer
Nice one Mike and a great setting, a pleasing image..
Have you thought about using longer lens for these such as a 300mm.. It has a great effect on the DOF for BGs but keeps some super focus on the subject. Something I've used for orchids quite a bit and fungi with some good results.. If you have something at your disposal it's worth a try..
yep fully agree, I should really pack my 150mm F2 Oly lens, (search on my Snakeshead Fritillaries posted a few years ago here its a great lens) - but I have two restrictions enforced on me.....
I'm fairly UK mountain fit but not really Alpine mountain fit for the short period I spend every year walking in Austria. The images are taken on hikes of some around 1,700m vertical ascent, that's not a lot on paper, but when you are starting at the height of Ben Nevis it becomes a tougher proposition - the air at the top of the Tyrol - 10,500 feet - is quite thin!.....wimp that I am I now restrict my rucksack size and don't carry around anything heavier than my 14-54mm and 50mm macro lenses plus body and necessary alpine weather/safety kit these days, I'm just not alititude fit any more . That said if I find a good marmot site or similar I may then pack my 50-200mm plus 1.4 tc and repeat the walk. but that's my limit. I've been caught out by mountain thunderstorms too many times to forego walking kit for photo kit.
I did a 1700 metre hike with an old 300 f2.8 Nikon a few years ago on my 50th birthday specifically to photograph marmots at a site I reccied beforehand, sad but true.....but I'm not fit enough these days to repeat this every year on the off chance I find something on the walks.
Secondly, and unfortunately the bigger issue....... we do a two centre summer holiday walking and beach bumming so baggage/shoe allowance is extremely tight. I'm allowed my big lenses on short weekend jaunts but not our main summer holiday. It takes a brave man to argue more photographic equipment (ie bigger tripod etc) is needed at the expense of shoe space in our suitcases - believe me......
Discussion
11 repliesusual hiking set up, Oly E-3 and 50mm macro, iso 100, 1/15s at F9, hand held with IS mode 1. Full frame. Stubitai mountains, Austria
I collect these ( the cultivated ones )
JohnR
Well captured.
Drew
The "vine" stems are bilberry family, the stonecrop leaves are the tight basal rosettes.
One of those planst that are easily overlooked, about 2" tall, but once found and you get your eye in realise there is a huge localised colony of them amongst the boulders
Rene de Heer
I like this one! This is my favourite one of your recent posts so far!
Have you thought about using longer lens for these such as a 300mm.. It has a great effect on the DOF for BGs but keeps some super focus on the subject. Something I've used for orchids quite a bit and fungi with some good results.. If you have something at your disposal it's worth a try..
Brett
yep fully agree, I should really pack my 150mm F2 Oly lens, (search on my Snakeshead Fritillaries posted a few years ago here its a great lens) - but I have two restrictions enforced on me.....
I'm fairly UK mountain fit but not really Alpine mountain fit for the short period I spend every year walking in Austria. The images are taken on hikes of some around 1,700m vertical ascent, that's not a lot on paper, but when you are starting at the height of Ben Nevis it becomes a tougher proposition - the air at the top of the Tyrol - 10,500 feet - is quite thin!.....wimp that I am I now restrict my rucksack size and don't carry around anything heavier than my 14-54mm and 50mm macro lenses plus body and necessary alpine weather/safety kit these days, I'm just not alititude fit any more
I did a 1700 metre hike with an old 300 f2.8 Nikon a few years ago on my 50th birthday specifically to photograph marmots at a site I reccied beforehand, sad but true.....but I'm not fit enough these days to repeat this every year on the off chance I find something on the walks.
Secondly, and unfortunately the bigger issue....... we do a two centre summer holiday walking and beach bumming so baggage/shoe allowance is extremely tight. I'm allowed my big lenses on short weekend jaunts but not our main summer holiday. It takes a brave man to argue more photographic equipment (ie bigger tripod etc) is needed at the expense of shoe space in our suitcases - believe me......
Brett
Fran