The Language of Flowers

"A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet" - W. Shakespeare

 

"And lilies white, prepared to touch The whitest thought" - E.B. Browning

“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment.” - G. O'Keeffe

Studio Shoot 2

This week I tried a more fashion forward photoshoot. Using a few props such as fishnet gloves and a trilby the following images were produced. (Obviously a degree of photoshop has been used to enhance the images.)

Macro Worlds

Yet again I have been using the extension rings added to my camera, to try and capture detail seen in the botanical world, in a studio like setting. Using only a table lamp, and some pieces of card the following images were produced. The decision to use a 16:10 ratio for the pictures is to allow more white space into the images. and effect that was particularly successful in the last two photos which almost feel desolate and lonely. 

  

Studio Shoot.

At College this weekend I got my first introduction to a professional photographic studio. The session was on relatively short notice, hence no costumes or make up. (a one way ticket to certain disaster but never mind!) The object of the session was to familiarise myself with the various lighting equipment and the effects you can produce just by moving the lights around and by changing the filters and modifiers. With inspiration provided by Mumford and Sons, and Jake Bugg, the following results were produced. Whilst not the finest portraits known to man, they are at least a  reasonable base to start from.

Bonfire Night

Thanks to the Great British tradition of celebrating an attempt to blow up the houses of parliament, on Saturday my uncle held a bonfire party, complete with a wood burning stove (a proper bonfire would have been problematic due to the size of the garden) and a 15ish minute firework display.
I took along my camera and tripod, and using relatively long exposures (often 1-2 sec) tried to capture the feel of the party.
Now as i wanted to enjoy the fireworks myself rather than just focusing on the camera, i went for the set up the camera and then just use the multiple shot function. This left me with around 500 photos to cull, but at least this way i got to admire the show myself whilst still getting some reasonable results. 

The first 4 are all sky shots, and due to the long exposure a light painting effect is seen, with the sparks creating patterns across the sky. Unfortunately i was too close to get any burst like formations.

 

These next 4 were taken of the fountains and wheels  lighting up the sky, oh and also the sparklers my cousins were playing with after the display.

This final shot however is probably my favourite as i like how the gnome in shot is watching the fireworks!

More Macro

I finally decided to purchase some extension rings for my digital camera. I've used some before on the Pentax as they allow the lens to focus much closer to the subject, and thus the image appears magnified.
To try out the extension system (3 interchangeable rings with a micro 4/3's adapter system) i decided to set up a mini photo shoot in my parents spare room with some dead plants out of the garden and a desk lamp.

 This first image is using the maximum magnification and the petals are no more than 0.5cm long if that.

 

The next 3 photographs are taken from the same plant, a spiky monster that just looks quite cool. These were taken using the thinner rings as not as much magnification was required.

       

 This next photo is dried lavender.

 

And finally the side of a leaf. 

Poppy Appeal

November is approaching so I decided to take a walk over to the Alrewas Memorial Arboretum. To the uninitiated this is an area of land full of monuments designed to recognise the contributions made by our armed forces, and to remember those who have died serving their country. (There are a couple of civilian areas but the majority is military.) 

Most of the photos below use the red of the poppy to capture your attention. 

Remembrance day is 11/11. A time to remember those who have given so much. 

 

 

 

Trentham Fairies

As the weather for once was fine and dry yesterday I decided to make the most of it by visiting Trentham Gardens in Stoke.
Hidden around the garden and lake was a series of fairy sculptures made from wire. All seemed to capture various aspects associated with the mythical creatures.Whether that be their cheekiness, or their exhibitionism.