Macro flower photographs

not in the same league as those above but ...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/...f3dcc4f0_z.jpg
nativesweatpea by NiknoDave, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/...6afb2fac_z.jpg

Dave this looks like the Coral tree we have a lot of them around here. I have photographed them and they look the same.

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Originally Posted by dje

There are some beautiful shots on this thread, all of them on this page alone are lovely. I haven't been game to post on this thread before but have finally plucked up the courage. So here goes.

This is a Tibochena in MIL's garden.

http://i54.tinypic.com/oprcsk.jpg

This is a flowering tree I spotted on my walk this morning. I have no idea what it is. The flowers have not developed fully yet so I'll be keeping my eye on them in coming days.

http://i52.tinypic.com/15ewnch.jpg

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Originally Posted by terry j

Dave this looks like the Coral tree we have a lot of them around here. I have photographed them and they look the same.

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Terence thanks for that lead. You are spot on. A quick google on Coral tree indicates that there are quite a few varieties and I believe the one I have here is a hybrid called "Erythrina X sykesii".

Cheers Dave

Nicola don't put yourself down as far as your photo is concerned, your photo looks great to me. May be a portrait crop would be good but only you can tell by playing around with it.

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Originally Posted by Nicola

Hi!
I know that my pic below can't compete versus yourstellar ones
but what's your opinion about it? does the crop work? have you some other suggstions?
thanks for viewing! :)
Nicola

http://i55.tinypic.com/25inmvs.jpg

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I feel a little apprehensive about joining such esteemed company but here goes :) A couple of shots from an English Heritage property nearby.

Aster

http://i51.tinypic.com/2vtz2n5.jpg

Hemerocalis kwanso flore plena :rolleyes: Day Lily is easier :)

http://i55.tinypic.com/15xvom8.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nicola

Hi!
I know that my pic below can't compete versus yourstellar ones
but what's your opinion about it? does the crop work? have you some other suggstions?
thanks for viewing! :)
Nicola

http://i55.tinypic.com/25inmvs.jpg

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The only issue I have with this crop is the orientation of the leading edge of the Dahlia (left side) being too close to the left edge of the frame. It rather strongly confines the initial sense of "flowing." Either a portrait framing as has already been suggested, or perhaps breaking it into five panels and doing something abstract with it, as it certainly has that possiblity.

Background is too much the same color as the foreground flower which seems to limit its depth.

http://i52.tinypic.com/21434lk.jpg

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Originally Posted by NiknoDave

not in the same league as those above but ...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/...f3dcc4f0_z.jpg
nativesweatpea by NiknoDave, on Flickr

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by KeithH

I feel a little apprehensive about joining such esteemed company but here goes :) A couple of shots from an English Heritage property nearby.

Aster

http://i51.tinypic.com/2vtz2n5.jpg

Hemerocalis kwanso flore plena :rolleyes: Day Lily is easier :)

http://i55.tinypic.com/15xvom8.jpg

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Thanks for the contributions...I had to laugh when I saw the remarks on 'not in the same league' and 'esteemed company'. Don't feel shy:D...it did make me feel good though.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/...0a47d973_z.jpg
Monarda

A Rose:

http://i56.tinypic.com/2w1v61t.jpg

Philip

http://i51.tinypic.com/212aa6u.jpg
No macro lens, but oh well!

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Originally Posted by MrB

A Rose:

http://i56.tinypic.com/2w1v61t.jpg

Philip

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I quite like the texture and forms of this rose.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/...e7256742_z.jpg
ipomoea or morning glory

A bit of a mix in subject and style. C&C always appreciated.

#1. Dahlia
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...72411-0018.jpg

#2. Baby's Breath
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...72411-0072.jpg

#3. Calla Lily
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...lAsst-0596.jpg

#4. Hollyhock
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...11-1120037.jpg

Wendy

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Originally Posted by Letrow

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/...6afb2fac_z.jpg

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Welcome back Peter, I really like the lighting and droplets on this one.

Wendy

So many wonderful contributions! I've been very much enjoying this thread, even though I've been a bit silent, lately.:)

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Originally Posted by ScoutR

Welcome back Peter, I really like the lighting and droplets on this one.

Wendy

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There will be a few more like this;). Normally I don't do droplets, but this was my one visit to a gorgeous garden and every shot was done one handed (the other hand held the umbrella). I am blessed with the auto ISO on my D7000, otherwise it wouldn't have worked.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScoutR

A bit of a mix in subject and style. C&C always appreciated.

#1. Dahlia
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...72411-0018.jpg

#2. Baby's Breath
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...72411-0072.jpg

#3. Calla Lily
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...lAsst-0596.jpg

#4. Hollyhock
http://ftp.execulink.com/~wfsweb/Ima...11-1120037.jpg

Wendy

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Great shots Wendy. I like the first two best, mainly because the white stands out so nice against the dark background. Did you process the white in ant special way?

As I said before, it was a rainy day in Le Jardin de Cadiot:o

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/...e6cdf18b_b.jpg
hortensia

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/...ef10632f_b.jpg
water lily or nymphaea

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Originally Posted by Letrow

Great shots Wendy. I like the first two best, mainly because the white stands out so nice against the dark background. Did you process the white in ant special way?

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Thanks Peter: When shooting I expose just so the highlights on the whites are not blown, and when processing try to get the whites as white as I can without blowing the highlights. When shooting with the 18 - 200 I've finally started to become far more aware of my background and try to angle around until I get something that will make the flower stand out, when I'm using the close up filters it really doesn't matter too much because DOF is so shallow. With processing it's more a case of working the other colours and the background to try and make the white stand out. For instance I might tone down the green in both saturation and Luminosity (in LR) or vice versa, whichever works best. In the first shot I think increasing the yellow luminosity setting for the inside petals made the white stand out more. In Elements I also use the "Replace Colour" tool to pick out any distracting colours in the background and try to tone them down. This does not work if the same tones are in the flower, but in these two it worked quite well. In the first one, distracting colours were lightened and desaturated and in the second shot the background colours were darkened.

Wendy