In the previous post I mentioned that I spent time today shooting both wildflowers and whitewater kayaking. These are two very different types of work, it was interesting to do both within a few hours.
For those that are interested, most of my close-up photography of flowers is with the Sigma 150mm macro lens. This lens is amazingly sharp and being on the long focal length end of the spectrum allows you to have a great deal of control over the background. I have read many times in photography books and online that one needs to “stop down” the lens when doing close-up work to increase the depth of field. I use the complete opposite of this, preferring to shoot with the lens close to wide open, in the case of the trillium f4.5, the calypso orchid f3.5 and the yellow violet f7. With the trillium and orchid photos this is very important to provide the beautiful out of focus background. I’ll do a tutorial about macro work later for those that don’t quite understand what I’m referring to.
Here are a few of the flower images. Very different from the kayaking photos!
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum), Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa), Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
Yellow Wood Violet (Viola glabella), Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
[...] Cowichan River Flowers White Fawn Lilies – Spring is here! [...]
as I see orchids, and since your website tag is “photography from around the world”, guess what? We’ll be pleased (and I think you’ll love to) to have you do a photo tour of Madagascar (the island)… Orchids are waiting for you and your lenses here
A fellow 31DBBB fellow blogger who love your photos
Hi Madafan,
Thanks for the kind comments.
Madagascar has always been a destination that I have wanted to visit. Some day, hopefully! From the photos I have viewed of the island it looks like an amazing place to do photography.
Beautiful wildflower photos and amazing kayaking shots in the previous post! I appreciate that you explain what you’re doing. I’m new to photography and am eager to learn all about the nuts and bolts and art of it all.
Hi Diane,
My main plan for this blog is to turn it into a photography resource with lots of information about technique and how to approach photography. What you won’t find is a lot of specific information about cameras and lenses although I do ramble a little about what I’m using. My interest with equipment is more generic in helping people make intelligent decisions when they wish to buy a new lens or camera body. There are many methods to do macro work for instance but the technique is way more important than owning expensive equipment.
There are so many variables and tidbits to learn about. I know it’s an ambitious plan but if I can help a few people improve their skills that would be great.
One aspect I’m looking at is having readers submit work for critique and discussion with the hope that my audience can learn through the work of others. Does this sound like something of interest to anyone?
Hi Kevin, Beautiful shots of wildflowers. I’ve never been to Vancouver, but it looks so beautiful. I would like to hear more on macros, I’m a little frustrated by the shallow depth of field. Lynn
Hi Lynn,
I’m working on an article about macro right now that talks about depth of field and how to use the controls you have available for the best effect. It should be online in the next day or so.
I particularly like the photograph of the calypso orchid. These tiny little orchids look so much larger when shown in a photography such as this. You have managed to capture the delicacy and the intricate pattern of this amazing little orchid, my favourite of the spring wildflowers. In 1986, I took a two week wild flower hiking trip to the Bernese Oberland area of Switzerland and used a combination lens to take the photographs. Obviously — to you at any rate — my photos were less than stellar. It’s been years since I have taken photos of dainty wee flowers; perhaps this will encourage me to get a proper lens for doing so and to start again.
Looking forward to the macro article.