Gallery 2
Flower Photographs
Flowers have always been one of my favorite things to photograph. The colors, and shapes are always interesting, and there is enough variety, even within the same flower type to keep the images fresh.
Whenever someone receives flowers around the house for Birthdays, Anniversaries or the like, I try to shoot a few frames so I can add those images to the collection. The above White Rose, was from a recent bouquet that Bonnie received for her birthday. The real flowers are long gone, but thanks to images like these, the beauty can last for an eternity.
In the early 1990's I started experimenting with different backgrounds for my flower compositions. These Daisies were shot against a dark felt-like background. The result was very pleasing and I made a whole series of similar photos.
Several images now hang on our walls around the house. This particular photograph from 1993, was one of my favorites from that time period.
Only a mile or two from my home, is the Fairfield, Arboretum. Fairfield, is privately run by a local merchant and they always have a great display of plant types and colors throughout the year. From time to time during the growing season, I travel over to view and photograph some of their flowers. This image is one from their collection. I especially like the way the flower petals pin-wheel out from the center.
You only have to be around Horticulture for a short time to know that every plant or flower has a fancy Latin name associated with it. Many times, I don't know the common names of the flowers I shoot, let alone the Latin names. The flowers shown on the right is a case in point. No matter, I still think they're pretty.
On my way to work most mornings, I'd arrive at a traffic light near my home and notice only the approaching cars. One day, as I reached the corner back in July of 2004, I looked to my left and spotted several rather large Sunflower plants with huge flowers about to pop open. From then on, every time I passed by the spot, I checked the progress of the buds.
As the plants matured, the huge flower heads could no longer remain upright from the weight of the seeds. The enormous plants which probably measured 12-14 inches across, hung down facing the ground. Not a good position for shooting pictures, I thought, but I had to try.
It was a rather windy summer day when I made the above photograph. To get this shot I propped the flower up on an adjacent plant. With the tips of the bright yellow petals blowing in the breeze, I tried to time my exposures for a brief calm moment, then took several photos. After shooting about a dozen frames I decided to get really close and fill the entire frame with yellow. As you can see, I wasn't the only one to notice the bounty of seeds. Swarming insects only added to the excitement.
The photo on the left, started out life as a real flower image. It ended up as a half real and half Photoshop creation.
The original Red Rose photograph was taken outdoors against a blue sky background. The image looked fine, but there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. Just a red rose against a blue background. What I wanted was a "Hallmark" type image. Similar to what you might find on a greeting card. So, I began to play around a bit.
In the original photo the rose was vertical, and had several more petals at the bottom of the stem. After removing those, I turned the rose 45 degrees and replaced the background with a solid light blue color. Then, I painted in the dark blue color around the edge to highlight the image even further. The final touch was softening up the edges. In the end, I think it looks pretty neat.
I call this photograph "Be My Valentine".
Our Hibiscus plant has been giving us six or seven inch flowers every summer, for several years now. This photo was taken in the summer of 2003.
I always try to shoot blooms when the flowers have just reached their prime and as you can probably tell, I like shooting flowers really close. There is nothing nicer than filling the entire frame with color. But sometimes, shooting close-ups can present a slight problem.
In the old days of film photography there wasn't much I could do if I happened to notice that a flower's petals had become discolored or marred by a blemish. More than once, I would agonize over the quality of the blooms I was shooting. A minor detail which is hardly noticeable when the flowers are arranged in a bunch, can stick out like a sore thumb when viewed through a close-up Lens. Even after prints were made sometimes photos were rejected because the final image just didn't quite live up to that ideal. I must confess that from time to time, I now use digital technology to help along Mother Nature.
Sometimes, less than perfect buds can be digitally nursed back to health with the aid of a Rubber Stamp tool or a Healing Brush.
Other than cropping, the image on the right was not manipulated in any way. Towards the bottom of the frame, you can even see that some of the leaves in the foreground are just beyond their prime. Stuff like that looks natural, and doesn't take away from the image.
In April of 2005, I came across this small patch of tulips which were planted by the entrance to a new housing development. Almost all of the flowers were colored either Red or Yellow and it made for a really nice display. When I started photographing the group, I noticed that one or two white flowers were sprinkled into the mix. I thought it might make a nice contrast to see a single White flower against the sea of yellow green and red. So, I centered it in the frame.
These Tulips were also photographed in 2005. They were shot indoors with natural light against a green background. I especially like their coloring and the texture of the petals.
"Yellow Roses" was one of the first images that I shot using a digital camera. It was shot using a Nikon 3 megapixel point and shoot camera. Buying that camera was only a forecast of things to come. A month after shooting this image, I bought my first Canon Digital SLR.
I thought for a while that I'd keep the point and shoot Nikon for a spare camera, but I just never warmed up to the idea of framing images on a video screen. Ultimately, the camera was sold to a friend.
Even common flowers like these Petunias look great when viewed up close.
June 2004
Deep Cut Park near Middletown, New Jersey was the site of the next Water Lilly photo.
September 2006
This photo was made under a bright mid day sun and it was hard to get a good balance between the very White Flower and the dark green Leaves of the Lilly Pads. The pads just didn't reflect much light back to the camera and in the final frame they looked a little dull and lifeless. So, using photoshop, I brightened them and brought out the color a bit more. The coloring of the water and the reflection of the flower are both real however. In the end, I think the changes make for a better image.
Sometimes simple is better, as in the next shot taken in September 2006
A nice Fall display of nursery grown flowers - September 2006
One day while waiting for Butterflies to fly past my camera lens, I managed to make a few nice flower compositions.
Fairfield Arboretum - September 2006
I like this next shot a lot. September of 2006
More to come.... Stay tuned!
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