We have had a couple of grand wanders this morning. It is windless and about 10oC. Lot’s of flowers coming into bloom, I rescued three White Tailed Bumble Bees and popped them on branches. I also found a much smaller Bumble bee which didn’t want to be saved; quite cross it got.
All the images today are flowers or plants. All were shot with the Canon 100mm-400mm. It is a cracking lens and weighs next to nothing. It has a minimum focus distance of about 2m and is a bit slow at a stop +/- f5. It does the job.
I’ve a project in mind for either dusk or dawn if the weather clears to leave just a few clouds and the wind picks up a bit. If that fails then I’ll go out flora-ing again but take a macro lens and ring flash.
I’d like to mention MARIA for the inspiration for the style. I always enjoy her posts. I am not in her league so go and have a look at her flowers and plants.
Here we go…………………………
I’m still waiting for the new door handle, I’m hoping that Dragonflies will soon be on the wing. There are a few Mayflies about so the Dragons shouldn’t be long.
That’s all for today.
Looking forward to the macros Adrian.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if that is what you will get Carol.
DeleteNature it's the best artist... So beautiful pics Adrian
ReplyDeleteLaura, isn't it. Nature had a bit of help from Photoshop.
DeleteExcellent set of images Adrian and I like the presentation.
ReplyDeleteI can see that you and Little Bertha are getting on great together, a union that's meant to last, I think?
Correct ID on the Common Bistort (persicaria bistorta) but I'm afraid that your White Columbine is White Campion (silene latifolia)..... An editors error there I guess? (I hope you've been eating the right one?)
The last one is another 'Common' it's either Common Fumitory (fumaria officinalis) or Common Ramping-fumitory (fumaria muralis). It's the lower petal shape, flower colour and the leaves that you need to look at as they differ slightly in these areas. Going by the colours in your image I think I'll plump for the latter.
It's always the common things that are difficult to sort out!!
It'll be interesting to see what you get with the macro lens....[;o)
Trevor, I tried a bevel and emboss and outer glow.
DeleteI should have resisted Big Bertha. This is a much more practical lens.
I've altered Columbine to Campion. It was me being silly.
Thanks for the last ID. I'll go and have another look at it.
I'm having Spanish Omelette for tea so haven't eaten it yet but it will be the right one. I've eaten it before. I think you can eat Bistort leaves but only the one that grows in water not this one. I'll look in the book.
our hawthorn is almost over now, as are th bluebells. Isn't that third one an orchid? Probably not. We have lots round here, where the land hast been cultivated on the downs. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFrances, things are way behind here but soon catch up as the daylight hours are longer. Hawthorn and Blackthorn that you get Sloes from are very similar. Blackthorn has flowers before the leaves and Hawthorn gets the leaves first
DeleteThis is at least twice as tall as an Orchid and the flowers are smaller. Orchids can be the very devil to tell apart some like the Frog Orchid look dead when they are brand new.
I tried to use plant identifier tools to determine the name of the flowering plant in the last picture but failed miserably. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteYP, Trevor is correct it is a Fumitory. I'll get a bit of leaf. I don't think it is the common one but time will tell. Nothing to be sorry for. I should give an indication of size that helps but it doesn't help as much as having Trevor have a look.
DeleteThanks to Professor Trevor!
DeleteI just found this - "The plant was already called fūmus terrae (smoke of the earth) in the early 13th century, and two thousand years ago, Dioscorides wrote in De Materia Medica (Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς) and Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historia that rubbing the eyes with the sap or latex of the plant causes tears, like acrid smoke (fūmus) does to the eyes." - Why not give it a try next time you spot some?
YP, no thanks, I'll take the Greeks word for it. The Earth Star fungus does that as I found out by accident.
DeleteTrevor is only an amateur not like Phil Gates who has lots of letters after his name, he's a proper professor. I am getting better at IDs but I forget over the winter.
Adriaan do you put the flowers outside.
ReplyDeleteYes Bas, it isn't windy today.
DeleteYou got them to stand out well against their surroundings, almost 3D effect on some.
ReplyDeleteJohn, the ring flash will give this effect but this is Photoshop. I didn't use the Adjustment brush but did increase shadows and blacks then gave them a good dose of Clarity prior to sharpening. They were all shot at 400mm from about six feet away at f5.4.
DeleteOh, I can't say what your plants are called, but they are fabulous, fab, fab and fab.
ReplyDeleteBob, we are just getting the summer flowers here. They are in superb condition. It looks as if we have a couple of fine days so I'll go out with a couple of strobes and a reflector. The reflector is a bit muddy, I'll wipe it with a rag. I ought to print an out of focus backdrop and put it into the reflector frame. I'll see if the printers have any matt plastic.
DeleteLovely macros Adrian. I really like the purple/pink colors in the last one!
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Mersad, I think they are okay. They aren't macros as I shot them at 400mm. so no where near 1:1. Do you find the bevel on the matt distracting? I'll try some alternatives. Once I get something I like then I'll create a couple of Actions as I only post two image sizes. 1500x1500 or 1500x1000pixels. Any ideas are welcome.
DeleteSometimes the simplest flowers and plants have the most beauty, and you've captured them nicely.
ReplyDeleteGary, even the simple ones are complex close up. I like seeing them before they get knocked about.
DeleteAll lovely but that first image is beautiflul. I'm sure it couldn't be better in real life.
ReplyDeletePauline, I don't think it was as good in real life.
DeleteLike these alot Adrian
ReplyDeleteI really like the Common Bisort image
Douglas, they are good fun and quick.
DeleteBuen desenfoque del fondo para estos macros!!
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
No macros Laura pero no te preocupes. Es el cuadro que importa.
ReplyDeleteGracias.
Beautiful flora you have over there!
ReplyDeleteMaria, I like plants at this time of year.
Delete