Fun with Pinkish Sunflowers from September

Both of these still life photos were made using a camera technique called Focus stacking or focus shifting to sharpen the photo made with a fair number of photos combined.  The photos were taken in September 2023.

 

Fun With Valentine Roses

I like using contrasting colors to add to an image, so I found something green to give contrast to the red rose.  Old books sometimes come in handy.  Do you think it adds interest?

Playing With Tulips

I bought some tulips at the grocery store, not knowing what color they would be.  I like pink, as it was a color that goes well with my skin tone, so I had quite a few items to play with for still lifes.  I even tried the live setting to make a blur.  These were all photographed and edited with my phone, since I still have to work on the Nikon photos.  (I expect the osprey to show up this week to add to my photographic interests.)

Easter bouquet

What to Photograph in January

Brrr!  It’s cold out!  I don’t walk outside as much except when the weather is pleasanter and not cold and windy.  I even walked in the rain the other day, just because it wasn’t as cold.  This limits my photography a little.  

Here are some ideas I’ve tried for those of us in rural environments.  

1. Do still lifes indoors.  Experiment with colors, shapes and odds and ends around your house like books and shells.  
2. Buy flowers to photograph indoors.
3. Photograph interesting tree shapes and branches.
4. Try ICM, intentional camera movement with long exposures and move your camera or lens to create abstracts.
5. Photograph birds and wildlife that are easier to see in the cold weather.
6. Photograph sunrises and sunsets and clouds.  Somehow they often seem prettier in the colder weather.
7. Learn more about photography from a good book.
8. Photograph snow scenes if you have snow nearby.
9. Try indoor or outdoor portraits.
   
   
   Some roses that a kind woman gave me from church.
   
   
   
   Recent huge flocks of robins.
   
   Intentional camera movement.
   
   

Playing with Tulip Still Lifes

I bought a few tulips to photograph since they don’t grow well in our garden.  They are white with light pink edges that was subtle.   I played with window light, curtains and a pink wall.  These are all cell phone photos, edited with Snapseed on my phone.

Photographed in window light with lace in front of the window.


When the petals fell off, I liked the view of the stamens inside.

Camera Club Theme Winners for the End of the Year 2021

I had 2 winning photos in the End of Year Competition, consisting of winners from the previous competitions throughout the year.  You may have seen them before.  I was happy to have any winning photos this year, since it took extra effort to even stand long enough to photograph anything.  It is slowly getting a little easier, 16 months after my broken heel.  Other winners included 1st and 2nd by Leon Smith in the Advanced competition for Grandchildren and I'll Get a Hit, 3rd place by Eric Wilcox for Old House.  Leon Smith won Third place theme for Chincoteague Storm.  

Old Book Still Life from the Still Life themed competition was 1st place.

White Flower from the Three Colors or Less themed competition was 2nd place.  This was  cell phone photo, using my sweater for a background.  The flower is a Royal Star Magnolia.

Sunflower Still Life

 An unusual angle

More Local Flowers

Some of my favorite summer flowers.

Summer Sunflowers

 

Still Life: Playing With Hydrangeas

 

Tulip Still Lifes

I bought some tulips from the grocery store, not knowing what color they would be from curbside pickup.  Tulips don’t grow well in our yard, so I thought it would be fun to photograph some.  I played with still lifes using 2 flashes and a flashlight on black velvet.

This was about shapes.

I shined a flashlight on the tulip and tried to get a reflection in the lens ball.

I used a red flashlight pointed at the bowl.

And played with black and white.

Just playing with 3s. 3 groups, 3 books

Camera Club competition winners for March

Theme Still Life First place March

I spent some time working on still life photos for competition this month.  Since I could do them inside, they were easier then going out somewhere.  It took me several days to figure out how to get good light in my living room, since the window light wasn’t working and I can’t stand long enough to try a lot of ideas.  Walking is less painful than standing at this point.  I wanted to use the glass around the hurricane lamp, but I kept getting window reflections or flash bright spots, so I finally took it off.  I had to review how to use multiple flash with my new camera, a little complicated.   I think it would be fun to take the time to try to get it right with the glass, maybe using a black reflector.  The judge suggested moving the candle a little right to see all of it.

Advanced honorable mention March

From my musical rose collection.  I photographed a lot of roses to use for birthday photos on Facebook and for cards on zazzle.