Backlit Tissues

Feeling like death warmed-over today with a bad head and chest cold. Tested negative for COVID, but who knows. Anyway, despite the headache and wooziness, I was going nuts with boredom so I sat down at the computer to see if I could handle a few minutes of Lightroom. Turns out that a few minutes is about all. Luckily I came across the perfect representation of my situation in this photograph. Kinda proud that I found the right exposure to separate the tissue from the backlight on this one.

Nikon FE2 w. 55 f/2.8 Micro Nikkor on Ilford HP5

Antler Garage

A lot of my photography is about natural designs that I see out in the world. I also enjoy taking photographs that tell a story, as this one does. People usually decorate their houses in like with the “rules” of the neighbourhood. The rules tend to relax for the garage out back. I loved how this fellow (I’m assuming its a fellow!) decorated his garage. The picture speaks to his identity as a hunter (and a successful one) and as a fix-it man who sees the future potential of old cars and other fixable junk.

I find the content of this photography interesting for its story. Visually, the colour of the trim, the antler mounts, and the old oil tank work together and are complimentary to the blue sky. The photograph is not symmetrical. The line of antlers draws in the eye while the old car anchors the eye on the front of the garage.

Nikon FE2 w. Nikon 70—210 f/4

September Geraniums

September Geraniums

It is the time of year when we experience transitions. This week we have overcast skies, cool temperatures, and rain. Last week we had beautiful summer weather with high 20s and cloudless skies. It was during this wonderful last burst of summer that I took my camera into the back yard. The September Geraniums we have growing on the deck were being bathed in beautiful light when I photographed them.

I’m cautious about photographing flowers. One of the problems is the “flowers are beautiful therefore pictures of flowers are beautiful” mentality that I come across. I disagree with this mentality – there have been millions of decidedly average pictures taken of flowers. Despite my caution, I’m fascinated with flower photography.

Flowers are powerful photographic subjects. They offer unique colour, shape, texture, and form – all the basic elements that photographers try to capture. They change dramatically according to the lighting conditions and the angle of view. For me, flowers are a visual world that I can explore.

I took this photograph with my Nikon Micro 100 f/2.8 lens. The lens is very sharp and allows for close focusing. As a bonus it has a vibration reduction feature that enables me to make steadier photographs. I monitored my depth-of-field carefully for this photograph. I wanted the geranium to be in focus. I also wanted the background (the boards of our deck) to be blur. I think it worked – you can see the detail in the stamen and see the texture of the petals in the late afternoon light. I like the way the September Geraniums “pop” against the subdued brown deck boards.

Nikon D750 w. Nikon Micro 105 f/2.8