Hosta

Posted by Anita (West Nottingham, United States) on 26 June 2009 in Plant & Nature.

Taken in my garden, in light shade. This is another of my experiments with obtaining colorful, blurred backgrounds. In this case, the BG is grass and Hosta leaves. Tripod used as I do not have a steady hand.

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I welcome your honest critique, especially if they will improve my photography.

If I have made a mistake in a flower identification, please let me know!

A few words about the EXIF data, beginning in April when I began using Nikon D300 and the Sigma 105mm macro: My new camera and macro lens record the relative or effective f stop, not the one seen on the lens. For an explanation of this, go to the next to the last question at this site.

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Comments (16)

Dulcie from Danville, United States

Successful experiment, Anita. The plant is simply beautiful against that colorful background. Yes, you're right, tripods are GOOD things. I try to get by w/o one, but....

26 Jun 2009 6:13am

@Dulcie: Thanks for your comments! Some photographers do a great job without tripods, but I'm not one of them. Once I started using one, and bought a lightweight one, I never am without it.

António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal

It's evident that you are pursuing new BG for your photos. Instead of having the photos taken at home (when possible), with carefully staged BG, you are now photographing on the spot. There is less contrast between flowers and BG. This is a natural environment, previously was like a studio portraiture.

26 Jun 2009 9:09am

@António Pires: Your observation of the difference in the two types of photos is clarifying for me, especially re. less contrast in the type of photos I'm now working on. I would like to have the natural BG and the sharp contrast. :-)

Sue from Paducah, United States

Looks like your experiments are working!

26 Jun 2009 11:45am

Loner from Wörgl, Austria

A very nice flower macro !

26 Jun 2009 11:58am

@Loner: Thank you for visiting my blog!

GJC from Kyoto (京都), Japan

I like how so many of your shots, like this one, feel almost sculptural or architectural. There is a sense of presence in your shots that comes through well, in large part because you are aware of the relationship between subject and background.

26 Jun 2009 12:57pm

edvatza from Lehigh Valley, United States

Another beautiful image. Love everything about it with the exception of the green at the very top which looks out of place. The remaining background is spectacular to my eye.

26 Jun 2009 3:03pm

Marcie from United States

The 'experiment' is working. Love the blurred soft color. Another beauty!!!

26 Jun 2009 4:31pm

Don from spokane, United States

You did a fine job of achieving the qualities you were wanting in this shot. I love the subtle colors in this series. Beautifiul image.

26 Jun 2009 5:09pm

Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

You've done a wonderful job on this one......It's always more pleasing when the backgrounds are natural...... and the muted tones are really lovely......and today, the main bud is nice and crystal clear...... Did you get your muted background just with the use of the aperture? Whatever you did, it worked well this time!!

26 Jun 2009 7:48pm

@Susan: Susan. Yes, the blurred BG is the result of aperture, distance of camera from BG, and lens length (105mm). My camera records the 'relative' f stop, which translated would probably be a smaller number than 7.1. (This is rather confusing to me).

Betty from New Jersey, United States

I love the soft, beautiful colors in your photos. You have a wonderful eye for flowers. Excellent, Anita.

26 Jun 2009 11:53pm

Bethany from Michigan, United States

Nicely done!

27 Jun 2009 2:11am

Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

Anita, glad you explained that your camera records things weird.....i thought that 7.1 was kind of a small aperture, to get such a blurred background.....glad to hear it wasn't really open to 7.1 !! who cares what they call it, as long as it works, right???

27 Jun 2009 2:23am