Anita's Photoblog
Pink Dahlia in Vase
Posted by Anita (West Nottingham, United States) on 11 August 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
My Dahlias did not do well this year. i planted them too late and in too much shade. However, this one is a beauty. I brought it indoors to photograph with natural light near a window. As always, tripod and 105mm macro lens.
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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.
Dulcie from Danville, United States
Oh, I just sit and drink this in. It is perfection. Interesting that there is not a hint of shadow or other tone in the background. That gives a flatter look...like a pastel or watercolor. This is simply ravishing. I hope you are exhibiting your work somewhere.
11 Aug 2009 5:34am
@Dulcie: Thank you so much, Dulcie. I appreciate your comment about no shadows--I hadn't thought about that and it gives me something to experiement with. I am talking with a local coffee shop about exhibiting. They feature one artist each month. Thanks so very much for the encouragement.
Tomas Turecek from Czech Republic
This is really great, Anita! Composition, colours, lightning, background, everything matches together pretty well. Normally I don't like photos of flowers in vases but I really like this one with all the bubbles. Very good work!
11 Aug 2009 8:58am
@Tomas Turecek: Thanks. I had to put it in a vase as the stem was too short to do otherwise. It turned out well, and the bubbles were an added bonus i didn't notice until I saw the photo on my computer monitor.
Tomas Turecek from Czech Republic
I wanted to ask you what you used as a background, if it's not a secret ;)
11 Aug 2009 8:59am
@Tomas Turecek: Nothing I do photographically is a secret. The BG is a piece of scrapbooking paper taped to foam board and set about 18 inches behind the flower. Here is a photo of my "studio."
daniela scharnowski from Berlin, Germany
wonderful tone-in-tone work & eye-soothing. Very good decision to keep the green & glass, love it.
11 Aug 2009 9:41am
@daniela scharnowski: Thank you so much. I had to keep the vase and green as the stem was too short for anything else. It turned out much better than I imagined. :-)
Betty from New Jersey, United States
This one took my breath away, Anita! I can look at this all day. The background is perfect for the composition. The bubbles add to it beautifully.
11 Aug 2009 10:09am
@Betty: Thank you so much, Betty. The bubbles were a surprise to me--I didn't see them until I saw the image on my computer monitor. I agree, they add a lot to the image. A happy accident.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Beautiful shot.... and love you choice of background color too!! Beautifully composed and a joy to look at !!
11 Aug 2009 11:49am
@Susan: Thanks, Susa. I'm experimenting with both white and similar color BGs.
Lorie from United States
Beautiful Anita! I hope the coffee shop display works out!
11 Aug 2009 12:34pm
Mary from Exton, United States
Terrific image Anita.. The bubbles "happy accident" are a perfect compliment to the image..
Beautifully done! I would also like to see you play with shadows. Would be interesting to compare.
Great work!
11 Aug 2009 12:40pm
Barbara Kile from Ft. Worth, United States
I love dahlias and this one is lovely. I find scrapbooking paper is nice too. Also wallpaper samples!
Nicely composed.
11 Aug 2009 1:07pm
@Barbara Kile: Barbara: Thanks! I never thought of wallpaper samples. They might work when scrapbooking paper is too small--one of the problems I run into.
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
Oh my, this is stunning! I love that the background color is so perfectly matched with the flower...So beautiful!
11 Aug 2009 2:29pm
@Tracy: Thanks. I was lucky that the colors were so well matched.
don from Spokane, United States
This delicate image is remarkable for its subtle color and complementary background. A fine job of shooting.
11 Aug 2009 4:09pm
@don: Many thanks.
@manel: gracias
@Laurie: I'm glad you like it.
Chris from South Jersey, United States
truly stunning image - the sharpness of the flower and bubbles contrasting with the softness in the colors and the background.....
11 Aug 2009 8:44pm
@Chris: Thank you very much. I am working on getting sharp images.
PShorten from West Chester, United States
Lovely, I really enjoy looking at this photo!
12 Aug 2009 12:44am
@PShorten: Thanks, Pat. I'm working on sharp flower photos.
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Stunning image Anita, love the light and tones. A perfect flower and composition.
12 Aug 2009 1:08am
@John Maslowski: Thanks, John.
Marcie from Newton, United States
Love the pinks on pinks..but especially the bubbles in the vase. Really wonderful image.
12 Aug 2009 11:33am
@Marcie: Thank you Marcie!!
Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom
Such a gentle and loving presentation . . and extra points for those bubbles !
12 Aug 2009 5:26pm
Bernie Kasper from United States
As beautiful a Dahlia as I have ever seen photographed, stunning image !!
13 Aug 2009 3:02am
Marilla from Turku, Finland
Very elegant dahlia! My dahlias are doing just fine, they are in a sunny place and they've had both sun and water.
13 Aug 2009 7:32pm
@Vert Pomme: Thank you. I'm glad you like ti!
Sue from Paducah, United States
Where to begin -- hmmm. I have so enjoyed viewing this image, taking in the perfection of the flower, the detail in the paper in the BG, the bubbles that everyone mentioned, and the curves of the glass vase and green stem. *sigh*
15 Aug 2009 2:00pm
@MARIANA: Thank you so much.
Nikon D300
2 seconds
F/36.0
ISO 100
157 mm (35mm equiv.)