Build a raft, then float you and your lighting gear on the pool over to the flowers. Where's your sense of adventure, man?
:-) My wife actually encourages me to remove the odd bloom/stem and shoot indoors. She's become more pragmatic about the whole thing over the years. I think she'd draw the line at hibiscus though! We have one that's about 10 inches across. Reminds me of a satellite dish. On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 2:15 PM, Daniel J. Matyola <[email protected]> wrote: > It is a lot of trouble. Additionally, the best blooms are often > located on inconvenient portions of the plant, where it is difficult > enough to position the camera, let alone reflectors, backdrops and > strobes. If I remove the best blooms, my wife is less than pleased. > There is a reason the most colorful flowers are planted where they > will be visible from the pool patio or the rear deck. <G> > > Dan Matyola > http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola > > > On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 12:28 PM, Bruce Walker <[email protected]> wrote: >> A tip I read often from flower-shooters is underexpose for deeper colours. >> >> The other thing I can say is that I always treat my flower shootings >> as portrait sessions. I use reflectors, inserted backdrops and up to >> three strobes (including in softboxes) to get great light for them. >> >> The downside is all this is so much trouble I often just give it a >> miss unless it's a particularly great new flower. >> >> >> On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Daniel J. Matyola >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Thanks for the helpful tips, Joe. >>> >>> For most flowers, I try several modes. In this case, IIRC, I tried >>> auto, program, macro, Flash Off, Shutter-Priority and >>> Aperture-Priority. Those taken in the last two modes just looked >>> washed out. Admittedly, that was probably due to my ineptitude. For >>> this particular flower, the deep and vibrant color is its only real >>> virtue, and that is what I was trying to capture here. >>> >>> I have a Softbox for each of the two flashes I still use, but I >>> generally think of using them only indoors, or taking portraits >>> outdoors. I shall try to remember to give them a try in more outdoor >>> situations. >>> >>> Dan Matyola >>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 11:03 AM, jn289 <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Dan, I do not know if you ever use your camera on manual, Try to learn how >>>> to do this (if you do not at all this time) and also use your flash on >>>> manual. Most all of my flower photos are shot on manual as is the flash. >>>> Also most of my sports photos are shot on manual camera and manual flash. >>>> Some more Morning Glory's came to life outside of our house, so early this >>>> morning I was out there shooting them around 6:30 A.M. as I was sick during >>>> the night and could not sleep. I used the flash and the camera again on >>>> manual..Will post them up soon. >>>> >>>> Go to Home Depot or even a dollar store an look for milky plexi-glass or >>>> fabric material to soften the harsh light. You could also soften the flash >>>> with the same material. You could also white sheet material and learn out >>>> to >>>> make your own modifiers for the flash. >>>> >>>> In this photo I used a hair dryer attachment to soften the flash. The flash >>>> was on a remote as you can see the trigger on the K20D body as taken with a >>>> K10 Body to show how it was done. >>>> >>>> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=16219655 >>>> >>>> Also one of my best flash units is a Sunpak 120J which can be used as a >>>> bare >>>> bulb or with reflectors. This photo was shot with the Norman Tele reflector >>>> on the 120J from one end of the court to the other as I wanted add a little >>>> something extra to the photo and yes both camera and flash shot on manual. >>>> >>>> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6406395 >>>> >>>> Hope this might help, also you might not like anything I have just said. >>>> Lighting is always learning..Joe >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> For some reason, this flower and the orange hibiscus are very >>>>> difficult for me to capture. In bright light they come out a bit >>>>> blown out. In early morning light or open shade, the colors come out >>>>> much different than what my eye sees; they lack the fullness of the >>>>> real flower. >>>>> >>>>> The other problem is that the hibiscus blooms do not last very long at >>>>> their peak. They also get attacked by Japanese beetles and other >>>>> pests. So, when the blossom is full and open, I have to capture it >>>>> then, rather than waiting for better light. The pink, yellow and >>>>> lighter red flowers look good under a much broader spectrum of light >>>>> conditions. >>>>> >>>>> I will have to try to use reflectors, fill in flash and other >>>>> techniques to modify the natural light. >>>>> >>>>> Dan Matyola >>>>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 7:20 PM, Bruce Walker <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> That's a really gorgeous flower, Dan. >>>>>> >>>>>> I think it'd look considerably nicer if it wasn't in full glare sun >>>>>> though. Have you tried using the bare scrim of a 5-in-1 reflector to >>>>>> shade and soften the light? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 5:35 PM, Daniel J. Matyola >>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> My most unusual hibiscus. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=16333212 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Dan Matyola >>>>>>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>>>> follow the directions. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> -bmw >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>>> follow the directions. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>> follow the directions. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>> follow the directions. >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>> follow the directions. >> >> >> >> -- >> -bmw >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
