Shooting In Late Evening Light

[Michael Brown]

This is a shot that I took about 10 minutes before the sun went down behind the trees and horizon.
I wanted to balance out the light, and to bring out the rich colors of the blue “toadflax” flower.
The winds were at a dead calm, so there were no problems there.

© 2004 - Michael Brown

“Blue Toadflax”

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5807681-lg.jpg

I had the camera on the tripod and low to the ground. I set up two reflectors very close to the flower, one on each side of the flower to help catch any ambient light.
I then ran the Canon 420EX flash off camera, about 1 foot above the camera, about 3 feet behind the camera, and shooting through another reflector to diffuse the lighting a bit.
This setup used in the late evening often helps to balance out that light in order to give me the details needed and rich enough colors to make something that appeals to me!
Still, I rarely use flash, … but this is one time that it worked out well.

Common Blue Toadflax - “Nuttallanthus Canadensis”

Canon Rebel 300D
Canon 75-300mm lens
Canon 420EX flash
Tripod, plamps, reflectors
1/15 sec. @ f4.5
ISO 100
** Curves used in PS, and 10% boost in saturation within the blues.

Thanks for looking everyone!

[Digidave]

Once again Michael, I am blown away by your artisticness. I know, that's not a word, I don't care!:D Your photo's make me want to make up new words to describe them.http://www.clanforen.de/clanforen/images/smilies/eigene/anbeten.gif

[Dan Rowe]

Michael, what position did you place the reflectors. Were they angled or just straight on the sides (perpendicular to the flash)?

[YoAshnish]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing you gift Michael! I hope to someday capture so beautifully!:)

[Michael Brown]

Dave, ... you just might be my long lost twin or something.
I am always making up words like that myself! :D

YoAshnish, Dan, ... thanks!

Dan, I had one reflector on each side and facing the flower from a angle.
The reflector up top and behind the camera was facing directly to the flower, and I used the flash to shoot right through that reflector, which let a minimal amount of light through, giving it a more natural, diffused light.

Thanks again everyone!

[mikem12188]

Beautiful photo Michael.

[sagelike31]

Yeah it looked like you really worked for that lighting to.

Minimalist work at its best.