evolution of a photograph example 2

[pjflan7]

Ok, it's lunchtime!!! Those of you who regularly follow my lunchtime adventures know that I generally come away with something worthwhile or am I am in a very bad mood for the rest of the day! Ok, like I said...It's lunchtime, grab the lunch bag, go through the drive through, whatever....and get on down the road.....no long distance travel necessary. Less than a mile on the left is a derelict field with a barn on top that the city owns. They essentially mow down a path and let walkers and runners exercise on it. The rest of the grass is never touched.....it is now about 5-7 feet tall in places......so let's pull into this place, park the car, grab the monopod and get on the path.....go about 100 feet on the path and turn around and do a general survey of the land. Yep, that's my car...no ..my car is not shooting material.....it's just a dirty old Honda...no frills there unless you like baby blue and dirt! Ok, to the left is a group of wild yellow flowers....Those will be a definite winner but I will get to those on the way back to the car.



Looking over my shoulder at one of the rest stations, I am not immediately excited about any of this overgrown mess. There is a ton of Queen Anne's lace but not today......already got a few of those.....the wind is up and everything is moving a little...not ideal shooting conditions for a still shot but we persevere. I sure as heck am not going walking through that stuff so we'll see what's along the edges. Well, we won't have to go far....see that purplish thing down to the left?.....
That's a wildflower and notice the grasses blowing? If I do this just right...then just maybe I can pull this off. Set it to open aperture to get as much light in as I can and then wait for the breeze to blow everything sideways and hold the lean leftward before the rebound....set the lens a tad to the left of the wildflower and wait for the breeze to blow everything into view and then fire!



Well, that turned pretty well considering the circumstances......and I don't really have to do anything with it.....turned out pretty good on its own......Think I'll turn it in to my dps critics and see what they think.....



hmmm ...let's get over to those yellow flowers.....There's alot of them and I am sure that I will want to shoot a number of shots.....Once back in the parking lot, I survey the long group and see that some are vibrant and healthy and some are on their downswing. The ones which are on their way out are intriguing to me and yet the vitality of the new flowers are engaging as well. Hey, can I frame a shot in such a way as to perhaps get both types in the same shot and still get a pleasing effect......Looking around, I found an unlikely pair and I have to go handheld on this one due to being a vertical shot.......Ready, tighten the frame, and fooocccuuuuss........fooooocccuuusss........What should I focus on? I can't get everything into tight focus......I go for the foreground here with the curled petals and once again......fooooccccuuuus....be still flower!!.....holding........NOW!!!!.......fire and presto, a shot for your enjoyment and mine...That's how I do it......How do you do it???? Crap....it's time to load up and get back to work......see you tonight! ps. I know that I need to pp that dead stem out of the top of the shot but I am writing this now so please forgive me.......

[Bernzfotos]

You are great with your commentary Patrick as well as the fotos. Lunchtime get abouts are the thing to do, if you can.

I like that 2nd shot the best but all are good. Cheers, Bernz

[pjflan7]

Originally Posted by Bernzfotos

You are great with your commentary Patrick as well as the fotos. Lunchtime get abouts are the thing to do, if you can.

I like that 2nd shot the best but all are good. Cheers, Bernz

interesting....2nd shot was taken only to set the stage, but to each their own! I am always fascinated by what people choose and why....If I don't shoot at lunch, I rarely would be off work or get the time to shoot at all....so it's a blessing for me though it limits my material a little

[jennie]

hahaha..it's lunchtime here..it's raining outside..and i really don’t have much time to shoot..good thing there’s DPS and your tutorials..best things in life are indeed free!!!tnx Patrick..

[beachcomber]

evolution of a photograph 1
you've created chapter 1 of a simple and useful photographic guide, I like it

evolution of a photograph 2
Chapter 2 for your book, possible title pp that dead stem
Looking forward to chapter 3

[lyacadajar]

no better way to spend that time than really make it count! as i look at the pictures and read your commentaries, i felt like i was also there enjoying what you were looking! lovely!


Lya

[pjflan7]

Originally Posted by jennie

hahaha..it's lunchtime here..it's raining outside..and i really don’t have much time to shoot..good thing there’s DPS and your tutorials..best things in life are indeed free!!!tnx Patrick..

phoeey on the rain!!

Originally Posted by beachcomber

evolution of a photograph 1
you've created chapter 1 of a simple and useful photographic guide, I like it

evolution of a photograph 2
Chapter 2 for your book, possible title pp that dead stem
Looking forward to chapter 3

I'll get to the stem when time comes available...glad you liked the series in spite of the incomplete assignment!

Originally Posted by lyacadajar

no better way to spend that time than really make it count! as i look at the pictures and read your commentaries, i felt like i was also there enjoying what you were looking! lovely!


Lya

Wish we could have done it together in person...would be fun

[mstark70]

I agree, felt like I was on the photowalk with you. It was a real joy! I love reading about your thought process and adventures as much as I enjoy seeing your results. Fabulous series, I too am looking forward to example #3. I personally love #3 and #4. I just love all the flowers you find.

[pjflan7]

Originally Posted by mstark70

I agree, felt like I was on the photowalk with you. It was a real joy! I love reading about your thought process and adventures as much as I enjoy seeing your results. Fabulous series, I too am looking forward to example #3. I personally love #3 and #4. I just love all the flowers you find.

This was all in response to Lindy's question as to whether I found beauty or if beauty found me......I wanted to show that it is not always right under your nose, even though my presentations are very often right under your nose! Sometimes you just have to look around and look a little closer. It's nice to shoot in a garden center or in your personal garden but I have enjoyed shooting in the wild alot and especially so with a macro lens which is sadly now about 30 miles away from me!

[Vinam]

Well done Patrick .. good time line with the photos and I love part 2 of how you do it !
I always seem to have a plan when I set out to shoot .. but sometimes I change course as I'm driving.. or I get to a spot and am just not feeling it and move on.. but I am always thinking of what to shoot .. I think we all get better at " seeing " as time goes on.. you certainly have an eye for finding flowers.

thanks for putting this series together Bud

Vin