Sunday 27th Nov.

Out again today looking for opportuties to create interesting pics. Really liked the photo from the Chris Herring research. The picture shows attention to shape and colour. The theme is somewhat secondary to the creation of the mass of colour, texture and shapes and shaddows.

Herring Pictures

ISO 100, 18-55mm lens with +10 close up added. f?5.6 at 1/200 speed.

Although being somewhat closer the end result is similar. The picture creates the "abstract" array of colour and shape evident in the reference pics that I was looking for. Really like the variety of shaddows, tones shapes and colour.

Shoot Results

Sat 26th Nov 2010 Dave and I headed off to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham armed with all our gear, tripods and new macro lenses. +1, +2, +4 and +10 close up lenses to add to our 58mm dia lens.
The day was not as bright as had been forecast but then by 9.00 when we arrived it was OK. Set off in search of suitable opportunities. Snow was on the ground so we were looking for good contrasts in the colour against the white snow background. Also wanted to make sure the sun was creating good shapes and shaddows.

Didnt spot as many as we had hoped and we were further scuppered when the sun disappeared at 10.00. Nevertheless some pleasing results but also good experience in using the macro lenses.

All the pictures were taken with my Canon 400D camera and the 18-55mm lens with in the main the +10 close up macro lens added. Mostly f/5.6 with varying shutter speed. 

Frosty Morning

Decided to arrive early for a meeting in Warwick on Monday. I knew the office I was to visit was surrounded by landscaped gardens and having seen that it was going to be a clear, cold and frosty morning thought it would be a good photo opportunity. I was not disappointed. Took several pics of the frosty scene but liked these the best. All the pics were taken with my 75-300 lens as I knew I needed the large apperture to focus on the detail and reduce the depth of field. Could have used a macro lens but I do not have one !!

The light was good so did not need the tripod, shutter speed was good enough for hand held. High Viz jacket worn at all times to be well seen

Particularly liked the contrast on this pic, from the dark tones in the leaf shadows to the bright white of the frost in the sunlight. The red berries add depth, and the perspective adds interesting shapes.

ISO 100 with f/5.6 and shutter speed at 1/30th.

The next pic again shows the contrast of the colours in sunlight and shadows behind the leaves. The depth is good from the icy foliage in the forground to the reflected sun in the window of the building to the rear. Liked the way the sun is reflected off the frost particles on the leaves.

ISO 100 with f/5.6 and shutter speed at 1/60th

These chaps appeared in the shade of a frosty bush. Like the symmetry, composition and the contrasting colours. Interesting shapes and patterns formed with the leaves and particularly the moisture drops on the petals.

 

ISO 100 with f/5.6 and shutter speed 1/80th.