Thursday, August 13, 2009

Day 22

Right now we're at the tail end of the blooming of our local Bottlebrush trees. We also have quite a large hive of honeybees around here as well. For the past couple of months the bees have been really going after the pollen from these trees. You can hear the buzzing and it's pretty loud.

Since most of the blossoms have fallen. I decided to try to get a macro of a bee on the flower.

Day 22

The problem with this is...

I wasn't using a tripod.
The bees were moving quick.
The focus kept going for the outer edges of the flowers while the bees were down inside.
I had the depth of field too shallow.

So the lessons are...

Use a tripod (duh)
Patience
Watch the focus and use manual if necessary
Watch the depth of field
Use a ladder

Day 21

I've finally got more than 2 days in a row. Its going to be busy this weekend so I'll try to put up a couple of posts tonight.

The photo today is of ripening buckwheat. Or at least that's what I remember this as.

Day 21

This was taken in Mission Trails park. At the moment there are thousands of these plants going from white to golden brown. The first few attempts were to try to get the feel of the broad swaths of color and texture these plants show. Unfortunately I didn't get it. So I tried to do the next step. It goes something like this (in my brain anyway :) ):

"What is it about this that attracted my attention? Was it the color? Form? Pattern? Light? The image is too busy. Simplify. I like the golden brown. Maybe just a head?"

And that was it. I chimped a few to check composition and exposure and then shot around what I thought was a good setting. As it turned out it kinda captured what was the simplest image.

I also like the brown over the green background.

Is it great...no. But it is adequate. And I do like it.