Lynne Hollingsworth
About the Image(s)
Thought I would try something a little different, so I made an attempt at frozen flower photography. I'll say this - it's not as easy as some photographers' images make it look. Finding a suitable container with no pattern or severe indentations on the bottom was first. Then finding the jug of reverse osmosis water with no added minerals was next. Time to choose the flowers, which couldn't be too long because they had to fit in the container without bending or being too close to the top.
Finally finding the right flower, I placed the flower into the container, then poured a small amount of RO water on top. The flower was arranged into somewhat of a position, then gently placed in the freezer in order to set. After about 2 hours I placed more (cool) RO water on top to further set. If the water is too warm it will melt the initial layer. RO water is supposed to help the ice be clear when completely frozen.
When taking this particular image, I used a 105mm macro with 2 extension tubes on a tripod, lit from behind. Then cropped and applied some targeted adjustments to bring down distracting highlights. What do you all think?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
(Group 63)
I love the image, and the discontinuity of seeing a "spring-like boom", in a "winter-like" setting. The detail associated with the bloom as a great as it needs to be, and you even have differing levels of detail associated with the differing flower depth within the ice. I am also enjoying the detail at the ice surface, and think that you did a wonderful job is balancing the tonal range here. There are not a lot of intense hot spots in the ice, something not easy to accomplish here.
Very imaginative and nicely captured.
  Posted: 03/10/2020 14:34:27
(Groups 20 & 79)
Just wondering if you could use steam distilled water, which would not have any minerals either. Depending on where you live, it would be much easier to get, for under $1.00 a gallon.   Posted: 03/19/2020 21:16:48
The only thing which I do notice is the noise in the image, I am not sure if its just me or is it the case in this.   Posted: 03/20/2020 09:34:45
I was at macro workshops twice with this kind of frozen subject inside and also visited an ice house that produce these frozen cubes. They use a special procedure to get rid of air bubbles so that the images are more see through but this image let us see the bloom behind a veil of bubbles..mysterious ! ! !   Posted: 03/24/2020 13:52:12