Lamar Nix  


Wildflower Profusion by Lamar Nix

May 2021 - Wildflower Profusion

About the Image(s)

Erigeron philadelphicus a/k/a "Common Fleabane". In earlier times this small wildflower was dried and stuffed into bedding to ward off fleas - apparently a mistaken idea! About the size of a dime ( about 2 cm diameter ), this small wildflower is a welcomed resident to the spring roadside and meadow.

The present scene was taken from a patch along the roadside. My objective was to capture the foreground in sharp focus, but to present the background out of focus to create the feeling that one is immersed in a whole field of them. This image was taken with my iphone camera held low to the ground, about 2 or 3 inches off the ground, in dappled sunlight.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
The effect that you were looking for is well demonstrated here. Nice capture with an iPhone. This flower is pretty small if you were only at 2 to 3 in off the ground. Very sharp focus on the "front row" flowers but this focus fades away quickly. How big was that patch?

Nice work.   Posted: 05/10/2021 17:19:36
 
It was maybe fifteen feet across or something close to that. Thanks!   Posted: 05/18/2021 19:35:30



 
I love these little guys but haven't been able to pull off a nice shot like this. I would suggest considering a slight crop off the top to eliminate whitish line that distracts my eye althhough it it might be too tight and consider toning down the green foreground. The OOF background came out well.   Posted: 05/12/2021 18:09:28
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Thanks! I was afraid to crop it this tight. Thw whitish line is the edge of the palmetto swamp.   Posted: 05/18/2021 19:38:25



 
This image demonstrates an effective technique of creating focal points among a chaotic scene. Have repeating patterns and colors of the same flower being out of focus supports the flowers that are in focus.
I would either clone out or blur the sharp focused flower in the left lower corner.





  Posted: 05/13/2021 00:17:53
 
Thanks, San! I left the single flower in place since I take the contrarian view on composition of natural scenes. But you are correct that it makes for a tighter compositon.   Posted: 05/18/2021 19:40:15



Frans Gunterus   Frans Gunterus
Lamar, your statement ... my objective was to capture the foreground in sharp focus, but to present the background out of focus to create the feeling that one is immersed in a whole field of them ... reminds me of the first question from my PSA Senior mentor when submitting photos for projects. ... What is your objective of capturing this image? ...

I think you have achieved your main objectives of capturing this image. IMHO this image image is stronger if cropped in portrait.   Posted: 05/23/2021 11:18:00
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