Murphy Hektner, APSA
August 2026 - Alpine Blue Clematis
About the Image(s)
Nikon D700 - Nikon 105mm macro lens on tripod - ISO 1000 - 1/500 @ f/5.6 - Cloudy with a little wind. Post processed in Elements.
An alpine plant of Western U.S. mountains found in dry rocky areas. This is a dwarf variety growing about 6" tall. The background was very busy and distracting, so used f/5.6 with less depth of field to blur out the background. In this case I did not want the busy rocky background to be a distraction from the flowers.
8 comments posted
Murphy,
I have seen lots of images of clematis but nothing like this. The green leaves perfectly anchor the image, the flowers are beautifully sharp and the background subdued and so nicely blurred. Obsioulsy I love it! Posted: 08/03/2026 14:36:13
I have seen lots of images of clematis but nothing like this. The green leaves perfectly anchor the image, the flowers are beautifully sharp and the background subdued and so nicely blurred. Obsioulsy I love it! Posted: 08/03/2026 14:36:13
The colours ofthe flowers and leaves are complementary and the whole scene looks well. There are no distractions in the background.The flowers are sharp. Nice! Posted: 08/04/2026 16:47:23
To me the detail and the color of this photos is what makes it stand out. I agree with Susan about the sharpness of the flowers and leaves and the bokeh of the background. I think the composition is good in how the flowers fill the center of the frame and keep my eye there and maintain my interest. I like what you have done. Posted: 08/10/2026 21:52:58
The beauty of colors, composition, sharpness and background. The finishing touch with the white frame.
Upon closer "examination" I see different sharpness in the green leaves. Is it only due to the DoF?
Posted: 08/18/2026 14:16:33
Upon closer "examination" I see different sharpness in the green leaves. Is it only due to the DoF?
Posted: 08/18/2026 14:16:33
Hi Vincent: YES, the variation in the sharpness of the leaves is a lack of depth of field. I could have eliminated this issue if I was using f/16 as that F stop provides a lot of depth of field; then the rocky background with the added depth of would have been very distracting.
Sometimes in flower photography the photographer has to make certain compromises, if you fix one issue you may cause another problem somewhere else. Posted: 08/19/2026 04:38:28
Sometimes in flower photography the photographer has to make certain compromises, if you fix one issue you may cause another problem somewhere else. Posted: 08/19/2026 04:38:28
Hi Murph. Lovely pic. The shallow depth of field is effective, and the fresh green foliage at the base provides nice contrast and grounding. I think a slightly tighter cropping or a touch more separation between the leftmost flowers and the edge might strengthen the composition further, but overall it's a clean, elegant, and visually appealing image. Posted: 08/21/2026 10:39:06
Hi Mo: Thank you for your very positive comments, very much appreciated.
I did take your advice and added a small amount of room at the left border, It took the grouping out of more of a centered composition to now be biased a little to the right side of the frame and I think it helped the composition.
Thanks for the tip. Posted: 08/22/2026 22:37:24
I did take your advice and added a small amount of room at the left border, It took the grouping out of more of a centered composition to now be biased a little to the right side of the frame and I think it helped the composition.
Thanks for the tip. Posted: 08/22/2026 22:37:24
Hi Murphy,
The elegant, rhythmic flow created by the blooms and their slender stems is delightful, and blurring the background to eliminate distractions was definitely the right choice.
I was just wondering if taking a slight step back might have given the subject a bit more breathing room within the frame, allowing the composition to feel more balanced alongside its immediate surroundings. Beautiful capture! Posted: 08/23/2026 17:43:41
The elegant, rhythmic flow created by the blooms and their slender stems is delightful, and blurring the background to eliminate distractions was definitely the right choice.
I was just wondering if taking a slight step back might have given the subject a bit more breathing room within the frame, allowing the composition to feel more balanced alongside its immediate surroundings. Beautiful capture! Posted: 08/23/2026 17:43:41