6/2/2003 6:09:02 AM

Very pretty! I love magnolia and have just myself a tree!

Beautiful! Love the soft lighting. :-)

Beautiful, Murry! I also like "hidden" magnolia too!

Very nice! Love the lighting, and color contrast.

Beautiful photos, Murry! I love them both!

Cathy :)

Thanks Mette, Jill, Joy, Claudia and Cathy. This was shot on an overcast morning in open shade and the bloom was so large that I didn't have to the macro. I'm glad you approve :0)

Lovely, Murry!! They are beautiful trees.

Very pretty, Murry. I like both images. Can you tell me what aperture and shutter speed were used? THanks, America.

Very nice, Murry!

Thanks, Carolyn, America, Kathleen. The shots were done with a handheld Canon D30 with ISO set at 400, 1/250 and f/8 and f/6.7 respectively. I converted the RAW files to TIFF with a +.2 exposure adjustment using Bibble.

Thanks Murry... just trying to get a little insight on how you create such gorgeous images. These really are stunning. I wish I could do that! Cheers, America.

America, it's this darn camera. It just makes beauitful photos :0) Seriously, I avoid shooting flower shots in direct sun light because the light is usually harsh and the digital camera doesn't handle extreme contrast very well. I try to shoot in the morning while the flowers are the freshest. They tend to dry out and wither with the heat of the day. I usually use my 100mm macro but these blooms were so large that I shot with the 70-200mm zoom. I usually hand hold the camera because the slightest breeze will change the focus point when working so close. I know you're supposed to use a tripod, but I usually don't unless I'm inside. I almost always turn the autofocus off and trust my eyes. I shoot multiple frames to increase my odds of everything being okay (with digital it doesn't cost anything). I hope this helps?

Wow Murry - another beautiful shot!

Thanks, Gary.

Much thanks for all the info Murry. BUT I must say that it's not all in the camera! Bcuz if it were could I not get similar superbness out of my D60? You're just a PRO! Thanks again for sharing, all the info really does help!

An absolutely outstanding blossom photograph, Murry!! Really great stuff!
birdie

Thanks, Birdie. Glad you found some time to enjoy the photos.

Just beautiful Murry.

Thanks, Dale.

Both are beautifully done Murry!!!!

I agree with Darren - just beautiful!

Wow, incredible shot, Murry! Just gorgeous.
Judy

Thanks, Darren, Evy and Judy.

Really like this a lot, Murry. Wonderful white of the magnolia on the muted earth and green tones of the leaves around it. Exellent detail as well! Great stuff! RoB

Thank you, Rob.

center is sharp, texture seems lost in the flower itself - perhaps at tad over exposed?
Wonder if using a reflector to open up the shadows a little would help? But then you would need to be on a tripod. Images seem a bit too dead centered for me but just one person's view. Would like to see more use if possible of either the lines/shapes of the leaves to lead the eye. Beyond the aesthetics of the shot am curious
what mood / feeling it evoked in you when you took it?

Thanks for your feedback, Robert. It's always a pleasant surprise to get an honest critique of one my photos. I'll answer your last question first. When I saw this magnolia bloom I thought WOW it is beautiful, down where I can get to it and in really good shape so I must have a photo of it. There wasn't much texture to the petals--pretty silky smooth. I could have gotten in closer but then DOF becomes a problem and the flower gets abstracted rather than being part of a tree. I could have put it off center and followed the rule of thirds but then I'd just be mimicking some arbitrary ideas established by people that tried to figure out why they liked the paintings of the masters. I really like what I did and think the dead center position is best for my title and that the dark glossy leaves tend to hold the eye inside the frame. I will evaluate your suggestions and maybe incorporate some of them in a future shoot. Thanks again for your comments.

Just noticed this and think it's fine. Reminds me of the Imogen Cunningham magnolia photo. And I'm not so sure the rule of thirds is particularly appropriate for close-ups anyway, since the subject fills so much of the frame.
Conrad

Thanks, Conrad, for your comments :0)

Magnificent flower, magnificent shot!!
I have magnolias in my garden (my mother´s garden...) and only discovered it last month!
Cheers from Portugal, where I expect you for you 70 years old.... you don´t have much time to prepare it!

8/1/2003 3:27:38 PM

Thanks, Su, for your comment and warm invite to Portugal for my 70th :0) You're right it's just four years away.

8/1/2003 4:32:36 PM

Hi Murry, I somehow tought you were 68, there was a chat on one of your shots where we talked about that haven´t we? One of those super good humoured long file of comments on your photo!!! It´s always very nice to read from you,
cheers Su

8/1/2003 11:47:44 PM

Now don't go wishing my life away. I'm 66 going on 16 :0)

8/2/2003 6:05:45 AM