7/21/2007 2:17:18 AM

Bob this is lovely.

7/21/2007 2:33:10 AM

Terrific macro work, Bog! Excellent detail, light, DoF and PoV!

7/21/2007 2:42:11 AM

...really lovely Bob...Aimee

7/21/2007 2:54:28 AM

What a beautiful capture, Bob!

7/21/2007 8:43:11 AM

Great image

7/21/2007 10:23:08 AM

Thanks everyone for your nice comments.

For this macro, a flashlight was used to highlight the background while natural light provided the primary illumination.

The goat's beard plant, an impressive and sizable "cousin" to the dandelion will commonly produce seed clusters over 4" in diameter.
Their wispy seed parachutes are much larger and more defined than those of their smaller relatives.

Bob

7/22/2007 12:24:55 PM

Tried to capture them but never this well. Alway love your work and advise, Bob.

8/27/2007 5:42:03 PM

How wonderful to see the magic of E-6 again!

8/27/2007 8:47:58 PM

Congrats Bob. This is just beautiful. Gotta love the ol flashlight trick - I do it all the time. Good luck in the next round.

8/27/2007 8:48:50 PM

What a beauty; congratulations!

8/28/2007 12:47:26 PM

Thanks Emile, "Judges", Tamera and Christopher.

The timing for finding these special plants when they actually go to seed is short lived. Whenever I'm fortunate to happen upon one in bloom I will try to allow some time photographing it.
A flashlight...in conjunction with ambient light, is something I often use to illuminate macro subjects.
More often than not I'll balance the light to the film with an 80-A lens filter taped to the flashlight head but using the auxillary light source un-filtered allows cool and warm tones to be displayed within the same frame.

E-6 (slide film) IS truly "magical"...and can also be quite challenging.
I think that's part of its allure.

Bob

8/28/2007 4:46:55 PM

Beautiful. Dreamie-type quality. Wonderful image!

8/29/2007 9:06:32 AM

Congratulations on this fantastic win, Bob! I appreciate your explanation of how you did it, too!

8/29/2007 9:54:40 AM

And another congratulations, for the gold!

8/29/2007 10:44:23 AM

Simply gorgeous, Bob!!! Big congratulations on your win!

8/29/2007 11:33:43 AM

Congratulations on this fantastic, win!!

8/29/2007 12:53:32 PM

Congratulations on your second place winner.

8/29/2007 1:21:27 PM

Precious light, detail and exposure...congrats on this winner!

8/29/2007 1:40:20 PM

Stunning winner and well deserved Bob!

8/29/2007 3:22:35 PM

Wonderful image. Congratulations on your WINNER!

8/29/2007 3:46:47 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

Bob

8/29/2007 4:44:23 PM

Beautifully done Bob! Congrats on your win :-)

Love the flashlight idea, may have to give that a try sometime.

8/29/2007 5:28:28 PM

This is stunning Bob! Congrats on your win!

8/29/2007 7:31:11 PM

Big congrats on your wonderful winner Bob :o)

8/29/2007 9:47:27 PM

Bob, great detail, lighting and point of view; big congratulations on your Second Place Win!

8/29/2007 10:19:41 PM

This is beautiful Bob. Congrats on your winner!

8/30/2007 10:06:23 AM

Thanks Susan, Anna, Sylvia, Janine, Alison...and everyone else again.

I shot several versions of this goat's beard plant that day from different angles and with varied lighting techniques. This was the only one I scanned and posted because I really liked the way the warm tones of the background complimented the cool (bluer) parts of the seedlings.
This was the exact effect I was attempting to achieve at the scene.

Bob

8/30/2007 2:17:32 PM

A big congratulations on this outstanding winner Bob!

9/1/2007 1:36:56 PM

Thanks Karen!

9/1/2007 4:06:21 PM

Oh wow wow wow...absolutely outstanding in every way. I just truly love this.

9/24/2007 12:01:04 AM

Thanks Sherrye!

9/24/2007 4:46:27 PM

Congratulations! A well deserved win.

9/25/2007 5:58:28 AM

Congratulations Bob! This is a beautiful winner!

9/25/2007 6:11:24 AM

Thanks Don and Alison!

9/25/2007 2:58:24 PM

Congratulations Bob! Great high key photo!
Pat

10/22/2007 2:02:17 PM

Thanks Patrick!

10/23/2007 1:54:44 AM