PhotoProject :: Experimenting with low afternoon light

Today was only my second photographic outing and it was good to be out in the fresh air with a strong sun, but at a low angle. Perfect to try and get some close up texture in the spent flower heads of reeds on the edge of the lake.

  

The first trick was to avoid getting the sun directly on my lens, because that causes flare and “fogging” of the image. I wanted the reed heads to be the detail (ie only things in focus so that means reducing the depth of field by going for the lowest aperture). I tried a variety of background/exposure. These reed heads are all with a couple of meters of each other. So whether I’m shooting up (with the sky as the background), straight ar the lake, or more down let me achieve three completely different backgrounds.

Best laid plans …

All to often if you are chasing creativity, you can get struck in a rut. Today was really wet and overcast most of the day but the sun broke through for a few brief moments so I grabbed my polarizing filter and headed out to try and photograph a rainbow and see if I could enhance the colours using the polarizer (because the rainbow colours are reflected and thus polarized light I was convinced I should be able to darken the sky but brighten the rainbow). Despite dodging sun showers and cold winds I saw no rainbows. One the way back inside I saw my cretaceous garden was beautifully backlit for a just few moments and the revived gingko looked resplendent in its refreshed green.

I think it was Matt Kloskowski that once said if you see good light you must photograph it. Not a wonderful composition or compelling subject but the light was terrific enough to become my photo of the day.

Moral :: Don’t try to plan creativity

Kookaburra sunbathing

Its been very hot and after a quick "birdly bath" in a rock pool this kookaburra sat and dried his feathers in the last of the days sun.

PhotoFriday :: Floral

For PhotoFriday’s topic Floral

PhotoProject :: Silhouettes of Trees

The low sun of winter gives you a bit more opportunity to get down and get those stronger compositions from the silhouettes of trees. To create a little drama from the often routine bland and ordinary

Backlit in the full sun

 

New Growth

Backlit new growth on a late spring afternoon can capture some beautiful textured lighting. This collage is an example of one of the new mosaic collage options in picasa 3 beta

Catch me, if you can?

 

Morning has broken

Late summer delights

The last of the day light saving light, a cool breeze, the smell of onions and sausages cooking, high summer is to be savoured. Also the opportunity for nice backlighting

Pretty as a picture?

Well the lighting is lovely but the image may not be so well appreciated by all those suffering hayfever this year.

deep winter