photography
Flowers and a bit of landscape, too!
And now for some “conventional” flower images and a bit of landscape…….
The weather’s still doing it’s best to spoil things and so I am finding myself seeking flowers in sheltered areas and, even then, having to wait for quite some time until it is still long enough to obtain a sharp image. Patience is a virtue! Since I’m talking flower photography, I thought I’d mention that my number 1 purchase over the last 6 months has been an old manual focus 200mm f4 Micro Nikkor. For many years I made do with a prime 200mm f4 with extension tubes but felt it was now time (I had been putting it off for many, many years) to purchase a dedicated 200mm Micro.
So, why didn’t I get the AF version? 2 reasons. Firstly, the MF version is at least half the price and secondly, I rarely use AF when shooting close-up. Also, and this applies to nearly all MF lenses, the focus ring on MF lenses is sooooo much smoother than on an AF lens. The 200mm Micro, for example, has finger-tip focus. A real joy to use. I am now finding that I rarely use my trusty 105mm f2.8 Micro since with the 200mm I get the same magnification, double the working distance and even more control over my backgrounds. It also has a tripod collar and so changing orientation from view to upright’s an absolute breeze!
I’m off to the Bieszczady Mountains National Park in SE Poland on Monday leading a photo-tour with photographer friend, Marek Kosinski. Although primarily a landscape tour, there will be opportunities to photograph orchids and insects so this lens will definitely be going with me! Current weather predictions are for a hot week (25-30) which will be quite a contrast to what we are currently experiencing, here in the UK!
You will notice that, opposed to my previous post, I have included the technical data under each image. For all images (except the primrose), I mounted the camera onto a Manfrotto 055CX3 with a Markins M10 ball head.
Reculver at twilight
Nikon D300, 12-24mm @ 18mm, iso 200, 2 mins. @ f11.
Primrose
I had just finished holding a really enjoyable close-up and bushcraft workshop with Phil from Badger Bushcraft and, although weary, I could not resist the late afternoon sunlight and so rather than driving home,
decided to continue for a further hour shooting primroses.
Nikon D300, 200mm Micro, iso 200, 1/25 sec. f8, beanbag.
Bluebells at sunrise
Always the trickiest part of the operation with an image like this is keeping the rapidly rising sun obscured behind a tree, so as to avoid flare.
Nikon D300, 12-24mm @14mm, iso 200, 1/2 sec. f16.
Bluebell
Taken shortly after the above image. Due to the weather these were the only successful bluebell images I took. Getting up that early is never a pleasure but, and I have said this before, I never regret it when I do. The quality of light is like at no other time of the day.
Nikon D300, 105mm Micro, iso 200, 1/15 sec. f4. Multiple exposure.
Ramsons at sunset
Nikon D300, 200mm Micro, iso 200, 1/15 sec. f4.
Red campion
Another evening jaunt where, as you can see from the data below, the nagging breeze forced me to use a higher iso than I would have liked. But, with the setting sun waiting for no man, it’s always best to get something than nothing at all!
Nikon D300, 105mm Micro, iso 560, 1/20th sec. f4,
Woodruff and fern
Opposite to where I park to enter a woodland, lies a sheltered, roadside bank where, even on the windiest days, it is perfectly still. For an hour I “worked” this 20m patch, also shooting yellow archangel and wild strawberry, only having to move out of the way once, for a car. Such is it’s quiet location.
Nikon D300, 28-105mm @ 62mm, iso 200, 1.3 sec. f22.
Last rays of the day
Taken in the wood where I park my car (explained in above caption) I looked for subjects to photograph against the setting sun. As I headed to the top of wood I noticed how the light was catching just the tops of the trees. 3 images were taken and stitiched together.
Nikon D300, 28-105mm @ 35mm, iso 200, 4 secs. f16.
Broom
Nagging breeze problem, again!
Nikon D300, 200mm Micro, iso 560, 1/5 sec. f4.
Germander speedwell
Now we are completely up to date as this was taken on Wednesday. Yet another breezy day so flowers in a sheltered spot it had to be.
Nikon D300, 200mm Micro, 1/160 sec. f5.6.
In the twilight hour
Twilight is defined as being the period between daybreak and sunrise and between sunset and night. To be more exact, when the sun falls below 18 degrees you enter nightfall and when the sun rises to 18 degrees below the horizon, you enter daybreak or dawn. As for how long this lasts, depends on your location and, also, climatic conditions. In general, however, it does so for, approximately, 1 hour.
Since most of us (I am assuming here) consider twilight to take place after sunset and not before sunrise, my aim for, around, one month, was to photograph plants during this period. I would head out an hour before sunset to seek out the image and begin shooting as the sun slipped below the horizon. Often I would go out with a specific image in mind, as the case with Bluebells and Grasses but on other occasions I would, simply, see what I could find. I, quickly, learned that no matter how interesting an image looked through the viewfinder as sunset approached, it’s appearance would change, rapidly, as the light faded. Warm tones would turn blue, gaps through trees would emerge revealing an aperture in which to place the subject and intricate details on flowers would slowly disappear to, eventually, form a silhouette.
I thoroughly enjoyed producing this series of images. It focused me, intensely, and opened my eyes (and imagination) to new possibilities and, although, many more were taken, some, I felt, just didn’t work for one reason or another. I have a feeling this project will run and run!
Wood anemone
Wild cherry
Wood spurge
Notes on the photography: I’ve, purposefully, steered clear of adding technical details to each image as I don’t want to detract from the visual. F-stops, shutter speeds and iso’s, though important, are secondary to “seeing” the subject and how you, as the photographer, interpret it. But, in order to satisfy curiosity, I used a Nikon D300 and for all, a 200mm f4 Micro.
Blackthorn
Elder
Hawthorn
Wild garlic
Oak catkins
Bluebells
Grasses
Prague in spring
Last week I retuned form leading a wonderful workshop to The Golden City or The City of a Hundred Spires or….just plain old Prague! But plain it most definitely isn’t! A, virtually, untouched city for hundreds of years and with architectural styles ranging from Baroque to Art Nouveau and Romanesque to Gothic, there are picture opportunities around, quite literally, every corner.
I have been visiting Prague for many, MANY years but it’s always a good idea to reacquaint yourself with those familiar places and to, generally, get a feel for the city prior to the workshop so I arrived 3 days before. I had met all, bar one, before and, indeed, 5 had accompanied me on other photo-tours to Lapland and Poland so strangers they were not and, if those trips were anything to go by, I knew we were going to have a lot of laughs. I wasn’t to be disappointed! 
Here’s a few images I took before everyone arrived.
Charles Bridge at night
St. Nicholas Church, Mala Strana.
One of Prague’s most stunning interiors which, on the group’s last day, provided shelter from the pouring rain and supplied endless photo-opportunities.
Prague Castle during the day is, unsurprisingly, teeming with tourists. Go there at night and there’s hardly a soul to be seen! I really had no option, here, but make do with the converging verticals as the widest lens I had with me was a 12-24mm and my back was up against a wall! Sure, I could correct it, to a degree, in CS or LR but then in doing so you crop quite a lot of the image and I like the curve of the building on the right and the inclusion of the Czech flag. A 6 stop ND filter was used to give added interest to the clouds by accentuating movement.
St Vitus Cathedral
Statue of St. George, Prague Castle.
Entrance to Prague Castle
Once the group arrived, I hardly took a picture as my focus was to assist with their photography, keep a handle on catching the metro and trams and doing a head count! I did, however, manage to sneak the camera out for the following images.
Charles Bridge at dawn
With a clear sky forecast and everyone eager to “bag” a sunrise, I arranged for us all to meet 45 minutes before sunrise, being 4.45! Everyone was there, albeit a little bleary eyed, and so we made our way onto the bridge and waited for the inevitable.
Thank you to Elaine, Bea and Mike, Chris, Denise, Sarah and James for making my job an absolute breeze (apart from when one or two decided to wander! ), for allowing me to “show off” a city I have grown to consider my second home and for, generally, being jolly good sports!
If, by reading this, you are tempted to join me next year to this magical city and you rather like the idea of hopping on and off trams, venturing into “secret” gardens and exploring Prague by day (and night), then please register your interest with me at rmcanis@msn.com
Latest images Gallery
A selection of my favourite images over the past 6 months can now be seen on my Gallery, here, which can be purchased as Fine Art prints or for publication.
Spring has arrived….almost!
Spring-like weather’s here one day and gone the next, at the moment! Here, in North Kent (though just like the rest of the UK it seems), we have a couple of days of relatively warm weather and then close to zero with frosts. I guess that’s why we Brits like to talk about the weather so much. It’s just so changeable and never more so than in March. Most days and, even, when the weather’s quite dreadful I force myself outside and venture into local woods or on the marshes as quite often these marginal conditions can produce striking imagery and, even if I don’t take any images (which is very often!), I always feel better for it. It’s great exercise, especially with a 8kg camera backpack, and spiritually renewing. Good for the soul! Here’s a selection taken over the last month.
Bluebell shoot
I’ve recently purchased a 200mm Micro Nikkor having, for the last 20 years, made do with a 200mm plus extension tubes. I’d been quite happy with this combination and, indeed, have had countless publications using this set-up but you simply cannot beat a dedicated close-up lens particularly for it’s convenience. In addition, it has a rotating tripod-collar which is very useful when shooting upright images.
Honeysuckle
Flare was the biggest issue here and so I simply cast my own shadow over the lens, firing the camera using a remote release. I’m not a fan of infra-red releases as I have seen too many workshop guests get frustrated when the transmitter isn’t perfectly aligned with the receiver!
Winter aconite
I have been looking for a nice showing of these for quite some time so was very happy when a friend gave me this location. And, what a display! With hundreds of snowdrops, too, carpeting the woodland. As to their whereabouts? I have been sworn to secrecy
Blue tit
My goal, here, was to photograph this blue tit in a contextual manner and although much more time consuming to execute than of the same bird on a strategically placed perch, I do feel that such images have a more natural feel with added depth and flexibility for interesting compositions.
Elmley Marshes at sunrise
Many thousands of wigeon overwinter here and in the next few weeks they’ll be heading back to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia
Duck in reedbed
Frozen water in flooded ditch.
Nikon D300, 12-24mm @14mm, 0.4 sec. f16, 0.6 ND hard edge grad.
Mute swan at twilight
Nikon D300, 200-400, iso 1600, 1/25 sec. f4, noise reduction in LR4
About Robert Canis
Robert Canis is a professional photographer specialising in the natural world.
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