The last few posts were about very specific themes … trees, water, mountains and then wildflowers. These subjects are common in my portfolio. In this set I’ve combined subjects, while considering how the elements come together to provide a sense of place. I want my photographs to portray a feeling of being there. Ideally it’s great when viewers see what I thought was special enough to capture, process and show. After looking at a series of my landscapes, a friend recently wrote, ‘each and every one is like a journey’. That comment made me feel I had met my goal … at least with that friend and set of images!
WordPress Reader/Retina display Viewers: Please click on ‘Visit’, ‘Visit Site’, ‘View Full Site’ or the title of the post for the sharpest viewing experience. Images are optimized in the WordPress Reader, and will not look sharp using a Retina Display screen. denisebushphoto.wordpress.com
Wildflower landscapes are by far the most challenging assignment I give myself each summer! High up in the mountain basins, slopes and gulches, is where you go to find columbine, paintbrush, king’s and queen’s crown and more. Getting to them, finding a good patch with minimal distractions, and that then align with an interesting background, is most of the challenge! Combining the wildflowers and landscapes together helps viewers experience a better sense of place. The daisies in this set are more accessible since they grow a little lower.
Ideally my goal is to get wildflowers prominent in the foreground, and a mountain feature in the background. In order to get everything sharp close and far, I always use a tripod. My Canon 16-35mm is my usual lens of choice for wildflower landscapes. I focus-stack, taking exposures at select focal points (close to far) in the scene. I bring the frames into Photoshop using ‘load files into stack’ and check attempt to align. The files with different focal points come in as layers and I use masks to blend them according to sharpness. Using a tilt-shift lens is another way to get this desired affect. I need to consider the pros and cons of an investment in one as they are quite expensive.
WordPress Reader/Retina display Viewers: Please click on ‘Visit’, ‘Visit Site’, ‘View Full Site’ or the title of the post for the sharpest viewing experience. Images are optimized in the WordPress Reader, and will not look sharp using a Retina Display screen. denisebushphoto.wordpress.com