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Dreaming
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Dreaming

by Craig Strand

Gallery: FloraPosted April 19, 201061 views6 comments
Another visit to the Tulip fields this morning and eager to try Nathan Buck's "Cram-it" technique after reviewing his article. I decided to shoot using my long 600mm lens, surely more artillery then one usually selects to shoot a few flowers but I like the short DOF and OOF watercolor like effects the lens can achieve.
I find this has a "dreaming" effect, shooting over/thru a row of pink tulips and focusing on the dew covered yellow bloom and bud. I like the OOF BG flowers, the red was a bit distracting and slightly desaturated. About 15% cropped off the bottom.
"Thank you, Nathan!"

Thanks for looking, larger image available

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.L IS USM
Wimberley head, tripod, cable release

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on April 19, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Good technique and a lovely result. Well done, Craig.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Debashis Bandyopad on April 19, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Craig, I like the cram effect, but the red bg is still a bit too overpowering for me. What a technique though...
Registered on June 24, 2007, 130 Posts, 1309 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 19, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Craig: I wonder what those poor tulips thought with that Canon cannon pointed at them :wink: Cramming is fun and you get some delightful and unexpected results sometimes as you focus through the scene. I do find it tough to come up with good results when the colors are strong and/or bold. If the pink of the bottom extended on up in the frame this would work better for me. The deep red works against the softer colors and kind of clashes. Something I've done and I think Nathan does occasionally is to use a large soft brush and clone/paint some softer color into the darker areas. What I really do like about this is your plane of focus management. Keep 'em coming. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by mark cillo on April 19, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Beautiful colors here!
Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments
Comment posted by wade pettitt on April 20, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Craig , well seen and I like the cramming effect. All the people at the festival must have thought you were crazy carrying that big gun around. Well done.
Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments
Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on April 20, 2010 at 10:39 PM
WOW, great job Craig. With fire power like the 600, you could do this from a field away. Nice results, in all honesty. Good job. :toast:
Bob :wavey:
Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments