Anthers Aweigh

Gallery: FloraPosted June 5, 2010128 views13 comments

Sony A700
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 200, 1/8 @ f32

One of the challenges for me shooting day lilies is what to do with the stamen that always runs away from the pistils and looks like a stamen without an anther. If the tip of it is OOF it usually bugs me so I went for maximum DOF and worked pretty hard on my plane of focus so that all the important elements end up sharp. This flower did not bloom as much as usual so apparently the winter was tough on it whereas some of our other varieties had their strongest bloom ever. Go figure. All comments welcome. >=))>

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on June 5, 2010 at 3:22 AM

I think all of us macro-ers know well the plight of the pistil. Often formless and decapitated looking. In this case, your stamens w/those black vests and rims chock full of pollen is quite pleasing to see. DOF provides great detail. I like the sweep for the eye to follow. Nicely presented.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 5, 2010 at 4:41 AM

Interesting Bill. My first impression was that this looked like a chalk drawing. I don't think I recall seeing the textures looking quite like this in any of your other images - must be the f32. The composition also strikes me as unusual - nothing really happening on any of the thirds crosses. However, the lines of the stamen and pistils are echoed in the yellow center shape in the bloom and echoed in the pattern created by the petal edges.

So while the image strikes me as unusual, I still like it. There's a strong discernible pattern in the composition, the textures are interesting, the lighting is unobtrusively neutral, the subject is clearly defined and separated from the bg and the color palette works well for my tastes. That's my best shot at the analysis anyway.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on June 5, 2010 at 6:44 AM

I like your approach to the day lily Bill. This works well and looks great.

Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments

Comment posted by Miro Susta on June 5, 2010 at 8:44 AM

Really very nice. Well done Bill.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on June 5, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Fantastic from top to bottom, side to side Bill. Really well tanke and shown.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on June 5, 2010 at 12:03 PM

Very nice indeed Bill. Excellent color and presentation. Well done.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Southard on June 5, 2010 at 9:18 PM

I like it Bill. Nice DOF/POF choice which separates the stamens/pistil from the petals. Good light and color also.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 258 Posts, 3892 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on June 6, 2010 at 7:34 AM

Your hard work really pays off. Everything that matters are in focus and stands out from the vibrant background.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Gallo on June 6, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Amazing dof Bill, hard to do without stacking them. You have everything in focus that should be, comp is spot on as are the details on those wonderful anthers

Registered on September 14, 2005, 182 Posts, 1471 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 6, 2010 at 12:25 PM

Love it Bill. Your dof was perfect to get the staymen and pistils sharp with soft focus at the rear.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on June 6, 2010 at 3:58 PM

F/32 clearly does the job as you demonstrated. You have the Daylily shooting technique pat down, so nothing more to say

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on June 6, 2010 at 11:09 PM

Really nice Bill. Great color and excellent plane of focus management. This one works really well, I think. I know that it is a blemish on the bloom, and not on the photo, but I think that I would clone out the lighter spot on the UL of the bloom.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Timothy F. Hale on June 7, 2010 at 4:52 PM

YES!

Tim

Registered on December 10, 2003, 282 Posts, 405 Comments