Shooting Stars

Gallery: FloraPosted May 12, 201152 views7 comments

Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon meadia)

I'm very fortunate to live within walking distance of a 500 acre preserve of wetlands and prairie -- Lake in the Hills Fen. Many of those acres are the real deal -- undisturbed remnants that retain their pre-settlement flora. It amazes me to think that shooting stars have been surviving here since the time that bison and wolves roamed these hills. The warm weather yesterday finally popped these open.

As you can see by the technicals, I used the longest lens in my bag to isolate the blooms from the background.

Nikon D700; Nikkor 300mm; 1/250s at f/11 -067; ISO 400; Tripod; ACR

Comments and criticisms always welcome.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Mike Moats on May 12, 2011 at 8:50 AM

Hey David, you are a lucky guy living close to a wetland and prairie, nice subject here, good details and BG.

Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on May 12, 2011 at 9:00 AM

Brilliant choice of lens David. The bg imaged this way is perfect support for your subject. Beautiful light and fine detail as well. Beautiful specimen portrait. For what it's worth, I really like the spider webs as well - adds a final finishing touch.

pat

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

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on May 12, 2011 at 2:11 PM

Excellent, David

- very nice grouping and a clean isolation on a killer background. If there is a text book shot, then this is it. Very lovely. I also like the two partially opened buds in the grouping.

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

Comment posted by Bernie Kasper on May 12, 2011 at 4:30 PM

These are a pain to shoot David... I still haven't shot a comp I like but this one is sweet, first the Trillium and now this, you are getting some killer shots !!

Registered on June 5, 2005, 251 Posts, 3734 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on May 12, 2011 at 5:17 PM

Very nice image of this beautiful flower, David! You are lucky indeed to live near these lovely areas you mentioned.

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on May 12, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Excellent. That 500 acre preserve looks like a fertile place for shooting wildflowers.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on May 15, 2011 at 3:42 PM

I like what you've captured David, the light, separation and detail are right on.
Bob

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