Dreaming of Spring

Gallery: FloraPosted January 25, 2012596 views6 comments

After about 6 weeks of warm "winter" weather we finally had a cold snap, complete with a dusting of snow covered by freezing rain. The warmth had persuaded my Japanese Apricot to bloom so I'll see if the buds will survive the cold and open when we get some warmer weather, the flowers are totally wilted. This is a crop (73% FF) removing in focus stem on the right and oof stem on the left, because it seemed like too much stem and not enough emphasis on the bud. I've also tried a vertical crop and am open to other suggestions. I couldn't get closer for a vertical shot, without significant trimming, which probably would have knocked the ice (and maybe the buds) off. (5D, 100mm macro + 20mm ET, 0.6s, f/20, iso 200)

Oh yeah, I also did a stack and the bud looked the same, but the stack had lots of artifacts in the oof background.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 25, 2012 at 7:58 PM

Mark:
The weather has been funny for us as well. All the Prunus japonica in our local gardens have finished blooming and all turn to leaves when I got back from holidays and its not even spring. I hope your bloom survive and you get to capture it again when it finally open.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 25, 2012 at 8:42 PM

IMO, the balance between bud and branch is very good. the bud certainly takes center stage with it's pretty in pink attitude and icy bling. The branch makes a nice supporting element and does not intrude at all. But, really Mark! Spring blooms? I just this week got enough snow to really enjoy snowshoeing. Beautiful image, very nicely presented.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 25, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Mark: Who can figure the weather? We had a brutal winter (well, by southeast Texas standards

) and an absolutely blistering summer and now we are having one of the mildest winters on record and finally getting some rain. I like your comp and crop judgment. For me this is just right. 2 thumbs up! >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

This winter has been a little whacked to say the least, poor little blossom never had a chance !!! Lovely shot Mark, beautiful colour on the pink and nicely composed !!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Caldwell on January 26, 2012 at 6:33 PM

Very cool shot with the ice!

Registered on October 10, 2011, 62 Posts, 508 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on January 31, 2012 at 9:20 PM

Cool shot! The composition works for me. In fact, I think I prefer this to vertical. I like the juxtaposition of the delicate pink with the crusty ice. Out here, we have mostly ice and snow right now.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments