Lotus

Gallery: FloraPosted September 26, 20121,292 views9 comments

I discovered a lotus pond as I was driving through a spiritual retreat center in the California High Sierras. It was chock full of leaves and just a few blossoms. I think my favorite part may be the seed pods.
The light wasn't ideal at the time but this shot seemed to work. I returned the next day to get some filtered morning light for other shots which I'll post soon.
Canon 5D Mark ii, f 7.1, 1/200. Comments appreciated.

lucy

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on September 27, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Hi Lucy. I like the splash of color in the field of green. Overall, I wonder if the shot is just a bit too cluttered.

Nathan

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 27, 2012 at 11:25 PM

Lucy: Magical scene. I think I would crop this a bit tighter all around but I like the variety of the buds, blooms and spent heads. Nicely done.>=))>

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

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on September 28, 2012 at 10:23 AM

Thanks guys. Yes a crop helps. I tried several, esp wanted to retain the contrast with the huge leaves and this is what I came up with. Really appreciate your time checking in. (Hope it shows up here.)

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on September 28, 2012 at 12:59 PM

I really like the cropped version Lucy. Well seen and captured.
Bob

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on September 28, 2012 at 1:54 PM

I like your cropped version better although the white balance seems a little off...almost too blue! What a neat scene though!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on September 29, 2012 at 10:09 AM

Yes Eirini it is a tad on the blue side. I played around with a slightly greener temperature and it does indeed work even better. Thank you all again for the astute comments.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on September 30, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Lucy:
A very beautiful Indian Lotus. The repost is better as most of the clutter is excluded. You did not specify what lens was used but you may like to try using a longer lens like a 300mm and larger aperture to isolate the bloom.

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

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on October 2, 2012 at 11:08 AM

Gary,
Thank you for your comments. I used a Canon 70mm-200mm, hand-held as are almost all my photographs. It's the largest lens I have. Even though it was late summer, the pond was very boggy so I couldn't get as close to the flowers as I'd have liked to without sinking into the mud.

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by Colleen Tillett on October 9, 2012 at 9:34 PM

I like this shot, but the big leaf in the lower left... I don't know if it's bother me, or if it needs to be cropped. I love the natural color, very nice!

Registered on October 9, 2012, 2 Posts, 9 Comments