Flowers 2010

[David Kilpatrick]

Here's one from some magazine stuff, writing up the Sigma 70mm. We have just a few tiny flowers like this anemone and some wild violets in the garden - other than a couple of of daffodils. Nothing much to speak of yet. But we have frogspawn in the tiny plastic pond, which has now had frogs breeding for seven years. Ever since we (illegally) stole tadpoles from a pond in the hills and brought them back here. No photos, did take some but black blobs in grey goo don't look all that interesting.

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Alpha 900, Delta ring flash from Foto-Tip (http://www.foto-tip.pl) - £77 for a fully functional pre-flash TTL auto ringflash for Alpha, not bad really! Macro at 1:1, this is a very small flower.
David

[Javelin]

Is this the first stuff your posting with that flash? Are you going to do a write up on it?

[David Kilpatrick]

I'll probably post a write-up after the magazine appears. I have all the pix and I have used it a bit, but not really enough pix taken yet. Only issues with it so far - doesn't have auto-off, and I am so used to Minolta/Sony flash units, I forgot to switch it off when storing it a month ago. Result, a battery had leaked and I had to do a thorough cleanup of the contacts. No permanent harm, but I won't forget to turn it off in future.

Exposure has been 100% accurate with every Alpha DSLR I own, and a reasonable range of distances. Unlike the Minolta 1200 AF, the flashtube cover/diffuser allow light inwards - wrap round. It can be used 2cm from the subject, no problem.

David

[Javelin]

This was a biggie for me I'm glad you answered that. i'll be happy to see your report on it.

It can be used 2cm from the subject, no problem.

[Dusty]

Just some tree blossoms I shot this morning with my Sigma 35 - 135.

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Dusty

[aster]

Hi,

Tom;

That suspended box of mixed variety of flowers is very cheerful.. I'm a fan of them...except when stormy weather conditions prevail.


Impressive ring flash test David. Love the subtle glitter of the tiny textural details on the petals... Certainly good diffusion of light.


Dusty;

That's nice white bloom. I always seem to get loads of light on my white blooms of plum trees and they lose some of the important detail..

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[aster]

My flowers come in the shape of tulips again. I find them to be very interesting, especially as they differ in shape and colours so much... And they make city life enjoyable, nice and playful for me!

Yildiz

ps: Greg, no saturation applied to any of these...I thought I'd foreinform you.

First, the odd beauties among the majority.

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[Birma]

The sun is shining outosde of my office window, and there are beautiful colours to see here - thanks DK, Dusty and Yildiz. What more could one want?

[Dr. Harout]

Apple


Cherry

[Juanito200]

DK- wow what an awesome shot!
Dusty- are those pear blossoms? They look very similar to the ones I had in my front yard. Nice
Aster- beautiful tulips as usual, very colorful.
Doc- I like that you used much more DOF on your cherry blossoms. Great detail
John

[aster]

Dr. Harout;

Those are very nice, sharp blooms. The fruits will be delicious this year!


John;

Thank you very much. You're very kind. Nothing as nobel and creative as your abstract forest series but they were fun to photograph..

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

Foreinform already? is that a word even? but I got a kick out of it anyway Those Tulip shots of yours are amazing Yildiz 'ol pal.
Doc, I think that is one of the best cherry blossom shots I've seen in a long time.
DK the Violet detail/density on the actual petals is really outstanding, but the yellow stamens are a little smudgy here and there, the A900 still hasn't solved the yellow problem then?
Greg

[aster]

Foreinform already? is that a word even? but I got a kick out of it anyway Those Tulip shots of yours are amazing Yildiz 'ol pal.
Greg

You know I wouldn't hesitate to be creative by now, don't you! I knew you'd understand my way around with words and what nots...
Thank you for the complements on the tulips. They certainly did not require my 'creativity' to become a tulip!

Yildiz

ps. It is recommended to anyone else to use the verb 'pre-inform' instead of my 'foreinform'. Not everyone can get what you mean like our Greg.

[Greg Beetham]

It's not only yellow that's a problem, it's red too, they can edge bleed very easily as well, the only solution I've found that partially works is to underexpose red slightly then you have a chance of fumbling around with the contrast/brightness to try and save those overlapped red edges...not always totally successfully if the red is of very similar exposure/contrast to begin with...hmmm reds and yellows are a problem area...still, Sony inherited that one from Minolta, anyone got any ideas?
Greg

ps. The other problem is, if one underexposes too much one can end up with muddy yellow and red tones instead of clean and bright like the original, which is probably an even worse problem than the original problem

[Birma]

Beautiful blossom Doc In the hedgerows the hawthorn and blackthorn seem to have sprung to life this week with a bit of sunshine. Hope the weather stays fine for the weekend and I can try and take some pictures.