Nature's Beauty
(Flowering Garlic Chive)

 

I photographed these flowering Garlic Chive flowers in Youngsville, Louisiana. The botanical name is “Allium Tuberosum” (commonly referred to as Garlic Chives, Chinese Chives, Oriental Garlic and Chinese Leek). Allium Tuberosum has strap-shaped leaves unlike either onion or garlic, and straight thin white-flowering stalks that are much taller than the leaves. Both the leaves and the stalks of the flowers can be used as a flavoring. This plant also taste more like garlic than chives.

 

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/250s at f/7.1, IOS: 400, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Spot, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Date: 08/16/2012 at 4:42 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

 

Copyright © 2013 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nature's Beauty (Periwinkle)



The Periwinkle (aka: Vinca - Latin: vincire “to bind, fetter”) is native to Europe, northwest Africa and Southwest Asia. Avid gardeners in Asia, Europe, India and the United States have been cultivating Periwinkles for centuries. Periwinkles had also been grown in the past by herbalists in the belief of their medicinal properties. Periwinkles grow best in warm climates.

 

See the following Wikipedia link to learn more about the Periwinkle (Vinca).

 

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Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/125s at f/4.5, IOS: 200, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Matrix, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: 0.8 Meters, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Date: 06/27/2012 at 7:10 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Nik Software, Color Efex Pro 4

 

Copyright © 2013 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nature's Beauty

 

I photographed the above Purple Coneheads in Youngsville, Louisiana. In post processing I decided to increase the contrast of this image in-order to give it just a little-bit of a surreal look. When photographing Botanicals (plant-life) you need to take the time to walk around the plant to find the best angles. There may be many. Photograph them all. You also need to look beyond your subject to find the best backgrounds to enhance your image. In the above photograph I used the tall grasses as a backdrop. If you take a little time to study your subject and the surroundings you may find that half of the work has already been done before you even start post processing.

 

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Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G lens, Exposer: 1/125s at f/9.0, IOS: 400, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV, Metering Mode: Spot, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Date: 08/16/2012 at 5:24 pm, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 & Nik Software – Color Efex Pro 4

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Shades of Gray

Botanical photography is mostly recognized for the stunning colors and textures that flowers and plant-life in-general produces. But, I find that sometimes even flowers can look exceptional in a monochrome format. The above photograph was processed using Adobe’s Photoshop CS6 and Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 4. The original RAW image from my camera only required modest adjustments in Photoshop CS6. I used two Presets in Color Efex Pro 4 to further enhance this image. The first preset I selected is called Big Sky. This preset is a somewhat high contrast preset, I then chose the B+W preset. The B+W preset is exactly what you would expect it to be, an excellent black and white preset which complimented the Big Sky preset nicely. Nik Software’s Presets allows you to try preconfigured setting and then you can make further adjusting from the selected preset. You can also combine presets for even more creative imagery. Nik Software brings value to Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom products.

To learn more about Nik Software’s Presets go to: Nik Software

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Metadata: Nikon D3 with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Exposure: 1/250s at f/7.1, ISO: 400, Focal Length: 105mm, Exposure Mode: Manual, Metering Mode: Spot, Filter: Ultra Violet, Subject Distance: Unknown, Lighting: Off Camera Speedlight (Nikon SB-800), Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS6 & Nik Software – Color Efex Pro 4, Date: 8/16/2012 at 4:42 pm

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nature's Beauty

The above flower is commonly referred to as a Blue Butterfly (Rotheca Myricoides) which is from the Butterfly Bush. Its common name is obviously derived from the flowers look and shape. The Butterfly Bush is a fast growth evergreen shrub that can get up to 10-feet tall and wide and its leaves are 3 to 4-inches long. It is a partial shade plant that requires regular watering. The Butterfly Bush was originally native to East Africa but is now enjoyed in many warm regions of the world.

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To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G lens, Subject Distance: 0.79 meters, Exposure: 1/125s at f/5.6, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight (off camera), Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 06/27/2012 at 07:12 pm

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nature's Beauty

I have decided to start a series called Nature’s Beauty. In this series I plan on featuring botanicals, landscapes and wildlife images.

The above Purple Conehead was photographed at the home of Denise Files in Lafayette, Louisiana. Denise is quite the gardener and my sister-in-law. I only had about an hour to photograph her gardens because the afternoon sun was setting. The plant-life in her gardens is so extensive I could have easily spent hours photographing her floral plants. Please note that I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to plant-life names. But, I will endeavor to provide plant-life names and background information when possible.

See my Facebook page for additional Photography and Photographic Art discussions.
 

To view my Photographic Art visit: Windows of Photography

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G lens, Subject Distance: 0.89 meters, Exposure: 1/125s at f/4.5, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violet, Lighting: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight (off camera), Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Date: 06/27/2012 at 07:01 pm

Copyright © 2012 Windows of Photography, All Rights Reserved

Assassin Bug

The above photograph of an Assassin Bug was taken Thanksgiving day in Lake Charles, Louisiana using a Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8 lens. The above Assassin Bug may not look like a predator but it is. Fully-grown Assassin Bugs can range from 4 to 40 millimeters. The above Assassin Bug looked to have been about 25 millimeters (1.0 inches). Assassin Bugs have a long rostrum (feeding tube) which they use to inject lethal saliva to liquefy the insides of their prey for feeding. Assassin Bugs colors can range from brown, black, red and orange.

For more information about the Assassin Bug see the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin_Bug

I had recently purchased a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8 lens.  Simply put, I love this lens! But, evan though this is a great lens it is not a forgiving lens. The focal point can be very small and tight (macro) and you must use a tri-pod (maybe a mono-pod could work). I have also read that this NIKKOR lens is a very good portrait lens.

For more information about Nikon's Macro 105mm lens see the link below:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2160/AF-S-VR-Micro-NIKKOR-105mm-f%252F2.8G-IF-ED.html

Visit my web-site: “Windows of Photography” to see more of my photographic art.

Technical Data: Nikon D3 with a Nikon NIKKOR AF-S VR Macro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, Subject Distance: 0.4 meters. Exposure: 1/500s at f/5.6, Focal Length: 105mm, Filter: Ultra Violat, Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Date: 11/24/2011 at 12:44 pm