10.09.13 .... Yellow buds

On a walk at nightfall, I spotted these yellow flowers overhanging the sidewalk.

Panasonic LX3.

10.09.07 .... Datura

Datura flowers are closed during the day and open at dusk. Bees were eagerly buzzing about this huge clump of them in a neighbor's garden at 7PM.

Huge dramatic flowers, strong fragrance, lush green foliage make for a spectacular plant. One must be cautious around this reportedly easy to grow plant/weed. Daturas are extremely toxic to humans and animals.

Panasonic LX3.

10.08.28 .... flower with a pocket camera

You can make REALLY high quality flower photos with a little point and shoot camera if you are careful. This is a small bloom on a big pot of chrysanthemums.

For this photo I used my tiny Panasonic Lumix point and shoot camera (see it here) - with the same care that as if I was using a big professional camera.

I did the following:

1. Waited until the flower was in full shade
2. Used a tripod to hold the camera steady
3. Set the camera on lowest ISO for best quality
4. Used self-timer to avoid any chance of camera shake
5. Carefully set the autofocus point and f-stop to get best depth of field
6. Set white balance to Shade setting (looked better than Auto White Balance)

10.08.11 .... Seen around town

Sunflowers near a sidewalk. Panasonic LX3.


Bird in the bridge. Nikon D300 with 50-135mm manual focus lens.

10.08.10 .... Neighborhood Flowers

This neighbor had beautiful yellow flowers near the sidewalk.
I stayed on the sidewalk and carefully composed a few handheld shots in the shaded areas.

Nikon D300 with 135mm manual focus lens.


This cosmos was in a more accessible area - so I brought my tripod and made a nice sharp image.

Nikon D300 with 80-200mm manual focus lens.

10.08.04 .... More sunflowers

I returned to yesterday's location to try more photos in the morning with a better camera.

Then did several hours of scouting to find some better fields of sunflowers. Let's see if I can make some really good images tomorrow!

Nikon D700 with105mm f2.5 manual focus lens (top), with 35mm Zeiss lens (bottom).

10.08.03 .... Crops

Some very nice scenes just north of Erie today.

We drive by the irrigator all the time, the late day light was nice. Same for the field of sunflowers about 5 minutes from there.

Panasonic LX3 pocket camera.

10.07.18 .... On a flower top

A ladybug eats. A spider stalks...

Canon G3 point and shoot camera.

10.05.21 .... Lilacs

Our lilac bush is flowering beautifully. The most blooms it's had in 15 years.

I cut some and put them in our newly renovated bathroom.

Canon G3 pocket camera.

10.05.08 .... Tulips

Tulips in our backyard - 2nd week of May - right on schedule!

Nikon D300 with 70-300mm lens at 300mm. 1/400 sec. f7.1 ISO 800

10.04.27 .... Tulips from above

To make good flower photos you must have soft light - no direct sun. Just after sunset is a good time - or choose a flower bed that gets full shade at a certain time of day. You'll want a tripod. Our front flower bed is in full shade every day after 3PM. Tulips emerging from catnip.

Nikon D300 with 55mm micro lens at 1 second f16 ISO 200, tripod.

10.04.21 .... Dandelion

I like dandelions. I think they are pretty flowers even if they are regarded as pesky weeds. Such a pure yellow complementing the green grass.

Nikon D300 with 105mm f4 micro lens. 1/500s f5.6 ISO 200

10.04.20 .... Tulip

Outside the Erie town hall is a large bed of tulips. Here's a nice one.

Nikon D300 with 80-200mm f4 lens at minimum focus distance (about 3 feet). Around 150mm at 1/200s f11 at ISO 400. Used a tripod - essential for this kind of photo because precise focusing is challenging even with Live View.

10.04.19 .... Apple blossom

The numerous apple trees in downtown Erie are blooming.

Nikon D300 with 55mm micro lens at 1/500s f8 ISo 200.

10.04.13 .... Daffodils another try

I like these daffodil photos better than those I did yesterday. See what you think.

For these I brought my flash and softbox outside to the flower bed. Even though it was breezy, the flash stopped all motion and made nice crisp pictures. I don't mind the background going dark - it lets the flower be the star of the show!

Nikon D300 with 80-200mm f4 manual focus lens for the first photo. Same lens with 5T closeup diopter for the 2nd photo. SB-800 flash in a handheld little softbox just to the left of the flower provided ALL the light for the photos. An SU-800 remote controller on the camera triggered the flash. I used the camera self-timer so I had a few seconds to move the softbox into position. 1/250 sec at f16 ISO 200.

10.04.12 .... Daffodil

Spring is happening. Crocuses are about over and the daffodils are now blooming in our front flower bed.

Nikon D300 with 105mm f4 micro at f16.

10.04.04 .... Crocus closeup

Crocus closeup - note the bright orange pollen that was dropped on the edge of a blossom by a busy bee.

Nikon D300 with 80-200mm f4 manual focus zoom plus 5T closeup diopter. Multiple images were stacked or more depth of field.

10.02.05 .... Flower closeup

Click picture to view larger.

Flower from 2 week old bouquet - still looks good.

Nikon D300 with 105mm f4 micro lens with 52mm extension tube. Lens set at f16, 1/200s ISO 200. About 1:1 magnification. Closeup SB-800 flash in a mini soft box.

10.01.22 .... Anniversary Bouquet

Click to view larger

Sally and I have two anniversaries a year - the anniversary of the day we met and our wedding day anniversary. These flowers I got her for our meeting day anniversary - 7 incredible years!

Nikon D300 with 75-150mm f3.5 lens at f16 1/160s ISO 400. Flash bounced off the ceiling.