Month: October 2017

Flora Photography, Leaves

Green

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on Green
The image below is from today’s 6 mile walk. (I was hoping I’d find this patch of green again, as I had only shot it with the iPhone before.)

As I was working with these fantastic leaves a young man drove up and got out of his car. He asked me if I knew what they were (I didn’t) and then he explained that where he came from (Samoa) they use them to wrap some kind of beef (if I’m remember correctly) in. So I then said, “Well, maybe YOU know what it’s called, then?” “NO, but my mom and dad do.” “That’s what parents are for!” I replied.

 
I love having conversations with people when I’m doing camera work. Funny that this introvert suddenly enjoys that, right?
 
In any case, I do believe I figured out what the leaves are.
 
Taro Leaf, 10.24.17Taro_Leaf,_10.24.17.jpg
Floral Photography, Goodnight Flower

Goodnight Flower

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on Goodnight Flower

Ceiba speciosa, 10.20.17
(This Brazilian tree grows a few blocks away from me. One year as I was shooting the home owner came out and chatted … and then showed me other plants she had that she thought I’d enjoy shooting. I love this friendly neighborhood.If you look closely you might see water on the petals. Those are called raindrops — something we celebrated, to be sure!)
Ceiba_speciosa,_10.20.17.jpg

Floral Photography

Not What I Saw!

by patricia emerson mitchell2 Comments on Not What I Saw!

This is a first shot of a flower I also worked with yesterday. Both times I neglected to see the little bits of “mess” on the flower: when I can see a flower is a bit dirty I tend to blow on it to see what I can get off. Sometimes I can’t do much and I do a bit — or a LOT! — of clean up at home. Can you see the little strands of something on the right side? They just scream at me now. But I doubt very much this will be a photograph I’ll work on so I’m sharing it “as is” to give you an idea of what I work with sometimes. And, believe me, some flowers are a whole lot messier. Some I simply can’t fix. Poor little flowers.

Some might cry “Liar!” due to my clean up work. But, as I wrote above, I didn’t see the stuff on this flower with the naked eye, and what I like to show the viewer is what I actually DID see.

However, even if that weren’t the case, a photograph isn’t always truth. Certainly journalistic photography shouldn’t meddle with truth, but for art it’s just fine. At least in my opinion.

So call me a truth meddler.

First Shot: Gerbera, 10.19.17First_Shot-_Gerbera,_10.19.17.jpg