The Leaf or Not the Leaf? My Big Mistake? Lots on Flower Photography. And New SONY Used Gear Listings … « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

The Leaf or Not the Leaf? My Big Mistake? Lots on Flower Photography. And New SONY Used Gear Listings ...

What’s Up?

It’s cloudy here again today, Monday 6 APR 2020. I took yesterday afternoon off from photography as it was drizzling. I spent about 2 1/2hours alternating between crying and sobbing watching Forrest Gump on TIVO. I had not watched it in at least a dozen years. I had totally forgotten what an amazing movie it is. For many years, I felt that The Shawshank Redemption — I have watched that one at least 25 times over the years — should have won Best Picture in the 1994 Academy Awards. After last night, I realize that I was wrong. Way wrong. The screenplay (by Eric Roth based on the novel by Winston Groom) was captivating and moving, the acting (Tom Hanks — winner: Best Actor, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise — nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Mykelti Williamson, & Sally Field) was too good, and the cinematography was outstanding as well. I could not believe how many great scenes I had forgotten and how many historically-important occurrences had been written into the story. Watching it again was time well-spent.

I will be heading down to the lake again this morning. I have upped my daily swim from 44 to 50 lengths (with 88 to a mile).

Coming tomorrow: two great Osprey landing sunset silhouettes.

COVID-19 Protocol Updates

Some might be interested in learning more from Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt about the virus and various and effective treatment protocols. You can view it here on the Sophia Education website.

This image was created yesterday at Indian Lake Estates, FL — 5 APR 2020. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (at at 339mm) and the 61-mega-pixel monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial. ISO 800: 1/100 sec. at f/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 9:09am on a cloudy-dark morning.

Tracking Flexible Spot M AF-C was active at the moment of exposure.

Pickerelweed blossom

The Leaf or Not the Leaf?

Would you have included the leaf in the image design? Should I have removed the leaf during the image optimization? Either way, be sure to let us know why. Comments on an alternate composition are welcome.

My Big Mistake

What was my biggest mistake in the creation of this image? (Hint: I was being lazy …)

SONY 100-400

As noted here many times previously, the .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 (the same as the Canon 100-400 II), is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime.

New Used Gear Listings

Please note: the purchase of any item below will include a $50.00 discount on the almost-finished SONY e-Guide.

Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens in very good condition for a very low $1650.00. The body of the lens is in excellent condition. The glass is perfect except for a tiny scratch on the front element that does not affect performance. The sale includes the lens hood, the original box, the soft case that came with the lens, the front lens cap, the rear lens cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick via e-mail.

The .98 meter minimum focusing distance of the SONY 100-400 is a huge plus. It comes in very handy when working with mega-tame birds and the lens can be effective as a quasi-macro lens for large bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), frogs, all but very small flower blossoms, and lots more. In addition, it is a more than capable flight lens that is a lot lighter than the 200-600. The 100-400 was my workhorse lens on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. As it sells new for $2,498.00 you can save a very neat $848.00 by grabbing Patrick’s lens.

Sony A7R III Digital Mirrorless Camera Body

IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony A7R III Mirrorless Camera Body in excellent plus condition for a very low $1690.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick via e-mail.

The 7r iii performed superbly as my workhorse camera body on the 2019 Galapagos Photo-Cruise of a Lifetime. The image files are superb and it was not bad for flight photography. As this body sells new for $2,798.00 you can save a handsome $1108.00 by grabbing Patrick’s 7r iii.

Sony A9 Digital Mirrorless Camera Body

Sold first day of listing!

IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a Sony A9 in excellent plus condition for $2390.00. The sale includes the original battery, the charger, the original product box, the body cap, and insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick via e-mail.

The a9, the original AF king, offers superb autofocus that absolutely kills for flight photography. Virtually every image is sharp on the eye. Many feel that the AF system on the a9 ii is no better. As the a9 sells new for $4498.00 you can save an incredible $2108.00! artie

Sony VG-C3EM Vertical Grip for α9, α7R III, & α7 III

Sold first day of listing!

IPT veteran and dear friend Patrick Sparkman is offering a used Sony VG-C3EM Vertical Grip for α9, α7R III, & α7 III in like-new condition for $220.00. The sale includes insured shipping via Fed Ex Ground. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.

Please contact Patrick via e-mail.

This accessory sells new for $348.00. artie


flower-guide-cover-1200-w

The Art of Flower Photography, a 203 page eBook/a link to the PDF will be sent via e-mail: $29.00.

The Art of Flower Photography by Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris

You can learn everything e about this e-book here, or order your copy here.

Video: The Art of Flower Photography

In this B&H Event Space video, two of the world’s premier photographers of flora and fauna — Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito — share the techniques they use to create dramatic, sharp, well-composed, properly exposed images of flowers and flower fields. Denise does great things with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS lens, while artie often goes to longer focal lengths—he has been seen photographing tulips at Keukenhoff Gardens, Holland, with a 600mm lens and a teleconverter. In addition to standard techniques, the video ends with Ippolito and Morris showing a wide range of abstract floral images and describing a variety of creative artistic effects such as multiple exposures, sharp/soft blending, texture overlays, warping a flower, creating zoom/twirls, in-camera blurs, and many others.

Click here to see the video.

18 comments to The Leaf or Not the Leaf? My Big Mistake? Lots on Flower Photography. And New SONY Used Gear Listings …

  • Normally, I would say no to the leaf, but in this case, its a yes for me.
    Because its only a small part, its almost like its a peek-a-boo as its
    rising from the frame.

    BTW, I watched Shawshank for the first time about a month ago. I’m
    in the opposite boat. Before Shawshank, I would’ve agreed to Gump,
    but me personally, I just think Shawshank is superb.

    Living in Ohio, I actually visited the prison. I think after experiencing first
    hand on what inmates might have had to deal with, made me appreciate
    the movie even more.

  • avatar Terry

    The leaf must go. Since the flower it’s self is on an angle, if in camera, when you made the picture, you should have positioned the stem of the flower in the Lower Left corner of the grid. This would make your eye travel from lower left to the upper right corner, without interruption. This is what I have been taught. To my eye since the flower has multiples blooms on one stem and the stem has already formed on an angle, why not take advantage of nature. I love the muted background color! All just my opinion. Thank you for the beautiful picture of a beautiful flower.

  • avatar Andy

    Hmmm. The problem I’m having is my eyes go directly to the leaf. To my eyes, it’s the dominant element in the image. I wouldn’t remove in post, because the image would go out of balance. I might try some different compositions with the flower placed differently in the frame. Me thinks you have several versions of this:)
    Mistake? My guess is not grabbing your tripod, but I don’t see that it hurt you.

  • avatar Ted Willcox

    Where you have placed the main subject, the flower, the leaf needs to be there to balance the composition. Looks good to me!

  • avatar Steve

    I like the leaf — it balances the composition.

  • avatar jeff walters

    Leaf is no problem for me. Too much manipulation is for madmen which you most certainly are not!….well…. I like the flower. Thanks for yesterdays blog I think maybe you did that one for me. Thanks again for all your support and tips and patience with us knuckleheads. Be safe. God Bless One and All.

  • I’m voting for the leaf, too, for the balancing, since the flower stalk is not centered. The depth of field doesn’t bother me because the front flowers are tack sharp. So I can’t find any hint of lazy unless more negative space is need on the right and the leaf and flower stalk closer to each other? So maybe your moving more to the right might have done that?

  • avatar Mike Cristina

    The old saying “Sticks out like a sore thumb” comes to mind. Maybe if you had moved left or right, bringing the two closer together it may have worked.

    Thanks, Mike

  • avatar maggi Fuller

    No to the leaf…. In fact, I would have cropped a third off the left of the image (including the leaf) to make a tall, narrow flower only portrait! I am in the minority however!

  • avatar Ruthie

    I’ all for the leaf,
    Ruthie

  • avatar Esther Corley

    I, too, think the leaf gives a good balance to the photo.

  • avatar Therese Scheller

    I like the leaf, it is like a little buddy for the larger flower. Without it I believe it would be just another flower pic.

  • avatar James Saxon

    The leaf balances the negative space in the image. I would have used a tripod and zoomed out a bit more to give a little more space around the edges of the frame.

  • avatar Warren Howe

    I think your mistake may have been shooting handheld and a slow shutter speed.

  • avatar Richard Curtin

    Would vote FOR the leaf. It seems to balance the flower in the frame. Just guessing but you should have used a tripod. Might have allowed a smaller aperture/ more depth of field.

Leave a Reply to Mike Cristina Cancel reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>