When starting in the Botanical Gardens in the morning, I had a hard time getting inspiration for photographing. So looking for an idea, I decided to work on natural contrasts. The gardens surrounding the Conservatory provided ample subjects.
Working with the contrasting plants, trying to set up the frame to a pleasing composition proved to be a bit challenging. Moving back and forth, in and out I kept at it, hoping that my creative light bulb would go off.
Sometimes when you run into something difficult to do in life, don’t be an easy quitter. Keep at it and perseverance will prevail. After about 20 minutes of trying to capture contrasts, my creative juices began to flow and I started to begin feeling the shoot.
So moral of this story? Never give up! Keep trying and great rewards await you.
Post processing tip: I used to use Clarity quite a bit to sharpen my images. Allen Rokach likes to soften his floral and plant images by reducing clarity. Using this technique in these photos proved that reducing clarity with plant life does indeed make it more pleasing to the eye.
Categories: Flowers, Foot Prints, Washington DC
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
ah NATURE the most beautiful and startling master maker of contrasts such beautiful colours you have captured
You are too kind Will. Funny how o e thinks color comes only in flowers but when you start really looking at foliage the colors are endless!
Ahhh, I do love purple and green … 🙂
Those colors really do pop together don’t they?
Zing, they do 🙂
Thank you SO MUCH ! Hope all is well with you.
How could it not be, here in Paradise? 🙂
Hi Emily
Lovely photographs as ever, and for the first time I am actually looking beyond the lovely images to learn something about how you capture them!! You’ll make a photographer of me yet.
With love
Corinne
That would be wonderful Corinne! After all desire and interest is half the battle. It’s really helped my hectic spirit to slow down and calmly think through what it is I’m trying to do. Also getting out more on photo field trips is great fun!
You have found excellent examples to illustrate your theme…all wonderfully photographed! 🙂
Thank you so Phil! Thankfully trying to get this theme got me into the spirit of plant shooting. I was afraid I wouldn’t get my creative juice on for the workshop. The gardens provided so much to photograph if your willing to really look.
Dear Bella, I see nothing but inspiration in these gorgeous shots. Thank you for the great tips too. Always inspired to be here! Sharon
Thank you so much Sharon. You are too kind, and I appreciate your comments. Hope all is well with you.
Loving the contrasts with the pops of color – Amazing! Have a Beautiful Day:)
Nature’s colors always amaze me. Sometimes the foliage is more interesting than the flowers.
It’s so charming.
So happy you were able to enjoy this post.
Just lovely!!! I can’t wait to learn PS (is that what you’re referring to?) to play with these things…!! Such colors.
PS ! One needs to be a graphic designer to truly understand the power that PS has. Thus my love for lightroom. Which BTW, have you gotten it yet?
Woooo! Finally returning to my poor, poor blog! 🙂 I’m having the PS reinstalled, but it’s the latest and greatest! And, I still no NOTHING! Hahahahha!