Focus ON: Spring Growth
This series called Focus ON will be dedicated to the art of photographing our unique area. There are places in the Shawnee Hills that are visually stunning and if one can acquire basic understanding of how their camera sees the world, they will be able to walk away with visual memories that will last a lifetime. Our first installment focuses on the abundance of spring growth.
Spring is an active time in nature. Energy given to us by the longer days has awakened our Shawnee Hills from its long hibernation. Now is the time to become intimate with the lush new growth. The macro world involving leaves and wildflowers are a favorite to photograph for many and they are a very patient bunch.
New Tree Growth @ Giant City
First we will focus on new tree leaf growth. The New Tree Growth @ Giant City photo is all about putting certain events together. The first and usually the most important component is light. If you are familiar with any photographic principles this is always high on the list. This photo takes full advantage of that concept. Sunshine is coming from the back of the leaves making them appear to glow. The background is a shadowed forest about 50 yards away. A long lens compresses the foreground and background making it seem isolated.
For those interested the details of the photo are the following: f/7.1, 1/400 sec, 300mm, ISO 200.
The second photo Ferne Clyffe Trout Lily uses a similar technique, but instead of using shadows it take full advantage of indirect light. This lily is on top of a rock allowing one to photograph the naturally dropping flower at a pleasant angle.
Ferne Clyffe Trout Lily
The background appears a total blue, but actually it is deep in the forest with trees in the background. A very shallow depth of field was to blur the trees so they were undistinguishable from the sky. The last technique involves a piece of reflective material bouncing light into shadows of the flower.
The details are as follows: f/3.5, 1/1000 sec, 105mm macro lens, ISO 100.
Of course there is more to spring than focusing on the macro world. Our next Focus ON will be dedicated to the wider angle view of spring.
Love the signs of spring!
Thanks cmartinphotography for your comment.
The signs of spring are very nice. It reminds me that there is a season of renewal to look forward to each year. It seems to refocus energy to where things look possible.
I will have to try to make a trip there sometime with my camera in hand of course!
Strange question, have you heard of Wamble Mountain? Is it part of Shawnee national forest?
Yes, it’s definitely worth the trip. I have not heard of Wamble Mountain. I googled it and went to mountainzone.com. I’ve driven by it, but am not for sure if it is in the Shawnee National Forest.