Yes, I do still shoot wildflowers. It was a tough day for them, wind-wise, but I had a go while I was at the Prairie River this past Sunday. The place is covered in so many species that I curse the breeze every time I’m there. Backgrounds are also a challenge, particularly with tall, solitary flowers like this Nodding trillium.
This time I tried out a little dramatic lighting with my LED panel - I wish I could have gotten the camera lower, but I couldn’t and this was the tallest nodding trillium I could find. I moved the light around to many positions and angles, but like this one because it isn’t catching the stem too much and shows off the texture in the lead petal and those marvelous leaves. Nodders are becoming a favorite. Makes me almost forget my beloved Painted trillium from New Hampshire.
Specific Feedback Requested
Anything to improve is welcome
Technical Details
Camera on GorillaPod, LED panel on an arm so I could stay close to the camera to see the screen, plus it’s easier to control on an articulating arm than it is just to hold it. No CPL for this since I needed all the light I could get.
Lr for initial RAW work including a little exposure boost and some white balance adjustment. The usual adds for clarity, texture, sharpening and nr. I wanted to keep it soft though. Photoshop to remove a distraction and then use a color mask to bring up the salmon in the stamens. Applied clarity to the mid-tones only using a luminosity mask. This adds nice definition without getting too crunchy. Then I used the Saturation mask to isolate the over-the-top greens and tame them. The idea was drama with softness, like a screen queen of the 1940s.