double calla lily

no green hibiscus for today. i tried, although it does exist apparently. in another universe methinks.

so i walked down to the market again today actually looking for something different to eat. and because i know my luck ran out on that hibiscus thingie, i settled for two bunches of callas because they were on sale for $5 a bunch with six stems each.

in mid-january, i read in the discussion pages about how this one 365er uses a coloured bottle (red or blue i think) for his shots. he puts the bottle against the camera's flash so that the subject would be awashed in the bottle's colour. i actually tried it but it was an epic fail at the time so you didn't get to see my shot.

so for the green photo for today, i thought i'd try it again. i used an empty bottle of perrier against the camera's flash and i force flashed the shot. this is the result. if you look closely, there is an anomaly in this flower: it has two bracts, the main one and a smaller one where the spadix is. it is the only one in all the bunches at the store. so now you know that one of these days i will have more calla lilies in my albums.

boosted the colour in ribbet. i'm not happy that the shadows were quite stark but with the forced flash it was bound to happen.

thank you for your kind views and comments. they are much appreciated.

[bkb in the city]

Very cool shot summerfield. Me thinks you did well

[summerfield]

@bkbinthecity - you're too kind, brian. thank you, my friend.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Cool idea- I will have to remember that! Your rainbow is really coming out nicely with these bold colors. Great job!!

[Dixie Goode]

I love callas and they grow here in huge fields to raise bulbs. Can you reduce the shadow and still have a picture you like? I like the harshness of the shadow myself and love the double flower which I have never seen before

[summerfield]

@olivetreeann - i'm glad this turned out quite well. i had to do test shots of the lily on its own then used the flash and bottle when i was happy with my angle. i really wanted to show the double bracts otherwise the photo would just be a green photo, non? thank you, ann.

[summerfield]

@pandorasecho - my test shots didn't have dark shadows and the lily was still vivid even in the white background. but because i had to force the flash to get the green tone, it resulted in having dark shadows. but i'm glad that you like it this way. and this is also the first time i've seen the double bracts. thank you, dixie.

[Pam Hawkes]

Sounds like an interesting procedure. You have achieved a great result. Nice job!

[karenann]

I agree with @pandorasecho The shadow gives it such beautiful depth and definition. Love this ... fantastic capture!! Right on the mark, girlfriend.

[Danielle Greenwood]

oooh so cool!

[Livia]

Very creative way of getting the lily to look green in your shot! And it's a gorgeous green!

[summerfield]

@pamfromcalgary - thank you, pam. one of my hits and misses although this time time it's a hit. :-)

[summerfield]

@karenann - okay, if you like it, i like it, too, now. thank you, karenann.

[summerfield]

@danig - aha! glad you like it. goes with your eyes, matey! thank you.

[summerfield]

@myautofocuslife - and all it needed was a little jumping spider to complete the cool look. yes? thank you, livia. :-)

[Carolyn Sue]

wow -- this is REALLY cool! Very strong and dramatic!

[alia_801]

Great idea for the green capture! I really like the contrasts with the shadows :)

[MaryBeth Dailey]

What a cool process to get this! I had never heard of holding colored glass near the flash to do this! Wow. I need to try it!

[summerfield]

@cscecil - thank you, CS.

@alia_801 - thank you, alia.

@espyetta - gotta try things once for the sake of the art, MB. :-) can't wait to see what you come up with. thank you.

[Beau]

Great idea for the color. Sorta the same thing I tried on my water drops, but with celophane. You did so much better here. The lighting thing is real tricky. I wonder if it depends on the distance from the flash to whatever your using for color.

[summerfield]

@losthorizon - the bottle was right in front of the flash, i could hear the little 'flick' sound of the flash hitting the bottle, then i touched the bottle right after and it was quite 'hot'. so that close. thank you, beau.