After yesterday's stubborn Fuschia which appears not to know that it shouldn't still be in bloom, today we have the Christmas Rose which only came into flower last week!
It's rained all day today (again!) with a short respite about a half-hour before nightfall which gave me the chance to rush out to the garden to try to capture the lovely delicate Hellebores in the fading light. Like yesterday with the Fuschias, the wind was a problem and although I did get a reasonable shot or two - see my Doubletakes Album - I preferred this indoor shot which better captures the delicate beauty of these lovely winter flowers.
@joansmor You want me to divulge all my trade secrets Joan? OK then - I shot this using exactly the same set-up as for my 'pastry wheel' shot from 13 January. Hellebore lying on a mirror laid flat and lit by reflected light from a white ceiling. It's important that there is no downward throw from your lighting source and that the room is otherwise completely dark or it will show in the mirror. I used a studio strobe fitted with a soft-box pointed up to the ceiling, but an off-camera cobra flash would also get the job done. You can put gels on the light to create a coloured background or aim it off to the side as I did here to created a lightly graded background. Good luck - I look forward to seeing your results.
Okay Richard, sorry to make you divulge so much. I think I really just wanted to know if it was a reflection in a mirror. Since I have no lights I could never reproduce. But I get the idea now. I am really just beginning. Tomorrow I may buy a prime lens. I only have one lens and it is a zoom. Before I started this project I was primarily a landscape taker. On vac. with my dh I had some lovely shots. Now I want to take pictures of the world closer up. So I get curious when I see a great shot like the one above. But I truly realize I've a long way to go. If you want to chime in on lens purchase I would love it. My sister, after I explained why, thinks the prime is a good purchase.
@joansmor "since I have no lights I could never reproduce?" You might be surprised! Results might not be this lovely, but for a stationary subject in your own home, a floor lamp (or three) reflected against a white ceiling will have a similar effect. Worth a try, anway! I've had good luck with tabletop photography using ordinary household lights and improvised reflectors standing in for directions using off-camera strobe lights.
@therubysusan Thank you I actually thought I could use some of what he said in my own pictures in the future. I just need time to assimilate the information and a place to try it out.
Ian