I had used this photo in a macro side challenge, so I know others have seen it before, but I really like the image.
When I first found DPC I was inspired by photographers like Dax and Ursula, and their beautiful macros. Their work made me realize what kind of photos I liked, and gave me a goal of what I wanted to shoot for myself. I had searched and hunted for the big puffballs that Ursula uses so that I could practice getting a shot similar to hers. Finally, I saw them at the side of the road one day when I was visiting in Pennsylvania, and made the person driving stop so I could grab it. I put them in a shoebox and brought them back to New York.
I tried several times to photograph them, but nothing ever came out the way I wanted it to. I finally came up with this shot during the macro side challenge and was thrilled that I had captured the essence of the photos that I had been inspired by.
This was my description of how I shot it from the original posting:
Sat in front of a window, but the color in the background was dull. I had printed out a photo the other day, but was out of yellow ink in the printer cartridge... the paper was lying on top of the recycle pile, so I held it up behind the seed pod to give some extra color. Used the 50mm lens with a reversing ring.
So as one commenter noted, this may not be a subject worthy of this challenge, but I think many people put photos in which were meaningful to them. This is a shot that represents that for me. And to have so many comments comparing this shot to one of a photographer that I have admired since I started here is a amazing. I just need to find out how to capture that essence more often.
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What an awesome job and thanks for sharing your tutorial. I'm not for certain but the seed pod looks very much like the Oyster Plant after it has bloomed. It grows wild in your area. You can purchase the seed online and they are one of the edible plants. Great Job!
Melanie, this so so absolutely beautiful (although I am biased, hehe). You did a wonderful job with this image, I love the play of sharp/not sharp, and the contrast between the golden seed pods and the clear blue/greens pink/purples in the background.
I have been considering using a 50mm reversed, and after seeing this I will definitely try it now (after I buy the reversing ring). So now you can count yourself as being inspiration for me :)
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments now. I absolutely LOVE the soft pastel colors in this composition! It takes on the aspects of a watercolor painting. Those soft hues play well with the subject and help to further convey to the viewer the feeling of touch. We can 'feel' the softness of the subject just by looking at it. I also love the lines in this composition. You have them 'sweeping' at a diagonal which adds further visual appeal and interest. I also love the textures I see here too. There is the cottony spindly threads that are between the brown spires that also invoke the idea of softness.
There are only a few DPC photographers who have what it takes to pull off this shot. Your sense of lighting and the exquisite use of DOF here is genius.
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