Something I was thinking about when processing this lady slipper image was how gritty and ‘hard looking’ it was becoming, and how that is normally the opposite of how flowers are portrayed. Perhaps one might stereotype flower photographs as being ‘pretty’, ‘delicate’,'soft’, or even to the point of sensual ala Georgia O’Keeffe. The low angle view I shot this at and fairly shallow DOF also contributes to a light and airy feeling to an image.
What happens when we then decide to take an opposite direction in how the final image is processed with a harder, stronger approach? When we start going in the opposite direction of the stereotype, some interesting things may happen. Different aspects end up being emphasized and perhaps what was a yin-dominant image becomes yang dominant. Do you think this can create some type of conflict to the viewer of the image? Or does it create more interest? Do some subjects accept a certain “look” more than others? It is an interesting thing to think about.
As photographers, we have more control than ever on how our images are processed. and presented in their final form. Â. Processing has become an artform in itself as the finishing touch to a photograph.Â. So thinking about this important last step in creation of your image can result in an entirely new set of questions and considerations. Â. In the field we try to consider flattering light, flattering angles, depth of field – all to portray our subjects in the best possible ways. Â. Â. When it comes to post-capture, is the box now wide open or still limited to what a subject may or may not accept in portrayal?
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Quite a few nature photographers carry around a black velvet cloth with them when they photograph wildflowers. The purpose is to completely get rid of distracting background elements and it can create quite a dramatic effect complimenting the subject.
I don’t use this technique very much because I tend to go for more natural background colors. But for this particular pair of yellow lady slippers, they were in an area that was pretty cluttered. I had a piece of dark grey mat board in my car, and decided to give it a try. Of course, this yielded a grey background, and not a black one.
By setting a Photoshop Levels black point on the background, and then masking back in the flowers and leaves, it acheived that black velvet look. The mat board simply helped create a consistent looking background and made the masking job a lot easier.Â. It would work much better with the black velvet cloth I mentioned.
It does create a lot of drama, and it tends to take on a studio look versus “shot in the field.” Not everyone likes this type of shot, and I don’t think you see many of them in magazines or books because that black is a pain for printers.Â. Perhaps a black cloth is destined for your camera bag?
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I got most of my way through editing my fox shots from this past weekend. The more I use Lightroom, the more I appreciate its features in being able to sort through a day’s shoot and do very quick editing of the keepers, shots destined for the trashcan, and the best of the lot. More shots are now up in my nature photography gallery.
I mentioned in the prior post that perhaps the ultimate sign of being with trusting wildlife is if they go to sleep in front of you. I suppose it also offers up a sign they don’t expect any entertainment from you either. Once you get the shot of them sleeping, there isn’t much to do but watch them sleep. It can be quite a peaceful zen moment.
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Anyone who has been following this blog for awhile knows that red foxes have evaded me for many, many years despite several efforts on my part to be hidden, in the right place at the right time, even using tracking during winter to find probable den sites. If not, you can see these prior posts about it here, here, and here. The images I have seen from other photographers that have had the opportunity were forms of cruel and usual punishment! Ok, just pure jealousy on my part, but painful to think about nonetheless.
Perhaps because I followed all the “nature photographer mantras” on trying to make the opportunity happen – learn about habitat, tracking, patience, and putting in the time in the field made the frustration larger than normal for me. All of which didn’t yield a single image. The one thing I was missing.. LUCK! We like to think it is a result of all of our planning and time in the field, but it plays a big role.
Well, that wait ended unexpectedly yesterday with my early morning drive up to Tawas Point for spring bird migration. Though the day was not very productive for me with birds, imagine my excitement when I found a fox den complete with resident kits! I saw an adult hunting earlier and was trying to follow where it may be bringing food. It paid no attention to me being around at all. But they have a sneaky way of not going directly back to their dens. So I lost it, but ran into others that saw it and knew of the den. They kindly told me of the general area to look in, and I found it.
Well, the rest of the day seemed to go crazy with encounters with these foxes. The kits would walk away from the den without the mother, and often went right down trails where people were bird watching. Surprised quite a few of them actually. Then they would return for a bit and go to sleep. And since they went to sleep with me and several others nearby, I certainly knew we were not intruding on them. We still kept our distance. It turns out these particular kits were local celebrities because they had appeared in a local paper, and many people had come out to look for them. Another photographer had mentioned he had already spent several weekends with them. Regardless, I was like a kid in a candy store for the first time.
So my wait is finally over. I have many other images to share as soon as I have time to process them all. But I had to share at least just one from a very good day. So what birds did I see? I don’t remember. 
See you in the woods,
Mark
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Today is Endangered Species Day. From the name, it is obvious what it is about, but if you want a little more info and background, you can head over to this site. So what do you do for this day? Well, the Endangered Species Coalition certainly has a lot of good suggestions. I think the first step would be simple education.
Head on over to Google and type in your state, city, county, country, province, whatever local region you may be from plus the words “endangered species” and learn a little about what is stuggling to survive in your area. For example, I found this list by county in Michigan and learned a few things. Of course I knew about the wolf, karner butterfly, piping plover and kirtlands warbler. But I didn’t know about the Rayed Bean mussel that is being considered. One of the habitat’s listed is the Clinton River. Heck, the river is a 10 minute walk from my house! I also didn’t know the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake was being considered for listing here.
From that search, usually you will turn up some protection activities that you may want to donate to or become involved in. Nature organizations that buy critical habitat to protect it from development are some of the key preservation activities we all need to support. In Michigan, the Michigan Nature Association has been doing this for decades. The Nature Conservancy does this across the country just to name a couple. Of course, without the habitat, the species that make these lists have little chance for survival.
So get to Googling, learn a bit more than you knew yesterday, and help spread the word. Thanks!
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