You may recall me writing about photographing trilliums, and how it can be difficult coming up with a new way to look at them. A few years back now, fellow photographer Howard Grill put forth the trillium challenge as he was also experiencing the same blocks in trying new things. For sure there are probably infinite ways of processing images these days, and I really don’t like going down a different processing path “just because.” It has to feel right. So here I put forth a couple of attempts at trillium this year. They are much earlier, just like the bloodroot. In fact, I rarely see bloodroot and trillium blooming at the same time around here – and this year we have the tail end of bloodroot and the start of trillium overlapping.
The first one here is largely the result of a Lightroom preset. This image was intentionally made a bit “dreamy” by photographing this particular flower through a lot of other foliage. I ended up with a light green soft blur around the trillium. But even though that took on a different feel, this preset that desaturated much of that surrounding blur just seemed like a nice fit.
The second one here is just a single flower, nothing too special – but it was in such great condition, and standing all alone in front of the base of a tree, I couldn’t resist getting some shots of it. Topaz Detail really accented the lines in the petals and the leaves, and I used some layers in Photoshop to further give it a bit more character. I like the overall feel of the final image.
Finally, sometimes it is the leaves that make a flower image special. With trillium, I often look for flowers that have leaves that can be used as part of the composition. This particular one had leaves sticking out almost in a single plane, yet with wavy ridges that led right to the bloom. Obviously shallow DOF, but just enough to let you know what’s going on and where I want your eyes to flow.
I notice the grain especially in the first one and like the effect as it adds to the dreaminess for me. Or, is it because it cuts the dreaminess and acts as the balancing element that lifts the image to something very special? Which ever it is, it works for me and as always, when I visit your site I risk activating the urge to rush to my files and redo dozens of photographs in an attempt to experiment with new ideas for processing.
Very kind remarks Anita, thank you. Post-processing has certainly opened up the playground of opportunities.
I don’t think I ever see Trillium here…at least not along the coast. All of our poppies are in bloom though 🙂 I do like the processing on the first one. Looks very painterly and unique. They’re all beautiful.
I trade you a few trillium for some poppies! We don’t have many around here that are not domestic.
All, thank you very much. It is interesting to see which appeal to some over others.
@Tomas – yes, you are allowed to nitpick all you like! 🙂 You are seeing some of the effects of using a higher ISO which adds some ‘grain’ versus noise. I suppose I will leave that to the viewer if they find it objectionable or not. Personally I don’t mind it in these images – in fact, a little organic grittiness is nice now and then in our growing digital perfection world.
This is a beautiful flower which does not grow here where I live but thanks to you I can enjoy its beauty. I like all these 3 images but as well as others I am too drawn to the desaturated one mostly. The dreamy effect is even stronger the background that reminds sky with clouds. I think the longer you take photos of some specific subject the worse it is to take unique photo of it. Nevertheless you did a great job here and all are very nice.
If I could nitpick a bit I would mention the noise that quite strongly visibly on all three images. A poor light and higher ISO?
Mark,
I’m especially drawn to the first image as well. I think flowers lend themselves well to your dreamy interpretation and the desaturation seems perfect with a mostly monochromatic subject.
Picking a favorite is not easy nor will I. These are lovely flowers and new to my photography the past two years since moving to the Ohio Valley.
Mark, while all the images are wonderful in their own way, my taste connects a bit stronger with the first desaturated image, perhaps because it has a mysterious feel to it. 😉
Spring has gotten off to a bounding start here as well with blooms showing that I wouldn’t have expected until later next month.
That de-saturated one looks really unique. I can see a whole series of images with that look. Great work Mark.
Hi Mark…glad to see you are out there with the trillium. Things seem to have gone haywire with the timing of Spring this year and I fear I might miss them this go-round.
I really enjoy your images and the attempt to do something different and unique with a flower that is beautiful but seems to always look the same. I am particularly partial to the third ahot, which I think is really gorgeous and different while still looking ‘real’.
Funny how Spring is so uplifting and changes so rapidly, even day to day.