The June 'Picture this Photo Contest' in Gardening Gone Wild is called "Show the Motion."
I found this quite a daunting subject, but as I had entered last month I kind of wanted to try again. Not being a photographer really, (just someone who likes taking pictures of her garden), I wasn't sure how to get motion. Terms like ISO settings are completely foreign to me. I mostly use a small digital Olympus point and shoot, but we do have a bigger, fancier, more complicated, Nikon that has lots of buttons. The Nikon mostly makes me nervous. So I took a few pictures of the Texas Bluebell, and although I think they look like they are blowing in the wind, I'm pretty sure this is not what Josh McCullough is looking for.
See? They are blowing in the wind. Then I read a helpful hint he mentioned in the comments that suggested using the 'fireworks scene' setting. So I thought I'd give that a try. That was fun, but I was feeling annoyed that I couldn't figure out how to get motion from the big scary camera. So I decided to sit down and press every button in every combination to see what I could find. WELL! Under 'advanced operation' (a place I had yet to venture into), I found you could choose "show water flowing". AH HA! I think Josh said something about water in his description, so I decided to give that a whirl.
Here you can see the Texas Bluebell looking ghostly and vaporous. Below is a mysterious Echinacea shot done with 'fireworks' setting, but it is just a litle dark. I like it a lot though.
Then I decided to try again with the 'show water flowing' setting, the next day in the late afternoon sun.
The photo I finally chose for the photo contest is the one below. I like the way the Echinacea looks almost painterly and impressionistic with the stripey bamboo in the background. It also almost looks as though you can see the shafts of sunlight streaking across the picture.
So There you have it. If nothing else I had fun trying new things, and I figured out a new setting on the big, scary camera, which I no longer find quite as intimidating.
I too am still figuring out my camera. Lots of trial and error. I have tried almost every setting and sometimes can't see any kind of a difference. I had a guy come to the nursery the other day with my exact camera asking if he could take photos of the plants and I said only if he explained how it worked to me hahaha. Ok, so I didn't say it like that but he was very helpful and gave me a few pointers. He actually gave me a lot but there are a few that stuck with me. I think it has helped too. I can see a difference in my shots. I still have so much to learn. Hoping he will come back out so I can get more guidance!!! It is fun learning though don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. It is fun learning, especially if you can get past the intimidation factor. But like you, most of the time I can't really tell if there is any difference in the photos taken from different settings. I keep telling myself I should take a class. Yes, someday maybe.
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool! It looks like a painting. The ghostly blue bells are nice, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the kind comment Hoover Boo
ReplyDeleteThese are so beautiful, and i love your choice too. I have been looking at GGW contest but am intimidated by the wonderful photos being submitted in previous contests. I hope you make it.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, Thank you so much for the kind comment on my entry. I think you should just go for it. It is fun, and the more you try, the more you get a feel for it all, I think. (At least I hope so)
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