I placed some mandarin oranges into a goblet. I added some gorgeous orange lilies into a blue glass vase. I placed a terracotta pot on the side for a rustic touch. I photographed this against a white backdrop and added textures to give this photo a painted look.
Golden Light on Tree Trunk
In the early morning I pass this tree on the way out of my community. On a sunny day, the sun just illuminates the tree, making it look almost two dimensional–but only in the morning. By the afternoon, it is just the one shade. I decided to capture this beautiful transformation one day, waking up early just to get the light just right. It is amazing the things you see by paying attention. This composition captures the serene beauty of a natural landscape.
Three Green Pears
I gathered three ripe pears in my studio and arranged them in a row against a black and then white backdrop. Each image has a different feel to it. Not sure which I like better. All these images were taken in studio. The colors on the second image were added as a texture. The image against the black backdrop were arranged on a shiny black table. Their vibrant green color and smooth, glossy surface give them a fresh and appetizing appearance. They look good enough to eat.
Oranges, Lilies, and Blue Vase
A vibrant arrangement features orange lilies in a blue vase, accompanied by a woven basket of mandarin oranges and three lit candles. The calm composition is enhanced by the contrasting colors and soft lighting. The orange and green candles add to the calming atmosphere.
Ruth’s Vase and Green Apples
I went to visit my friend at Brandon Wilde a few weeks ago. I had admired a vase she had on her desk and thought nothing of it. But the next time I went, she insisted she wanted me to have it. I thought it only fitting that I use this beauty in a picture. I had some beautiful lavender lilies so I added them to this porcelain vase with a southwestern motif. I felt that the green in the Granny Smith apples would offset the vase’s design. I photographed this scene against a black background for dramatic effect. I felt the red candle holder and flame would enhance the composition. It was a labor of love for my wonderful friend.
Deep Red Rose
I have always loved roses. There are so many varieties and colors of roses, but to me, the most beautiful is the red rose. I envisioned a deep red rose with water droplets on the petals. I decided that a close up of the rose would reveal the mystical beauty of this gorgeous flower. I then spritzed the flower with water droplets, which clung to the delicate petals. I chose to photograph this spectacular beauty in a dark setting, thus bringing out the red color. It is really such a rather simple photo of a flower, but the deep red against a dark background made for a rather dramatic effect and enhanced the elegance of this exquisite flower.
Yellow Sunflowers
I always loved sunflowers; all different sizes. The blooms, bright yellow, are so beautiful but the backside of the flower is exquisite. It is just as expressive and lovely as the front. I decided to concentrate on doing a close up. I had not used my macro lens lately, but I found the closer I zeroed into the lush, complex, green petals of the backside, the more excited I got. I always think an image, especially a sunflower, is so much more dramatic when moving as close as possible and photographing just a portion of the flower. I think this vivid picture was exactly what I had envisioned.
Hydrangea, Pears, and Plums
I have never used hydrangeas in a photo before and wanted to see how it would look. I came upon some in a store and thought I would somehow incorporate these delicate blue flowers into a still life. I had a pretty wicker basket at home already and decided that some brown Bosc pears and red plums would complement the gorgeous colors of the hydrangeas. I set this up and decided that a black backdrop would create a perfect contrast to the vivid flowers and fruit. I was pleased with the composition. I was about to give up for the day when suddenly I got a brain storm and this whole creation fell into place. Luckily I persisted.
Still Lifes with Blue Vase
I recently purchased a pretty blue vase at Goodwill. Someone discarded it but I picked it up and decided to use it for some studio still life photos with beautiful flowers. Someone else’s trash can become someone’s treasure. Here are four images using the blue vase, some similar, yet different. I decided to use lemons and yellow lilies in a wicker basket, some I used purple poms and oranges, in a glass beaker, as well as grapes. I used black backgrounds on some and one I added a texture.
Family Photo Shoot
I went to Brick Pond Park, in North Augusta, to do a photo shoot of a lovely family. I used my AD200 strobe and Flashpoint R2 Transmitter. This family consisted of 4 children, ages 14, 7, 4, and under one year. It was a bit challenging due to the sun still being high in the sky and bright, even at 4 pm. This was still daylight savings time. Luckily, the baby was good most of the time and that helped. We stopped at about 5:30 because the children were tired, had to use the bathroom, and were pretty much done. But I got many great shots along the way. It was a good experience.
