Please Use the Handrail
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Monochrome
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 100
Arcadian
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/3.2, ISO 100
As I left the butterfly house at Callaway Gardens on Sunday I found a friendly bird sitting in a tree. As I mentioned yesterday I didn’t have my zoom lens with me but I gave it a try with the 105mm macro lens. My friend was not in any hurry to escape me and I was able to get closer than I thought possible. These images are still cropped heavily but I’m happy with the results…
Northern Mockingbird
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/1250s, f/3.2, ISO 100
Northern Mockingbird II
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/3.2, ISO 100
Northern Mockingbird III
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/320s, f/3.2, ISO 100
Northern Mockingbird IV
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/500s, f/3.2, ISO 100
I knew it was a little early in the year to visit Callaway Gardens for floral macros but I told myself I don’t need to spend the whole day on the couch. I can be very good at being lazy and I need to practice resistance to this particular talent. The drive is twenty-five minutes and the excuses really don’t hold up under scrutiny. I headed out around noon (I’m not completely crazy, I waited until it warmed up a little).
I was right, not many opportunities but the scarcity of subjects steeled my resolve to find interesting images. It was a good day to expand my vision beyond the obvious. And, it was a good day for a walk.
As I was returning to the Discovery Center, I found a lone goose enjoying the calm waters of a secluded section of the lake. My zoom lens was back in the car but I did have the 105mm macro lens currently attached to the camera. Time to make the best of this situation. My first few captures ended up being the best, but I spent a little time following the goose as it did it’s best to float away from me.
Seclusion
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/1250s, f/3.2, ISO 100
La Peppermint
Nikon Z f, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/640s, f/2.8, ISO 100
I have it good. Or is it, I’m lucky? Or fortunate?
How about D, all of the above.
Anyway…
Yesterday turned out to be a really good day (weather-wise that is, I guess in general too). The possibility was high when I left for work so I brought my camera bag on the off chance I would leave early. Maybe, the chance was closer to definite, but the point is I went to the botanical garden for a mid-afternoon exploration.
Thursday evening was Camellia & Cocktails, which I had planned to attend but wasn’t feeling it after I got home from work. Today is the Camellia Fest and so Friday would allow me to explore without too many people around. I still plan on stopping in today for the festival, but exploring on Friday was a good decision. Plus, I got out of work a little early… 🙂
I generally explore the gardens in the same pattern. I hate to admit it but I am a creature of habit. I didn’t think there would be many new blooms in the area around the farmhouse but I couldn’t bring myself to not look. I was happy when I found a few crocus poking up through the ground cover. They were one of the early finds when I looked for Spring in NY and this one brought back some good memories.
Spring Sign
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/640s, f/3.5, ISO 100
Time to work my way to the Camellia Garden. I was hoping I could find a few more daffodils along the path to the garden. Looks like the cold did a number on the few blossoms I saw last time. I managed to capture a few interesting views but you will have to wait for another post to view my finds.
The camellias took a hit from the weather this week. Below freezing temps were not floral friendly. Is it wrong to admit I was looking forward to finding some blossoms past their prime. I have been enjoying what I can create with these views.
Catch Me When I Fall
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/125s, f/4, ISO 1000
With all that being said, the camellias are not giving up. As I walked through the garden I could see the coming attractions. I will have many more opportunities to explore this area…
Pink
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/1250s, f/5, ISO 100
The hands of the clock kept marching toward 5pm and closing time for the garden. It was time to work my way back to the car. When I returned to the entrance of the Camellia Garden I was distracted by the lights from the previous night’s event. And then I spotted the little vines hanging from the trellis which supports the bell (can be seen in this post: Shine Event).
Ensnare
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/125s, f/5, ISO 400
It isn’t supposed to be as warm as it was yesterday but I will be going back to the garden for the festival. I signed up for Camellia Sip and Learn at 11am (“Join us for an immersive tasting journey celebrating Camellia sinensis, the remarkable plant behind all true tea: white, green, oolong, and black.”). Probably should warn everyone there will be more botanical garden images incoming… 🙂
In January, when I visited the botanical garden, I ventured down a trail winding through the woods. It was more for extending my stay and increasing my steps but I found what I thought would be an interesting project. The trees had vines wrapping around them. I remembered seeing this when I was growing up. I used to live in the woods, and by that I mean I played there constantly. It was a different time I suppose, because I never let my kids play alone like I did.
Anyway, back to the project. I wanted to capture how the vines used the trees to climb toward the sky. I made a mental note that the project should be called “wrapped” (trying it out, not sure if I’ll keep it). I had the 105mm macro lens on the camera and proceeded to click away. When I uploaded the images and started my review I realized my mistake. I thought a narrow focus would be the way to go so I could keep the background blurred but it didn’t allow enough detail in the subject.
Cue my next visit…
Together Forever
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/60s, f/11, ISO 1600
Hugs
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/60s, f/9, ISO 900
Not Letting Go
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/60s, f/9, ISO 1250
Wrapped
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/60s, f/9, ISO 1000
I even surprised myself and resisted the urge to process these as B&W images. I was about half way through the processing when I switched back to color images. I think it was for the best… at least that is what I’m telling myself… 🙂
Unwind
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 3600
MLCreations Photography 