Across the Southwest » Flowers & Gardens

Dandelion Abstract

Adam Schallau — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:09:34 +0000

Being a photographer, I like to travel. There’s nothing more exciting for me than to visit a new location, to see the next red rock mesa over the horizon or a waterfall hidden in a mountain valley. But sometimes, when I’m unable to travel, I find a whole new world to explore in my backyard.

Last month my truck spent a lot of time in the shop being repaired and having some preventative maintenance taken care of. Unable to travel and stuck at home, I took a closer look at what was growing in my backyard. What I discovered were dandelions that had gone to seed and formed their “parachute ball”. Using my EF24-70mm f/2.8L lens with a 20mm extension tube and 1.4x extender, I was able to get right up against the dandelion and throw most of the flower out of focus by using a shallow depth-of-field. The end result is the image seen here.

Dandelion abstract

This image of a dandelion and others like it can be ordered on my website, AdamSchallau.com.

~Tech details~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens, 1.4x Extender & 20mm extension tube

Exposure: 1/100 second at f/2.8, and ISO 320

Filters: 77mm Hoya HD circular polarizer filter

Notes: I used “Live View” to manually focus the lens. There was a gentle breeze and the dandelion was swaying back and forth. I used ISO 320 to give me a quick shutter speed to stop the motion.

The Wonderful World of Wildflowers ~ Wild Geraniums

Adam Schallau — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:31:46 +0000

The wildflower season in Colorado and northern New Mexico is nearing the end and I’ve begun to sort through my new photos. One of the first things I noticed is that I photographed several varieties of wild Geraniums this year. The first image was captured on Kebler Pass near Crested Butte, Colorado and the second image was captured in the Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.

Both photos and others like them are available for purchase at my website AdamSchallau.com.

~Tech details for image 1~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF24-70mm f/2.8 USM lens

Exposure: f/2.8, 1/50 second and ISO 320

Filters: Hoya HD Circular Polarizer

Notes: I used a large collapsible diffuser to shade the flower and a 12mm extension tube to allow close focusing.

~Tech details for image 2~

Camera & Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF50mm f/1.8 II lens

Exposure: f/2.8, 1/60 second and ISO 200

Filters: none

Notes: I used a large collapsible diffuser to shade the flower and a 12mm extension tube to allow close focusing.

Red-hot poker ~ Kniphofia uvaria

Adam Schallau — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:28:42 +0000

A Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria), also known as a Torch Lily. I discovered this beautiful flower poking up through a metal grate platform next to a shipping dock outside of Mora, New Mexico. Photographed with a Canon 50D and 24-70 f/2.8L lens.

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