A Touch of Pink

Rudbeckia purpurea (now Echinacea purpurea), Common name "Purple cone - flower"

As I was taking this picture, dark dark clouds were building on the horizon. This shot was taken at Five Rivers, which a nature reserve in New York State. There's something in bloom all summer, a beautiful lake, lots of wild animals if you're patient, and wonderful sunsets (I don't do sunrises!).

Photo by Kenneth A. Pass  

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 44 mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/160 sec - f/7.1, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast, saved in JPEG, USM added.

Cyclamen graecum  (Family: Primulaceae)

I am almost sure most people have come across this beautiful flower which grows in the wild, in places which sometimes seem absolutely hostile for plants. Sometimes you see them coming out from crevices which barely have 5 cm of soil in them. It was a cloudy day and a heavy rain had fallen some hours ago. I took a lot of pictures of those cyclamens but only a few of them came out the way I wanted - all cyclamens in focus and at least some droplets razor sharp.

Photo by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/80 sec - f/13, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. 

Pink spots on a green canvas

Whenever I take a walk in the nearby mountain of Hymettus, I am always surprised by the beautiful colors of the small flowers or fruits produced by the bushes and trees found there. They always look like drops of color in an otherwise pastel environment. This bush produces these magnificent pink flowers in such numbers that they make the whole bush look pink. They start to blossom in October and by December all the flowers are gone. The shot was taken on a cloudy day and I am glad that the use of flash didn't change the mood of the picture.

Photo by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/32, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized.

Droplets on pink

Those little flowers create a nice sight in most gardens but still very few notice the delicate tiny petals that form them. The presence of droplets after a rainy day created a sparkling picture which was somewhat emphasized by the use of flash.

Photo by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/22, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.