|
Acanthus spinosus (Family: Acanthaceae)
This is a highly decorative plant found in the Mediterranean region in which the genus Acanthus shows maximum diversity. A tall plant with all the flowers formed at the top. Flowers open in pairs and it may take longer than a month for all of them to open. By the time the top flowers open, the lower ones have already been transformed to fruits, so you can see all the stages on the same plant. The photos that follow show the same plant. We took the first photos in early May while the last ones were taken in early June. It is of interest to know that the shape of this plant was used by the Greeks (5th century BC) as a decoration element in their architecture, mainly for the decoration of the roof of temples as well as the capital of the Corinthian pillars.
Photos by Marina Parha and George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
1. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/100 sec - f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
2. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/160 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
3. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/8, Manual mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
4. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/8, Manual mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
5. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
6. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/80 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
7. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/10, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
8. Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 SP Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/10, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL/BL mode
Image: NEF file edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added, saved as JPG and resized.
| 
