Nature and Nurture

Flower Patterns (Viola sp. cultivars; Family: Violaceae; common name: Pansies)

I was simply attracted by these flower patterns found at a local nursery in New York.

Photo by Kenneth A. Pass

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70

Top Photo:
Lens: Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 44 mm
Sensitivity: ISO250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast, saved in JPEG, USM added.

Middle Photo:

Lens: Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 62 mm
Sensitivity: ISO250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/10, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast, saved in JPEG, USM added.

Bottom Photo:
Lens: Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 62 mm
Sensitivity: ISO250
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/200 sec - f/7.1, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast, saved in JPEG, USM added.

Helianthus annuus (common name: Sunflower)

This is the kind of picture I always wanted to take. I got my chance at a place close to Dadia forest (Evros, Greece) and - naturally - I took a good number of photos. The vision I had in my mind was that of a bed of sunflowers ending in a hill or mountain at the background. In reality things came out even better. The blue but still clouded sky was an optional extra, which added a great deal of texture and interest at the top third of the picture... I used a 12-24 mm zoom lens which would give me the wide angle perspective I wanted and closed down the lens as much as possible to get the maximum depth of field. I chose this particular picture because - after shooting the first 10 in a row - I thought of the rule of thirds and tried to bring the horizon at the upper third of the picture. As a bonus, I even remembered to level it !  

Photo by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Sigma 12-24 mm D, 1:4.5-5.6, DG HSM @ 24 mm
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/14, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized. Some of the pictures taken at the Evros Delta and Dadia forest are oversharpened intentionally, to make the main subject more "visible".