magnolia

#saucermagnoliaproject - High Dynamic Range

High Dynamic Range pictures are combinations of frames taken at different exposure settings. Software is used to choose the portions of each exposure that provide the most detail. I use my camera's bracketing option to take the three frames (one at standard exposure, one at two f-stops below that, and one at two f-stops above the first). Then I use Photomatix Pro to combine the frames and yield the final result.

#saucermagnoliaproject - perspective

Ever since I moved to Pennsylvania, I've been enamored with the saucer magnolia trees (Latin name Magnolia x soulangiana) that blossom each April. This year, I indulged my love of those trees and photography and created what I call the Saucer Magnolia Project.I located several saucer magnolia trees in the tri-county area (Perry - Cumberland - Dauphin) where I reside, and kept an eye on some particularly interesting ones so I could catch their blossoms when they peaked.When those days came, I set out with a full arsenal of tools (Canon 5D, tripod, and several lenses) to capture them from different perspectives. This encouraged me to become familiar with the trees from a variety of angles, and to capture them in a way that allows the viewer to come away with an appreciation and familiarity of the subject that a single lens might not allow.In this series of posts, I'll share photos taken with a few different lenses and techniques. I'll begin with some taken with a Sigma 28-70mm zoom lens.