Nothing says Spring like the heady scent of narcissus. While I don’t have any in my own garden (why not??), the botanical garden has them placed in various areas throughout. It’s an annual hunt . . . some bloom earlier, some later, depending on location.
Nikon and Ortho Plus 80.
I can see why everyone is raving about the new film from Ilford! Ilford Ortho Plus 80 is an amazing film! I couldn’t wait to get my first roll back from being developed, and the image above is straight out of the camera, with minor dust removal, signature and frame added.
Being a slow film, detail is great, but the need for bright light is important as well. I used my Nikon N90s, which is by far one of my favorite cameras, and my carry-around-everywhere Nikon 28-85 f2.8 macro lens. I used box speed for the entire roll.
I cannot believe I have digital images going back to 2007 – but I do! I will be looking at them a bit more and pulling out ones I rather like. The reasons for choosing this one or that will be variable as the day.
Today’s choice is one that I took in December 2011 at the local botanical garden. I wonder if it’s in bloom right now! I haven’t been up there for a bit because of the rainy weather and the holidays. I should go take a look pretty soon!
BTW, I think this is a protea, but I may be wrong. I used my now-lost Nikon D7000 and Tamron 70-300mm lens.
Macros of flowers and other things is like a voyage into a hitherto unexplored world.
We all have those days – everything you think you are going to accomplish turns to some sort of monster or horror or nightmare as you do it. I sure had different ideas for what I was going to do out on my patio this afternoon. Ugh! Ugh! to the point I have to laugh. I really don’t know what to do with either of these except to chalk them up to experience.
This first one (above) is supposed to be some really brilliant orange geraniums on my patio table. I don’t think so. I get so – what? Impatient may not be the right word. What I feel is a need to work quickly, and perhaps therein lies the problem. I drew them in with a pencil and set up all my paints and water and other supplies on a table outdoors. In 85F or more weather, it was hot. But the heat is not the driving force for haste – it happens to me all the time, particularly with watercolor. It’s something to really think about.
After shuddering at that first painting, I decided to just paint – no lines, nothing, just move along. Sometimes in watercolor it has proven to be a great exercise. Here, not so sure. These are tabasco chilis that are ripening, and will soon be picked and dried, to later be ground into chili powder (we make our own every year, with different peppers.) Like the first painting, everything went head over heels, and in the end, I just decided to make it more decorative than painterly.
I can always tell when I haven’t picked up a pen or brush for even a couple of days. I felt all clumsy and disconnected. Maybe being outside – something I have never done with gouache – added to it. I really tried to paint from real life, plein aire, and I am not so sure that was for the best.
Oh, well. I had fun. Maybe there is something in that.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 