Rhododendron Abstracts

I found an isolated lilac coloured flowering rhododendron bush in Clipstone forest. After photographing the whole flower I wanted to produce something a bit more abstract making as much of the colour as possible.

To achieve this I reduced the depth of field to a minimum to create a softness away from the focus point. The hard or creative part of the process was deciding which element to keep sharp.

This decision was important to the composition as sharpness is one of the elements that attracts the eye in a photograph. To gain the abstract feel to the final image I decided that I didn't want the sharp element to be main subject of the composition. Instead I wanted the sharp element to lead the eye into or around the picture.

I am not totally convinced that I achieved this but these were some of the results:

Bluebells, Dockey Wood

 

Bluebells in Dockey Wood on the Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire. 

 

 

 

 



Spring Showers & Demonic Sheep

There are few better photographic combinations than leaden skies and bright sun. In these conditions the light becomes very intense drawing out the colours in the landscape. There is also a fair chance of a rainbow - as well as getting wet!

All the above images where taken on Robin Hood Hill, Nottinghamshire. Slightly off putting though were the sheep. Normally sheep turn and run if you get close. The ones on Robin Hood Hill grouped together and started following me. As I moved they inched forward. As I stopped they stopped and then stared. I had not really noticed sheep's eyes before and applying a vivid imagination they do look somewhat demonic or more realistically vacant!

After the shower had passed the air was fresh and clear: