May 22, 2010

Photo Challenge: Flowers


It’s time for another Brenda Photo Challenge! The current theme is Flowers. I managed to capture a few flower images a couple of weeks ago. We were checking on progress over at our homebuilding site, and I couldn’t help but admire my next door neighbor’s beautiful flowers and gorgeous landscaping. I had been taking pictures inside our house and had my ISO setting up really high. I forgot to change it back down for these outdoor shots, but the images turned out well nonetheless.

This delicate purple iris bloom was one of the first to greet the spring weather, while the surrounding stalks provide a striking backdrop. A green textured background was added in the digital processing to provide additional contrast. The photo was taken at f/9, 1/400 second, and ISO 1000.


Clumps of pink dianthus are planted at the feet of the iris flowers. These charming blooms are always at home in a cottage garden. In the digital processing, I saturated the color and applied a watercolor filter to give the overall image a soft and painterly look. The photo was taken at f/14, 1/250 second, and ISO 1000.

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful shots. I love the pink dianthus. They remind me of my fathers house. He used to have these growing just outside his garage door. I always loved them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness. Those are beautiful.

    I linked up my Gazania's that I posted awhile back because I just love them so.

    HUGS!
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Donna, These are Beautiful! The Iris is SO blue, my Dad would have Loved it! And I find I can Just barely grow dianthus..Hahaa..black thumb syndrome!
    GORGEOUS!
    Don't work too hard!!
    hughugs

    ReplyDelete
  4. The iris shot is fabulous! What a steady hand you have.. it is so clear. Did you tell me you got a new camera a little while back?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! Fabulous shots and dramatization.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Incredible photos Miz Donna and I love the special touches you've added.

    ReplyDelete
  7. How lucky you are to have a nieghbor with beautiful flowers. I have had a clump of hot pink dianthus for several years and this spring there is 1 white dianthus in the middle. Not sure how it got there! lol
    Have a great weekend! Can't wait to see your house when you get moved in!

    ReplyDelete
  8. They're so beautiful that they look unreal, other worldly, wonderful! I love that iris most of all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those pictures are simply out of this world beautiful. You have really gotten great with the editing too! One of these days, I've got to learn some of that. You should become a professional photographer! or maybe a photography teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just beautiful. My favorite bouquets are yellow roses and purple irises. Though I always hint, my three sons never seem to hear.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful photographs! LOVE the colors... Iris make me smile... my mom had the large bearded varieties. I'm still convinced to this day that the purple ones smell like grape soda pop... the rust colored~ root beer pop etc.
    Hope you have nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very pretty! I love the iris. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gorgeos photos and your editing makes them look even more so!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ahhh so beautiful. I truly don't know which photo is my favorite, both are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. ooo...another gorgeous Iris. Two out of two blogs so far. How lovely. Well done Donna. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The iris is so vibrant! Gorgeous shot!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, that iris sure pops on the green background, lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful iris, I love that shade of blue. The effect you used on the dianthus is lovely, it does look like a watercolor print.

    ReplyDelete
  19. beautiful! i have a wonderful new camera....and i just really need to dive in and find out what it can do!!!! you inspire me!
    hugs,
    kimberly

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful photos, Donna! Thanks for visiting my blog last week and offering suggestions about framing Michelle's dove. I'll definately try that!

    ReplyDelete

Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!