Orchids

My friends and I went to the Florida Botanical Gardens to check what was in bloom a couple weeks ago and, of course, to shoot what we found.

These Orchids were in the Orchid area and I was struck by the way they grow, all in a row on their stem. When I looked through the viewfinder in my camera, the first thing that came to mind was the pretty curve they formed and how they'd look with a diagonal composition. Well, I shot it this way, then shot the same flowers in several other angles, but this one is the one I like best.

Orchids are hard to identify, and I apologize for not knowing the variety. There are so many species within the Orchid family only an expert could tell them all apart.

Tampa Convention Center Detail

This is another shot from yesterday's trolley tour shoot. My friend showed me a photo he took of just the center corner showing the disco balls, and of course, I had to one-up him. This is my version.

I like the way the curve of the dome on the ceiling mimics the curve of the disco balls, while the sharp angles of the corner and the posts mimic the squares in the design on the bottom of the wall under the window cut-outs.

Although it's slightly asymmetrical, I'm happy with the way it turned out. I didn't want to include the whole dome, just a little hint of it. I think had I included the dome, it would've taken away from the rest of the design.

There's a lot to be learned when several photographers go out together to shoot. We not only share tips and techniques but we challenge one another and ourselves. If you're into photography, give it a try and see what you can come up with.

Canna Lily Leaf

Sometimes I like to photograph patterns. This is the leaf of a Canna Lily. I like the lines and curves. I tried a crop of just the leaf and I'm not sure if I like it, although it makes an interesting graphic.

This photo was taken in Safety Harbor on Monday evening while waiting for the rest of the members of my group to come. I like to go there early before the rest get there so I can concentrate on my photography. Most of the time I'm with the group I spend either just talking shop, or answering technical questions regarding photography technique, which I don't mind. It's nice to share knowledge with other photographers. We all learn something that way, and it improves our own technique.

If you like my work, please leave a comment--even if you don't like it, or see if something can be improved. I'm always open to suggestions.

Thanks for viewing!