Tall Sunflower

Tall Sunflower

I have enjoyed showing the stages of the prairie dock this season.  I am now trying to do the same for the tall sunflower.  This, of course, is the bud just beginning to open.

Tall Sunflower

I loved this one when I finished optimizing it.  I soon discovered that it had problems when converted for the web or for printing.  I am sure it looks to you as if it is overexposed but the original capture was not over exposed.  The color seems off but, again, it was not originally that way.

My camera, EOS 7D, captures the images at 14 bits per channel and in Adobe RGB 1998 color space.  When I convert the image for the web I must change the bit depth to 8 bits per channel which means less colors.  I also must convert to sRGB, a smaller color space.  In the case of this image it no longer looked good after those conversions.  I don't think there is a away to display it on the web and have it look good.  Incidentally, I am having the same problem printing it.

With this problem in mind, I decided that I would do the safe thing and capture one using high dynamic range, HDR, and high depth-of-field, DOF, in and effort to capture a shot which would convert well.  I shot one of the tall sunflower with false prairie indigo leaves in shade as the background

Tall Sunflower

I was able to control the process from beginning to end.  First, I processed the images for HDR using five series of five exposures.   Once the HDR processing was in place I processed those for high DOF, each HDR series had been focused at a different point.  I used Photomatix Pro for HDR and Helicon Focus for high DOF.  I really like the result.  Carol did too, saying that I must clone out the "bug" if I make her a print.  I have not tried to print this so I don't know how that might go.

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Lens Test

Blueflag Iris

I captured this image back in late May.  It was kind of a trial of new lens, Sigma 105mm, f/2.8 macro.  I had dropped my older model and needed a fast replacement so I bought a new one which had OS, optical stabilization.  These shots were done hand held with OS on.  I am not sure of what I was thinking that day because I used a 1/250 sec shutter which should not have needed OS.

As far as composition is concerned, I tried to simplify it as I worked.  Can you tell what I removed?

Blueflag Iris

It was the little grass sprig.  I have decided later that I liked the grass in the first one better.  I suppose it might be like baby's breath in a bouquet.

I think the lens is a sharp lens.  I love it.  I plan to have my older one, also a very sharp lens, repaired at Sigma and sell either it or the newer one.

Speaking of "versicolor" from yesterday, I have never known these flowers to be anything but lavender.  I cannot print images of this flower for the same reason I may not be able to print the tall sunflower.  The color gamut for that ink/paper combination will not handle this color well.  I am hoping that printer technology will catch up with capture soon.  To my knowledge, this color does not change going to the sRGB space for the web.

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Gray Treefrog

Gray Treefrog

This is the first view I had of the frog.  I try to shoot at a distance that I know will be comfortable for the creature.  I then work my way closer in small increments.  

Gray Treefrog

I then work the background and light as I get closer.  I am not showing you many of the shots between the one at the top and this one.

Gray Treefrog

As you may have noticed, the frog is deciding it is time to vacate the area in this shot.  I was surprised how patient it was with me getting in its face.

Green Treefrog

I needed help from Merrill Tawse on the ID for this frog.  They change color depending on the location, hence the name hyla versicolor.  With its color like you see, I thought it might be one from South Carolina or Florida.  That, truly, would have been news!

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Chinese Mantis: The Movie, lol

Chinese Mantis

Lucas and Loudon along with their daddy seemed interested in the Chines mantis eating.  I found two different mantises the other day and captured lots of video.  I have worked it down to less than 5 minutes.  It shows a mantis eating a honey bee.  I hope that you, and they enjoy this video.

The video is at the bottom of the page.

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Jumping Spider

Jumping Spider

I happened to see this little guy the other morning.  Jan Ferrell says it's a jumping spider but we do not know which one. 

Jumping Spider

I could not find it in any of my books.  Jan shared BugGuild.net., an interesting about which I did not know.  I am still unsure.

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Chinese Mantis

Chinese Mantis

I was looking for a spider I had photographed on the previous day.  I had overlooked this dramatic action because of the camouflage of this large predatory insect.  He/she was having a feast.  The prey looked like a bumble bee to me.

Chinese Mantis

You can see why I missed seeing this large insect the first time.  I was looking at seed heads for the spider and this scene did not catch my eye.

Chinese Mantis

I soon decided that this drama demanded video.  The setup took too long and the Mantis was finished consuming the bee by the time I returned.  I will need to be satisfied with the drama conveyed by these stills.  

Each animal has a sense of comfort and it varies from species to species.  It seemed that this Mantis was comfortable with my presence.  I filmed for a long time, shooting 8 gigs.  When all was said and done, I decided that the video did not capture any action which was interesting.  I hoped to catch the insect capturing another bee.  It did not happen while I was there.  I have been unable to find it since.  I suppose that it flew away.

Chinese Mantis

I did capture images of another/same Mantis on on another occasion.  This one was quite aware of my presence and even looked at me.

Chinese Mantis

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