25 July

Flowers In The Rain: A Study In Color And Black And White

by Jon Katz

I could hardly wait to get out in the rain and see how the flowers looked, it was raining heavily (very good for the crops here and the grass), and the flowers did not disappoint me.

I decided to use two cameras – the Iphone for the color and clarity, the monochrome for the mood – no sunlight, gray skies.

I took a lot of pictures I don’t have room to post, and I mixed the color with the monochrome so people can have both and compare them if they wish.

 

The rain offers me some new challenges, photo-wise. I can’t hide behind the sun or expect it to do my lighting settings for me. I have to think about every picture and adjust the cameras accordingly. Like all things Apple, the Iphone does most of the thinking for me. The Leicas are merciless.

The Leica says no way, we don’t think for you,  figure it out for yourself, and then I’ll polish it off. But I have a lot more work to do, which is worth it. It is not easy to catch raindrops on flowers in a rainstorm.

But it is very rewarding. And I am learning something new every day.

 

 

The poppy colors attract me just like a bee to pollen. I was surprised to see a soggy fly hiding from the rain in this one. As I leaned closer, he took off. An Iphone 13 photo.

 

This purple gladiola stem had to be cut down today. It was toppling over. Fortunately, I have two more. They will be done in a few weeks, and I’m working to ensure there are good replacements.

It will be a letdown when the garden dies off, but I have a while before that happens. One day at a time, live in the now. This is an Apple 13 Pro Max Iphone photo.

 

Honestly, I’m not sure what this plant is going to be. I don’t remember seeing it before, but I loved the shape. This is a Leica monochrome photo.

 

 

A newborn poppy opened up last night, right in front of a red poppy, another newcomer. Their very vibrant color attacks me every time. We are very grateful for the rain. I’ve never seen the ground so brown and dry. This morning, the grass is green again, making the donkeys and sheep very happy.

 

 

 

The drops weight the fragile flowers down, and they look to me as if they are weeping also sometimes.

 

My new Lisianthus plant is earning its keep. There are a lot of fat buds on this plant, which seems very happy in my garden bed. This is a Leica monochrome photo, it shines when the sky goes gray.

 

The Zinnia’s are by far the most productive flowers in my garden. I’ve been cutting them down every day, and they are right back the next morning. I’ll take some to my podiatrist surgeon in Saratoga tomorrow (I have an appointment) they could use some brightening up.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email SignupFree Email Signup