A GARDEN OF PASTEL
Sometimes when it’s cloudy and I don’t have the time to venture up or down the coast to capture some of the beauty of this great state, I simply head down to my local Armstrong Garden Center and wander along the countless paths lined with dozens of flower variations. Ignoring the confused stares of other shoppers, I grab my camera from my backpack and begin to shoot.
Click! Click! Click! You can hear the rapid fire of my camera. On my right and to my left, from roses to zinnias, I’m capturing everything that has even a remote possibility of becoming something special. Such beauty! I could search high and low and never discover this amazing variety.
From that, I’ve landed on what I believe will become a series of four flowers creating what I may title, “A Garden of Pastel.” I’ve included the first of the series for your preview.
A Burst of Pastel
Most of my flower photography has been of a more bold nature. However this time, I wanted to show you a softer side. It’s like the softer side of Steve!
🙂
Photographyfree4all's Blog 
I love the name and the concept! Also, I love how you are so fearless as to what everyone else may think as you do this around shoppers. Then again, sometimes shoppers can even add their own element to a photograph. I love the photo and I can’t wait to see the rest in your series!
LikeLike
It’s a beauty! Lovely soft color. The shopping gardens are one of the best ‘free’ places to photograph. :). Maybe if they see you there again and know you’re a pro, they will start to charge you. Looking forward to the others.
LikeLike
Love this…
LikeLike
I love this! Did you mute the color or was it really this gray cast? Beautiful against the black background too! What other pastels did you find?
(LOL, a little side note: The name of the flower is Gerbera, that’s GerberA with an “A.” You would be surprised at how many people call these Gerber Daisy. Sorry folks, but Gerber is a baby food manufacturer. 😉 )
LikeLike
Beauty-ful!
LikeLike
Thank you, Kuukisu! I think when you decide you’re going to get derious about photography, you’re fear has to go out the window! 🙂 Although, there are still some times that I do think twice. Stay tuned!
LikeLike
Even when I was there, I had decided I would be willing to buy something if they said anything. And, I would have bought a plant and brought it home to shoot even more! 🙂 Thanks for a great comment, Martina! Oh, and thanks for slipping the word “pro” into the comment…bonus points for that!! 🙂
LikeLike
Why that you very much, Elena! I’m really gladyou stopped by today! Do come back!
LikeLike
Thank you, Barb! I hope you’ve having a great day!
LikeLike
I wouldn’t blame you for thinking twice about it. I just think it’s funny that I had considered writing a blog about fighting fear when I saw you post this. Very inspiring!
LikeLike
★★★★★
LikeLike
Thank you, Lynda! The color has been muted and also gone through a couple of post processing steps to give even further muting. I also have a sepia print I’ll be sharing soon. And, thank you for the name! I should really take a shot of the tag so I can label these. I was hoping someone would come through – and, you did!
And further, I’ll say that I thoroughly enjoyed your blog today! Folks, if you’re interested in some great shots of the “Special Event” Lynda witnessed this past weekend, check out her blog post here. http://pixilatedtoo.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/a-long-awaited-event/
Hey Lynda, you should connect your blog to your gravitar so that when it’s clicked, it takes everyone to your blog site. Right now it just seems to take me to an email replay to you. Check it out.
LikeLike
WOW! Thank you, Kristin!!
LikeLike
Steve,
Thanks! I thought that my ‘moniker’ was clickable, but apparently not. However, now the Avatar has a link, and I will continue to investigate how to link the moniker! ~ Lynda
PS: Glad you enjoyed it! 😀
LikeLike
I think your moniker was clickable, but it led me to a responding email opportunity rather than your blog! That must be why I haven’t been able to follow you! 🙂 I am glad you stopped by today!
LikeLike
Beautiful!! Bring on the rest of the series. If they will fit in a grouping of four, they will look very pretty in a bedroom. Calming art!
LikeLike
Thank you, Miss Betty! It seems flowers are just popping up everywhere on my blog! I guess spring has indeed sprung!
LikeLike
Oh my, this is so beautiful!
LikeLike
This is beautiful. It almost looks like velvet.
LikeLike
[…] https://photographyfree4all.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/a-garden-of-pastel/ […]
LikeLike
The Power of Flowers « Cornville Surf-n-Swap said this on April 26, 2011 at 7:27 am
Thank you, Susan! I’m so glad you stopped by today and do hope you’ll come back again! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Amber! I love the shot you have posted on your blog right now. Very unique! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back!
LikeLike
Great post on your blog, Kuukisu! Great job! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful! I always gravitate to the more vibrant flowers/processing and then am constantly surprised at how much I love the soft flowers when people present them. Love how this is almost a “pink and black.” Gorgeous!
LikeLike
This is really beautiful, Steve. Well done. 🙂
I do the same thing — take photos at my local garden center while others are shopping. I do it almost everywhere, to be honest. People think I’m odd. They’re probably right.
LikeLike
Hi Cedar! It’s great to hear from you. I think this may be your first time commenting, so welcome and thanks! If you looked at some of my other flower shots, you saw a good many bold flower presentations. Like you, that’s what I usually do. In fact, I have a bold presentation of this same flower that you probably wouldn’t believe was actually the same. But it is. This time, however, I went with a softer presentation and I think I like it better in this particular image. Great to share ideas and images with you! Stop by anytime!
LikeLike
Thanks, Robin! You know I have spent a day finding the kind of flowers I can find in 30 minutes at my local nursery. matbe it’s not as exotic as driving to a special place and finding that perfect bloom, but it sure is quicker! Great to hear from you, Robin! 🙂
LikeLike
Good idea with shooting “Flowers from my garden center” !!
This is a great start – what a beautiful image – I’m looking foreward to the next ones… (I love flowers – and flower-photos, you know 😉 )
LikeLike
It’s hard to explain, but even though my passion is in landscape photography, I’m easily drawn to flowers.maybe it’s because of their availability. Good to hear from you, Truels!
LikeLike
[…] https://photographyfree4all.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/a-garden-of-pastel/ […]
LikeLike
Colors of Spring « Cornville Surf-n-Swap said this on April 27, 2011 at 7:30 am