Critique Welcomed Carlsbad Flower Fields

[Chris Dodkin]

Yes, it's THAT time of year again - I go every year and take some shots, as it's local, and very photogenic. - The Flower Fields® | The Flower Fields

Canon always do a macro workshop here as well, this year it's on the 21st April if anyone is in the area.

Canon Macro Photography Workshop - April 21, 2013 | The Flower Fields

This year I decided to entrust the wonderful colors of spring to Fuji - specifically some Fujifilm Reala 100 ASA - shot with the Blad.

I used a linear polarizing filter, and visited once in the morning for the top-down shots, and then later in the afternoon for the bottom-up and detailed shots.

Looking West past the Windmill to the Ocean

Looking North-West to our glorious landmark power plant!

Looking up the hill to the Carlsbad by the Sea Resort

Stripes of color

A picker selecting blooms for sale

Orange Blooms

One in a Million

Red blooms and the Pacific Ocean


The blooms are 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers - quite an amazing site as you drive up I5 North of San Diego.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

STUNNING!!!!!!!!
These really are Chris! Stunning!

 

[Brian Moore]

Great set, Chris. I like the 3rd one especially for its grand foreground of color and the wee pickers in the background.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Really nice Chris!

You should do us an off season set, for comparison

 

[Pete Askew]

Wonderful set Chris. I especially like the one with the OOF picker and the first and third general views. I also like that you can see the change of effect of the polariser as you change angle relative to the sun.

 

[Paul Lange]

It seems you have found the camera of your dreams there Chris and it is square format too!! Don't worry in drastic circumstances you can sellotape to cameras together to get a 2:1 wider angle shot.

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Chris...I'm jealous because you get to spend time there. You captured what I envision it would be like there...which is always difficult for me to do. I think I would have to just stand and breathe for a long time to let the overload of possibilities calm down.
I really loved the close up shots.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

STUNNING!!!!!!!!
These really are Chris! Stunning!

Thanks Dan - much appreciated

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Great set, Chris. I like the 3rd one especially for its grand foreground of color and the wee pickers in the background.

Thanks Brian - glad you mentioned the pickers, I wanted to include them as they're always out there working away

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Really nice Chris!

You should do us an off season set, for comparison

Thanks Hamish - I'll call the off-season set shades of **** brown

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Wonderful set Chris. I especially like the one with the OOF picker and the first and third general views. I also like that you can see the change of effect of the polariser as you change angle relative to the sun.

Thanks Pete - I see you are back to your eagle-eyed best

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It seems you have found the camera of your dreams there Chris and it is square format too!! Don't worry in drastic circumstances you can sellotape to cameras together to get a 2:1 wider angle shot.

LOL - thanks Paul - I am liking what the Blad produces so far - and the challenge of squareness is good for the brian

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Chris...I'm jealous because you get to spend time there. You captured what I envision it would be like there...which is always difficult for me to do. I think I would have to just stand and breathe for a long time to let the overload of possibilities calm down.
I really loved the close up shots.

Glenn - I've been going back for maybe 4 or 5 years now, and have finally started to produce the images I wanted to get from the start.

So it' s been a real learning curve - I think I was overwhelmed completely for the first few years - so much to see, so many colors - I just used the widest lens I had to 'get it all in'.

I've since realized that less is more, and longer lenses can get you a better perspective - and that wide lenses make things look small and flat, so put something in the foreground to fill it up!