Carlsbad Flower Fields

[Chris Dodkin]

Took a walk down to the local Carlsbad Flower Fields this afternoon, and gave the X-Pro1 a bit of a work-out on the huge selection of Ranunculus on display.

The fields are big - Spalding/Fens sort of big - and are a huge local tourist attraction around Easter.

Wide view of the sloping fields - using the 18mm lens

The flowers are grown in broad stripes, across a pretty steep ocean-facing slope.

60mm Macro Lens

Lots and lots of Japanese tourists taking pictures

60mm Macro Lens - using my body to shade the flower from direct sunshine

60mm Macro

60mm Macro at f/4

The fields used to go over the hill, which looked very cool - but now they've built a large resort/Hotel for LegoLand.

Loo with a view - 35mm lens at f/1.4 using a 3 stop ND filter

Dangerous man-eating plants? 35mm lens at f/1.4

 

[Brian Moore]

Lovely set, Chris. There's something very poignant about #2.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Brian

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Good use of the camera. I love the close up of the yellow one. Beautiful.

 

[adrian jordin]

I agree, thet yellow close up is superb...

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks chaps - it's the first time I used the 60mm for real close-up (macro) and I'm loving that yellow flower shot too

Will definitely look for other things to try it on now - and have a play with DOF at that close focus distance.

Composition using the rear screen was easy enough, as long as it was shaded from the sun - and AF was easy to position and worked very well.

I just had to dial-up the ISO & shutter speed to ensure I could freeze the flowers, as they were moving in the breeze a little.

 

[Pete Askew]

Wonderful set there Chris. Not yet sure which is my favourites yet but i also like the close-ups. At the moment it is the one with the OOF people in the background. You could have some fun with that loo on wheels and a decent slope couldn't you?! Wonder what the roll time to the ocean is!