Thanks folks, so glad you enjoyed our chance discovery. This was the thirteenth species of orchid spotted on our trip so far and could be espied from the car window on a minor road - we stopped to photograph an orobanche species and almost stood on this in our haste. Other colonies were then discovered on similar backroads, always on damp or very damp banks near orobanches. This, of course, is Antoni Gaudi country and the Lizard Orchid could easily have been one of his creations! :D
Looking nice, on a warm steamy morning with the sun starting to break through, is Polygonatum odoratum 'Carlisle'. This selection is predicted to become the new standard for variegated forms of P. odoratum. This chance seedling is named by Leo Blanchette, who runs a plant nursery in Carlisle Massachusetts (town name pronounced Car-lyle). It is compact (about 16" tall) with extra wide variegated margins.
Stunning orchid Cliff and that Polygonatum is striking Mark!
warm and steamy....yesterday was 23 C here but today is just 4 C! Wind change from SW to N means summer to winter in a few hours. Our steamy is fleeting at say the least! On the plus side, you could watch the trees leaf out yesterday...meanwhile today the leaves are shivering.
Here was my Glaucidium palmatum yesterday..the flower is sulking a little at the moment.
Seems to be a healthy plant, Todd, with no damage from insects or slugs ;)
Two climbers but very different ones today:
Clematis coreana with dark flowers - well rather buds ; the flowers are in the treetop! This plant is from seed I collected in the botanical garden in Oslo many, many years ago. It is huge now, covering a dead birch.
The other is a grape vine. I get some grape clusters every year.
Seems to be a healthy plant, Todd, with no damage from insects or slugs ;)
Two climbers but very different ones today:
Clematis coreana with dark flowers - well rather buds ; the flowers are in the treetop! This plant is from seed I collected in the botanical garden in Oslo many, many years ago. It is huge now, covering a dead birch.
The other is a grape vine. I get some grape clusters every year.
I like vines, the native ones are all smallish though, I'd like to get a few that are a bit larger without threatening to take over everything--we have parthenocissus, and though I have not seen it ripen fruit, I think vegetative growth alone would easily cover our entire acreage given a chance.. its in an awkward place in front of the house, and I'd like to move it (assuming that's even possible...), but not sure where--would have to be mowable all around, and maybe climb only on a fence, wouldn't let it near trees... Kiwis and grapes are on my wishlist, and some native NA Clematis... (we also have C tangutica---against my mom's house--nice there, wouldn't let it loose in the woodland either! We use a rake in spring to comb off mounds of seed, but I have not found any volunteers anywhere on the property...
I like vines, the native ones are all smallish though, I'd like to get a few that are a bit larger without threatening to take over everything--we have parthenocissus, and though I have not seen it ripen fruit, I think vegetative growth alone would easily cover our entire acreage given a chance.. its in an awkward place in front of the house, and I'd like to move it (assuming that's even possible...), but not sure where--would have to be mowable all around, and maybe climb only on a fence, wouldn't let it near trees... Kiwis and grapes are on my wishlist, and some native NA Clematis... (we also have C tangutica---against my mom's house--nice there, wouldn't let it loose in the woodland either! We use a rake in spring to comb off mounds of seed, but I have not found any volunteers anywhere on the property...
I do find several seedlings of the yellow flowered species I have. They are slightly different and maybe that's the reason why the seeds germinate easily. However seedlings are devoured by slugs so they disappear quickly.
While I was out checking for Cardamine laciniata seed, I came across this: Some serious woodpecking going on...
From a Pileated woodpecker:
P.S. I had posted the wrong pick of Clematis ladakhiana. Fixed now.
Those guys can do some heavy work! Lots of woodpeckers around here; despite our constant need for firewood, I try to leave some standing dead trees for them and other critters..
Took a few photos of Trillium vaseyi yesterday morning before work, the glancing morning light kind of strong but good for showing the texture of the velvety flowers which I find incredible, probably my favorite trillium. But more incredible than the texture, is how the flowers wrap themselves tightly, folding backwards around the calyx bracts to form a strongly defined triangle. Also, while a nodding species, the very large flowers are are such long pedicels that they are easily seen and not hidden.
While I was out checking for Cardamine laciniata seed, I came across this: Some serious woodpecking going on...
From a Pileated woodpecker:
What a job! Reminds me of what we experienced down here at the summerhouse some years ago. My uncle had the old house (2 storeys) and the giand black woodpecker Dryocopus martius had decided that the old boards of the wall were the place to forage (and maybe it was). In short time the bird had pecked the boards to chips and my uncle had to replace all the boards!
Nice leaves of the Clematis Rick! Beautiful trilliums too, Mark!
Re: Older previous comments 1. about "weedy" plants disappearing. I bought a 6 pack of violas, within 2 years they nearly covered 12x 25 ft. Now 2 years later, there are 6 plants in the lawn and none in the garden. Something significant there?
2. Got some Orobanche hederae from the exchange and planted in an indoor Hedera helix. After 6 or 8 years got bored with everything and tossed it. The ivy had five 14- 20mm nodules on the roots.
My image of the day could have included Penstemon, Echinocereus coccineus, and Delosperma "John Profit". Will shoot the Calochortus when they hopefully flower in a week or so.
Wow, those are some stunning photos you added to the Photo Library at the main NARGS site, Charles! Is that your garden? Love to see and hear about more!
Hi Thanks for the note. I enjoy photography and put in what I hope will be of some interest. The only photo of one of my garden areas is the sand bed in front of the brick wall. There are 6 flowering Calochortus this year so I'm pretty happy--even though the voles harvested half of my bulbs from that garden that year.
I gardened in the woods for the past 20 years, so I'm still working on getting used to an open windy flat site. The previous site was a huge north facing scree in dense shade 30 x 200 feet. I stayed on the top in the clearing.
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts
(most recent rock garden photographed = Peter George)
Re: Older previous comments 1. about "weedy" plants disappearing. I bought a 6 pack of violas, within 2 years they nearly covered 12x 25 ft. Now 2 years later, there are 6 plants in the lawn and none in the garden. Something significant there?
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts USA
When I was a kid, I had something similar happen. I found a 3 inch white violet near Duluth (Northern Minnesota) and transplanted it to where I lived in St. Paul/Minneapolis, under some Norway pines. It multiplied like tribbles in the needle duff where nothing else grew, easily 500 plants, but virtually stopped at the line of turf (Thank goodness!). The "experiment" took a little longer, but in six years or so, there were none to be found anywhere.
This one I have no idea. I couldn't even say if it might be a variant of L. mackliniae or not. I have started the species from seed a couple times, but never got them to grow in my cold climate more than through one winter. Very peculiar shoulders on the bud, though. It might help in identification.
There has been a brief flurry of debate about HDR (High Dynamic Range) images on AlpenPix and Alpine_L recently ... I would like to post three or four images on this forum to elicit comment/criticism.
Firstly ... Silene acaulis in habitat in the Dolomites.
Beautiful subject matter and composition and superb photographic skill! Since you've asked for comments on the format, on my monitor at least, it seems to make the photos look rather flat and somewhat artificial (individual objects through increasing distance standing out as clearly as those in the foreground; clouds look fake), more like a backdrop than what I'm used to see from a photograph... and a bit overworked, like a painting by a quite talented artist who hasn't quite mastered distance and shadow*... ! Is it just me? ???
* Well, I suppose my comment is a bit harsh... it would certainly be an extremely talented artist, who is aiming for hyperrealism, and just missing the mark by only a very small fraction. Anyway, the effect certainly blurs the difference between photography and painting...
My thoughts precisely, Lori. I will post two images now that (in my opinion) show the technique off ... it works better with urban images and I will post the original of the Silene acaulis to allow comparison.
Very interesting, Cliff. My preference (prejudice?) is for the original photo of the Silene... closer to what one sees, or at least how I expect the scene to be rendered in a photo. (I realize my expectation is probably a big part of this!) The other two photos certainly take on a "painterly" effect, but my original comments would still apply. (I'm not personally a big fan of hyperrealism in painting - though I certainly appreciate the skill. HDR processing seems like a way to get there without the artist's effort!)
Hmm.. interestingly, I didn't notice the change in depth in the Silene photo, though I could sort of see it when I looked for it--but I don't have great depth perception, so that may be part of it...lol I`m not familiar with this -technique? processing?- it sort of looks like high contrast applied --and I do like my images contrasty, so I can't say I dislike it straight out, though I think some images/intentions seem better suited for it... Naturally, if you intent is to show plants/habitats as they appear, its not the best--though sometimes over-enhance close-up views of plants myself to show up features like hairs, markings, folds etc.. It might be good when you want to shift or concentrate the emphasis of the image-- away from -I was there- to -this is how it felt-. For example in the Silene image, the altered view may not show exactly the simple view of the place, but that fierce light and severe landscape can have a sort of surreal mood that is conveyed by the altered image... A risk might be, in some images, an overemphasis of everything--such as the view of the cobblestone street, where the detail in the cobbles rather overwhelms the rest of the image, though maybe that was the intent!
Ditto everything that Lori said. The HDR photos remind me of the paint by number kits when I was a kid. These, when you had a board (cardboard) with a mosaic of pricise shapes that were each numbered. The #1 spaces you apply the designated paint color #1, the #2 spaces you apply the designated pant color #2, etc. I remember liking those that I "painted", but now it is sensory overload to me. On the other hand, for people like me who are always looking at the details of the backgrounds, there is something to be said.
In a way, HDR is an advancement of basic digital photography, just as digital is an extension from film photography: digital requiring so much less light, compared to film, to achieve the same crispness of detail and depth of focus, and the addition of simple cropping/enhancements. I really feel cheated with all the time I spent getting the perfect shots with tripods, close up lenses and unadulterated framing used with film. I now get better shots with my simple point and shoot hand held camera, and in a fraction of the time.
I understand your comment about how digital photography simplifies things such that it feels like cheating, Rick. (I always reflect on the fact that, with a regular camera, I couldn't take a recognizable photo to save myself!! And, I should add, with a digital, I can burn off a dozen shots until I get one that's halfway in focus... ;D)
Thanks for all the comments, folks. Basically you echo my own thoughts on the subject! Much has been made of the technique on photography sites, so I purchased the least expensive and certainly most basic app. to give it a try. The hyper-realism shouts, 'painting by numbers' Rick and will only work occasionally in poster design or advertising. With my eyesight still in a state of flux (one cataract removed and one still to be tackled) it helped to 'strengthen' the image for me at this time, but I realise that the original image was taken when my sight was far better and will look fine again when the surgeon can find the time to accompany me to the theatre! Back to my usual images that now look a little under-defined to these clouded old eyes of mine! :D
And, I should add, with a digital, I can burn off a dozen shots until I get one that's halfway in focus... ;D)
This is the biggest change for me with digital (besides onscreen editing! I was not processing my own print images after high school!) --the sheer number of images possible- I never could have afforded to take so many pictures, let alone develop them, on print film! I take more photos now on an afternoon walk in the bush then I would have taken on vacation in the 'old days'.. Cliff, that's another good point, apart from vision differences, there are screen differences-- using a laptop now, where the image, to my viewing, changes completely if I sit up, slouch or move the angle of the screen, I often wonder what I am showing to other people?!?
I just posted in the travel section, pics of the alpines I found on my recent excursion to our southern limestone barrens. I'll post a Silene acaulis I found there seeing as Cliff was showing it in Italy.
What do you call a cushion that big? It is the biggest I've ever seen of that kind!
My picture is showing something in the other end of the scale, and no cushion ;D
Cornus (Swida) alternifolia. Very floriferous this year and a nice fragrance too. This species lack the showy bracts of relatives like C. florida but is still a handsome species.
Plants are rather ratty, but you have to admire the flowers. Not the usual for NE USA. Plants from commercial stock. Planted fall 2010 in mostly sand.
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts USA Z6a +/- 40+ inches rain
I think all Calochortus are lovely, good job, Charles :) I've tried one set of seed so far with no results, will be trying again, there are a few which sound like they should be hardy here..
Cohan, I posted this from an older NARGS bulletin before you came on board at the forum. http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=432.msg4349#msg4349 I found it very informative. Some time, I am going to try the genus from seed, too.
Thanks, Rick... I think I may have just sown them too late to get full cold stratification, then the seeds did not last till the next winter to complete it as some other things did! (who knows, I could be wrong and they will pop up this fall or next spring!)
It remains to be seen how some of these dryland plants will do here--our precip can vary year to year, but summers are often not dry here--especially june and into early july--that can be when our main precip for the year is... and the last several years have tended to wet in general, this year sure is!
Comments
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 10:28pmThanks folks, so glad you enjoyed our chance discovery. This was the thirteenth species of orchid spotted on our trip so far and could be espied from the car window on a minor road - we stopped to photograph an orobanche species and almost stood on this in our haste. Other colonies were then discovered on similar backroads, always on damp or very damp banks near orobanches. This, of course, is Antoni Gaudi country and the Lizard Orchid could easily have been one of his creations! :D
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 05/28/2011 - 8:17amEchoing the previous responses...
Fantastic asperula, Anne, and an utterly amazing orchid, Cliff!
Mark McDonough
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 05/28/2011 - 9:51amI second that, wonderful Asperula.
Looking nice, on a warm steamy morning with the sun starting to break through, is Polygonatum odoratum 'Carlisle'. This selection is predicted to become the new standard for variegated forms of P. odoratum. This chance seedling is named by Leo Blanchette, who runs a plant nursery in Carlisle Massachusetts (town name pronounced Car-lyle). It is compact (about 16" tall) with extra wide variegated margins.
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 05/28/2011 - 1:26pmIn fact I am usually no admirer of variegated plants but this one is one I could make exceptions for ;)
Todd Boland
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 05/28/2011 - 5:42pmStunning orchid Cliff and that Polygonatum is striking Mark!
warm and steamy....yesterday was 23 C here but today is just 4 C! Wind change from SW to N means summer to winter in a few hours. Our steamy is fleeting at say the least! On the plus side, you could watch the trees leaf out yesterday...meanwhile today the leaves are shivering.
Here was my Glaucidium palmatum yesterday..the flower is sulking a little at the moment.
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 05/29/2011 - 8:57amSeems to be a healthy plant, Todd, with no damage from insects or slugs ;)
Two climbers but very different ones today:
Clematis coreana with dark flowers - well rather buds ; the flowers are in the treetop! This plant is from seed I collected in the botanical garden in Oslo many, many years ago. It is huge now, covering a dead birch.
The other is a grape vine. I get some grape clusters every year.
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 05/29/2011 - 3:56pmI like vines, the native ones are all smallish though, I'd like to get a few that are a bit larger without threatening to take over everything--we have parthenocissus, and though I have not seen it ripen fruit, I think vegetative growth alone would easily cover our entire acreage given a chance.. its in an awkward place in front of the house, and I'd like to move it (assuming that's even possible...), but not sure where--would have to be mowable all around, and maybe climb only on a fence, wouldn't let it near trees...
Kiwis and grapes are on my wishlist, and some native NA Clematis... (we also have C tangutica---against my mom's house--nice there, wouldn't let it loose in the woodland either! We use a rake in spring to comb off mounds of seed, but I have not found any volunteers anywhere on the property...
Anne Spiegel
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 05/29/2011 - 5:41pmTodd, if that glaucidium is what you call sulking, please let it come to my garden and sulk!!!
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 12:46pmI do find several seedlings of the yellow flowered species I have. They are slightly different and maybe that's the reason why the seeds germinate easily. However seedlings are devoured by slugs so they disappear quickly.
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 5:21pmLove the foliage of Clematis coreana, Trond. Wouldn't mind seed for that one...
On the other end of the foliage spectrum, here are the leaves of a clematis given to me as C. ladakhiana:
------------------------------
Clematis tangutica Helios
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 6:26amWhile I was out checking for Cardamine laciniata seed, I came across this:
Some serious woodpecking going on...
From a Pileated woodpecker:
P.S. I had posted the wrong pick of Clematis ladakhiana. Fixed now.
Stephen Barstow
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 10:58amSerious excavation!! Must have been a lot of goodies in there....
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 12:28pmThose guys can do some heavy work! Lots of woodpeckers around here; despite our constant need for firewood, I try to leave some standing dead trees for them and other critters..
Todd Boland
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 5:47pmIncredible excavation!
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 8:55pmIsn't it fun to see them working away? The woodchips really fly!
Mark McDonough
Re: Image of the day
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 3:54amTook a few photos of Trillium vaseyi yesterday morning before work, the glancing morning light kind of strong but good for showing the texture of the velvety flowers which I find incredible, probably my favorite trillium. But more incredible than the texture, is how the flowers wrap themselves tightly, folding backwards around the calyx bracts to form a strongly defined triangle. Also, while a nodding species, the very large flowers are are such long pedicels that they are easily seen and not hidden.
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 3:09amWhat a job! Reminds me of what we experienced down here at the summerhouse some years ago. My uncle had the old house (2 storeys) and the giand black woodpecker Dryocopus martius had decided that the old boards of the wall were the place to forage (and maybe it was). In short time the bird had pecked the boards to chips and my uncle had to replace all the boards!
Nice leaves of the Clematis Rick!
Beautiful trilliums too, Mark!
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 1:52pmDrove home today. Very nice weather!
But in the mountains the winter still linger. . . We had a short brake to rest and stretch the legs. +18C!
However the snow had just disappeared and not much in flower except these Saxifraga oppositifolia on the verge.
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 2:56pmLovely to see these, Trond :) I hoped to see this Sax in the mts, but didn't...
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 3:18pmWow! There are roads in some truly amazing places there!
Anne Spiegel
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 06/05/2011 - 6:48pmWhat beautiful saxes, Trond.
Todd Boland
Re: Image of the day
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 5:15pmI heard the Sax. oppositifolia are blooming in northern newfoundland at the moment as well.
externmed (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 7:47pmRe: Older previous comments
1. about "weedy" plants disappearing. I bought a 6 pack of violas, within 2 years they nearly covered 12x 25
ft. Now 2 years later, there are 6 plants in the lawn and none in the garden. Something significant there?
2. Got some Orobanche hederae from the exchange and planted in an indoor Hedera helix. After 6 or 8 years got bored with everything and tossed it. The ivy had five 14- 20mm nodules on the roots.
My image of the day could have included Penstemon, Echinocereus coccineus, and Delosperma "John Profit".
Will shoot the Calochortus when they hopefully flower in a week or so.
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts USA
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 9:24pmWow, those are some stunning photos you added to the Photo Library at the main NARGS site, Charles! Is that your garden? Love to see and hear about more!
externmed (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 06/07/2011 - 10:28amHi Thanks for the note.
I enjoy photography and put in what I hope will be of some interest.
The only photo of one of my garden areas is the sand bed in front of the brick wall. There are 6 flowering Calochortus this year so I'm pretty happy--even though the voles harvested half of my bulbs from that garden that year.
I gardened in the woods for the past 20 years, so I'm still working on getting used to an open windy flat site. The previous site was a huge north facing scree in dense shade 30 x 200 feet. I stayed on the top in the clearing.
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts
(most recent rock garden photographed = Peter George)
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 06/07/2011 - 4:28pmI've started posting photos from last weeks trip to the mountains--editing the photos takes far more time than the trip itself!
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=591.15
Full albums on Picasa, still uploading those and getting captions done etc, first few are there...
https://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/AlbertaRockyMountainsMay312011...
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 06/07/2011 - 11:07pmWhen I was a kid, I had something similar happen. I found a 3 inch white violet near Duluth (Northern Minnesota) and transplanted it to where I lived in St. Paul/Minneapolis, under some Norway pines. It multiplied like tribbles in the needle duff where nothing else grew, easily 500 plants, but virtually stopped at the line of turf (Thank goodness!). The "experiment" took a little longer, but in six years or so, there were none to be found anywhere.
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Mon, 06/13/2011 - 10:10pmA lily of the day!
I am not sure but think I once planted a Lilium macklinia (dark form) here. But that doesn't fit. What do you say?
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 06/14/2011 - 4:16pmThis one I have no idea. I couldn't even say if it might be a variant of L. mackliniae or not. I have started the species from seed a couple times, but never got them to grow in my cold climate more than through one winter. Very peculiar shoulders on the bud, though. It might help in identification.
Todd Boland
Re: Image of the day
Tue, 06/14/2011 - 4:41pmBeautiful lily, whatever it is!
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:57pmDianthus pavonius
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 8:27amThere has been a brief flurry of debate about HDR (High Dynamic Range) images on AlpenPix and Alpine_L recently ... I would like to post three or four images on this forum to elicit comment/criticism.
Firstly ... Silene acaulis in habitat in the Dolomites.
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 8:31amA HDR image of a fungi in the Dolomites.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 8:49amBeautiful subject matter and composition and superb photographic skill!
Since you've asked for comments on the format, on my monitor at least, it seems to make the photos look rather flat and somewhat artificial (individual objects through increasing distance standing out as clearly as those in the foreground; clouds look fake), more like a backdrop than what I'm used to see from a photograph... and a bit overworked, like a painting by a quite talented artist who hasn't quite mastered distance and shadow*... ! Is it just me? ???
* Well, I suppose my comment is a bit harsh... it would certainly be an extremely talented artist, who is aiming for hyperrealism, and just missing the mark by only a very small fraction. Anyway, the effect certainly blurs the difference between photography and painting...
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 9:19amMy thoughts precisely, Lori.
I will post two images now that (in my opinion) show the technique off ... it works better with urban images and I will post the original of the Silene acaulis to allow comparison.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 9:48amVery interesting, Cliff. My preference (prejudice?) is for the original photo of the Silene... closer to what one sees, or at least how I expect the scene to be rendered in a photo. (I realize my expectation is probably a big part of this!)
The other two photos certainly take on a "painterly" effect, but my original comments would still apply. (I'm not personally a big fan of hyperrealism in painting - though I certainly appreciate the skill. HDR processing seems like a way to get there without the artist's effort!)
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:50amHmm.. interestingly, I didn't notice the change in depth in the Silene photo, though I could sort of see it when I looked for it--but I don't have great depth perception, so that may be part of it...lol
I`m not familiar with this -technique? processing?- it sort of looks like high contrast applied --and I do like my images contrasty, so I can't say I dislike it straight out, though I think some images/intentions seem better suited for it... Naturally, if you intent is to show plants/habitats as they appear, its not the best--though sometimes over-enhance close-up views of plants myself to show up features like hairs, markings, folds etc..
It might be good when you want to shift or concentrate the emphasis of the image-- away from -I was there- to -this is how it felt-. For example in the Silene image, the altered view may not show exactly the simple view of the place, but that fierce light and severe landscape can have a sort of surreal mood that is conveyed by the altered image...
A risk might be, in some images, an overemphasis of everything--such as the view of the cobblestone street, where the detail in the cobbles rather overwhelms the rest of the image, though maybe that was the intent!
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 3:20pmDitto everything that Lori said. The HDR photos remind me of the paint by number kits when I was a kid. These, when you had a board (cardboard) with a mosaic of pricise shapes that were each numbered. The #1 spaces you apply the designated paint color #1, the #2 spaces you apply the designated pant color #2, etc. I remember liking those that I "painted", but now it is sensory overload to me. On the other hand, for people like me who are always looking at the details of the backgrounds, there is something to be said.
In a way, HDR is an advancement of basic digital photography, just as digital is an extension from film photography: digital requiring so much less light, compared to film, to achieve the same crispness of detail and depth of focus, and the addition of simple cropping/enhancements. I really feel cheated with all the time I spent getting the perfect shots with tripods, close up lenses and unadulterated framing used with film. I now get better shots with my simple point and shoot hand held camera, and in a fraction of the time.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 3:36pmI understand your comment about how digital photography simplifies things such that it feels like cheating, Rick. (I always reflect on the fact that, with a regular camera, I couldn't take a recognizable photo to save myself!! And, I should add, with a digital, I can burn off a dozen shots until I get one that's halfway in focus... ;D)
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:08pmThanks for all the comments, folks. Basically you echo my own thoughts on the subject! Much has been made of the technique on photography sites, so I purchased the least expensive and certainly most basic app. to give it a try. The hyper-realism shouts, 'painting by numbers' Rick and will only work occasionally in poster design or advertising. With my eyesight still in a state of flux (one cataract removed and one still to be tackled) it helped to 'strengthen' the image for me at this time, but I realise that the original image was taken when my sight was far better and will look fine again when the surgeon can find the time to accompany me to the theatre!
Back to my usual images that now look a little under-defined to these clouded old eyes of mine! :D
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:12pmThis is the biggest change for me with digital (besides onscreen editing! I was not processing my own print images after high school!) --the sheer number of images possible- I never could have afforded to take so many pictures, let alone develop them, on print film! I take more photos now on an afternoon walk in the bush then I would have taken on vacation in the 'old days'..
Cliff, that's another good point, apart from vision differences, there are screen differences-- using a laptop now, where the image, to my viewing, changes completely if I sit up, slouch or move the angle of the screen, I often wonder what I am showing to other people?!?
Todd Boland
Re: Image of the day
Sun, 06/19/2011 - 4:00pmI just posted in the travel section, pics of the alpines I found on my recent excursion to our southern limestone barrens. I'll post a Silene acaulis I found there seeing as Cliff was showing it in Italy.
Trond Hoy
Re: Image of the day
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:04amWhat do you call a cushion that big? It is the biggest I've ever seen of that kind!
My picture is showing something in the other end of the scale, and no cushion ;D
Cornus (Swida) alternifolia. Very floriferous this year and a nice fragrance too. This species lack the showy bracts of relatives like C. florida but is still a handsome species.
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:33amThis beautiful cushion was near a cable car mid-station in the Dolomites and passengers didn't even give it a second glance as they strode by.
Silene acaulis
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 2:54pm"What the pink thing? Just more of those petunias they set out for summer...."
externmed (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 3:52pmPlants are rather ratty, but you have to admire the flowers. Not the usual for NE USA. Plants from commercial stock. Planted fall 2010 in mostly sand.
Charles Swanson NE Massachusetts USA Z6a +/- 40+ inches rain
Cliff Booker
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 8:38am;D ;D ;D ;D
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 11:53amI think all Calochortus are lovely, good job, Charles :) I've tried one set of seed so far with no results, will be trying again, there are a few which sound like they should be hardy here..
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 3:28pmWonderful Calochortus, Charles.
Cohan, I posted this from an older NARGS bulletin before you came on board at the forum.
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=432.msg4349#msg4349
I found it very informative. Some time, I am going to try the genus from seed, too.
cohan (not verified)
Re: Image of the day
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 10:49pmThanks, Rick... I think I may have just sown them too late to get full cold stratification, then the seeds did not last till the next winter to complete it as some other things did! (who knows, I could be wrong and they will pop up this fall or next spring!)
It remains to be seen how some of these dryland plants will do here--our precip can vary year to year, but summers are often not dry here--especially june and into early july--that can be when our main precip for the year is... and the last several years have tended to wet in general, this year sure is!
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