conservatory shots, waiting for spring.

[Sushigaijin]

I've been in a rut for the last few months - I haven't really left the house to shoot because I can't stand the cold anymore. And, since I don't have a compelling telephoto solution right now I haven't been shooting birds...so today I HAD to get out of the house. Someplace warm. Tropical feeling, even. With some good smelling foliage and nice humid air. Maybe with something unique like architecture or fauna. Maybe close-by so I can still get something done today. Free is good too...

Garfield park conservatory? perfect. And since plant macros haven't been interesting me lately it is a chance to exercise the noggin a bit. I came away with a few shots I'll keep. Nothing earth shattering but it was nice to convince myself I didn't have two months left before the salamanders emerge.

front entrance



Not oversaturated. The light was very nice at the moment. The only sun from behind the clouds moment all day, I think.


Couple of close-ups.




Fern room.



All with the 14-54. It's a great lens for $350. Best deal ever, perhaps.

Now back to your regularly scheduled gloom.

[A.M.D.A.]

That one of the palm leaf is super! Love the lighting, shooting angle and sharpness.

[Ron Kruger]

Good eye. I lived a lifetime one year northwest of Chicago, and that included one of their worst winters on record. I know what cabin fever and vitamin D deficency can do to one. But they have some of the best places to visit in the world. Love the Shed Aquarium, Field M of Natural History, etc.

[Loupey]

Nice shooting, Erik - glad to see you were able to get out and shoot

The last time I was at that conservatory, it was really cold and we had a long walk and since I didn't have the camera in a bag, it fogged up instantly. We had impatient nieces with us and since I didn't want to wipe the lens with my shirt, about half the visit was over before the lens cleared up

[Sushigaijin]

it fogged up instantly.

Thanks guys!

Loupey, mine fogged instantly too. I didn't have a lens cloth (where'd I put that thing?) so I was a bit apprehensive at first - then I remembered a soft-focus tip I picked up from an old John Hedgecoe book (The Book of Photography) - breath on the lens and shoot before it clears. The shot of those colorful bromiliad looking things has a sort of, dreamy, effect because of it. Maybe next time I'll do it deliberately!

:idea:

[A.M.D.A.]

A trick I often use when going to greenhouses/butterfly sanctuaries is to use a UV filter (extra protection), and pay a visit to the bathrooms there in order to place the camera under one of those hot-air hand-driers. Then a short while later, hurry into the humid/hot area where you will be shooting.

Breathing on a lens I really wouldn't recommend, since breath acids can damage delicate lens coatings. And there is also the possibility of spit landing on them too...

[Sushigaijin]

I'm lucky enough to have weather sealed Olympus Zuiko lenses, so I don't think I'd really benefit from a UV filter...just another piece of glass to fog up

Fog from breath is just an old technique before we had things like photoshop and post processing was a bit more labour intensive. I wouldn't worry about it myself; I do own a jeep and I do drive it wherever I can possibly take it - lesson being that I am a heavy user. I went through three cell phones last year! :mad2: Next week I'm buying (with some luck) an E3, which is weather sealed to match my lenses...I can't wait to dip the combo in the mud this spring!! Of course, your mileage my vary...I went with Olympus largely because of the environmental protection.

[paulnj]

Erik, is that last image a family member?

Great images!

[Sushigaijin]

Thanks Paul!

I have no idea who any of the people are. The conservatory was surprisingly crowded, lots of kids running around and at least two people with DLSRs wandering around shooting. The kids accidentally walked into the shot, but I think it is better with them than without them. A better pose for the littlest one might be nice, but they ran off as soon as they appeared.

[scott-devon]

Nice shots Erik, I had the idea of going to our conservatory but when I looked up the hours I found they had closed it for the winter for renovations. Darn...back to plodding through snow.

Love that palm leaf shot!

[paulnj]

Agreed Erik. The people make the image better to me.