Life cycle study - 2010 photo project

[Iguanamom]

Lots of photographers do a 365-day or 52-week project to keep them in the game. I, however, lack discipline and have an ornery nature. This kind of thing would quickly become a burden. The idea of a project though appeals to me, I just need looser rules.

So I chose to do a life cycle study of the lily of the valley growing outside my door. From first sprouts -



to first buds -



and leaves unfurling -



to full lush flowering -





and the die back -



I photographed it all. Discovered some secrets (did you know they make berries?) and made some powerful images if I do say so myself. Not only did I learn about the plants and enjoy their presence (oh that smell...that haunting smell), but I got better with my equipment and macro technique. Primarily I used a legacy OM 90mm f2 macro lens on the E-30, but I also worked in the Zuiko Digital 12-60mm and the OM 35mm f2...once even the OM 180mm f2.8. For support I used a couple of tripods and a bag of barley. The E-30s flip and swivel LCD saved my life with this project. All processing done in Lightroom 3.X.

You can check out the gallery here and the blog collection here.

[Old Timer]

Great idea! I hope to do something similar this Spring. Love the water drop image.

[Iguanamom]

thanks. the gallery goes from 1st day (March) to last day (November). It was a leisurely project in the grand sense, but I did have to be regular about shooting because nothing lasts with those flowers.

[WesternGuy]

Great idea, great images...I did something similar last spring with a lilac bush outside our back door - photographed a portion of a "stem", from first budding to full flower, just never put it anywhere (except on the computer) - maybe this will be incentive for me to find it and edit up for posting here. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

WesternGuy