03-02-2014 / Personal Visions #8: Paradise Bird
Paradise Bird
I hereby present the eighth entry in
the Personal Visions series: Paradise Bird.
Technical commentary:
This is the first photo of this kind for
this series, since it's a macro photograph.
If you don't know what "macro"
means, it's when you use a lens designed to magnify the size of something small
and amplify its details. Like a magnifying glass.
The difference between a telephoto and a
macro lens is that the latter requires you to be as close as possible to the
subject whereas the former requires you to be as far away as possible.
The photograph you see here was a
particularly complex shot to achieve because if movement throws your picture of
whack when using a telephoto, a macro lens can murder it without you noticing.
The closer you are to something, the
easier it is to move the focus point away from your subject with the slightest
of movements.
Which was the problem with this picture:
breathing and wind kept pushing the camera and the flower back and forth.
The camera aspect was in my control, it
was just a matter of not breathing while holding the camera and avoid moving at
all, how hard could it be?
Very actually, it takes years of practice
to be able to do that (and the Nepalese monks under which I studied will kill
me if I reveal their secrets...)
But the wind doesn't operate on my
command, sadly. Even though I moved the pot around, the wind managed to find us
(we were outdoors after all) and I couldn't be too hasty with my movements
because the flower was really delicate and any sudden movements might make it
fall off and I wasn't looking to do that.
So I had to find a place where the wind
wasn't so harsh on the flower and wait for a lull. That required patience
because it took a long while for that to happen and when it did, I had to get
going because my group was done with their business at the nursery where I took
this image.
It started raining in the meantime
(evidenced by a rain drop found on the right side of the image) and that meant
more movement added to the equation. Even though it wasn't pouring over the
flower, a few drops did fall and moved it all over.
Sometimes all the circumstances play
against you but if you know how to deal with them you can come out of it
victorious.
In order to have just enough detail
rendered visible in the picture, I had to really close down the aperture of the
lens, which meant reducing the overall brightness of the picture. I had to play
with other adjustments to avoid the picture coming out dark but it meant the
flower would have to be dead still if I was going to make it.
If memory serves me well, I only managed
two shots of this flower before I had to depart. The first one came out wrong
because a gust of wind moved the flower when I pressed the button, the second
one is what you see here.
The main focus point for me was the part
that looks like the bird's head. That is the part of detail that anchors the
whole concept because otherwise it would be another flower picture. Pretty but
common.
I wanted to make something unique instead.
What amazes me to this day is just how
much resemblance there actually is with a bird on that flower. It's that kind
of details that make me think that all nature is indeed connected.
When I confirmed the picture looked the
way intended, I placed the flower back on its original place and exited the
nursery.
In theory, we should have left at that
point, but due to fluctuations in the space-time continuum, we stayed there for
a little longer, which in turn allowed me to capture an image you have seen
already...
Interestingly enough, the post-processing
on this picture is minimal. I have never considered it needs more
than the strict basics and that's it. That's why there aren't any more versions and also why I can't discuss this specific point any further; it just works as it
is and there's no need to alter anything else.
Which is, in my opinion, a valuable lesson
to keep in mind: When a photo works as-is, don't mess with it.
In those cases, the enhancements you could
do on it can actually be counterproductive.
Personal commentary:
The flower in question is an orchid, just
don't ask me what kind because I don't know and the guy at the nursery couldn't
help in that regard.
I will admit that I was attracted to it
like a bee during spring. Its colors and shape were fascinating to me. The
combination of white, fuchsia, magenta, yellow and dark orange was perfect for
me.
But the bird resemblance... That was the
key element to make me say "I need a picture of this". For me, it looks like a bird showing its plumage before taking flight. Maybe it's
displaying it for you to see, maybe it's daring you to show yours.
There is another flower that's known
as Bird Of Paradise, but personally I've always found a lot
of trouble finding the actual shape of a bird on it without it looking like a
cartoon character.
This one works a lot better for me as a
bird and as a flower. I like the other one too but there's something about this
one...
Capturing this picture was an exercise in
patience. That's something I learned from Vincent Laforet on a video I watched
with him. He waited patiently for minutes for the shot he wanted, he didn't
move, he didn't flinch. He just kept his camera aimed and his eye on the
viewfinder.
When he got the image he was looking for,
he came out with a smile and saying "you have to be patient to get the
shot you want".
I learned a valuable lesson there and I've
been practicing that concept every time I take a photograph. This was one
occasion where doing so paid off precisely as I wanted it to.
As much as the wind, the rain, focusing
and my pulse were a problem, I managed to get what I was looking for: a shot of
beauty, color and fierceness because even though the orchid is typically a very
delicate plant with an even more delicate flower, this one is displaying a
fierce attitude: I'm beautiful and you won't bring me down, I will soar to the
sky and you can't stop me.
I do recall coming out with a smile when I
stood up and checked the picture on my LCD screen. It's a special feeling when
you get the shot exactly as you intended.
My patience was rewarded and now I present
that reward to you.
Beauty can be found in the simplest of
things and even though you will rarely see a flower that's not beautiful, even
among beauty there are levels of it.
This picture most definitely had to be in
color because it's an explosion of it. Nature is wise and it mixed the right
combination of hues in order to create a masterpiece. Muting them with a
monochrome treatment would only be a crime.
There's also the fact that if you compare
it against the other entries in this series, it shines on its own quite
intensely when paired with its other sisters.
At this point I think that nature was
doing what it does best: spreading beauty all around for those willing to see
it. All it needed was the means to exhibit it properly. I'm grateful for having
been chosen to provide said means this time.
Marvel us with your beauty
Oh, Paradise bird
Before you take flight and emigrate far
away
Delight us with your colors
Oh, Paradise bird
And rejuvenate our souls, take away these
gray sores
How can you be so dauntless whilst being
so delicate?
So graceful whilst being so indomitable
So miraculous whilst being so obvious
You challenge me
Oh, Paradise Bird
To a showdown I won't be able to win
Because the best I can do is to let you be
Soar high in the sky
Oh, Paradise bird
Use your magic on this barren land
Shape it, color it, adorn it
Embellish the view with your aesthetics
Don't forget to sound your soothing
chitter
We will appreciate your stylish antics
I shall be your loyal permitter
Will you stay here?
Oh, Paradise bird
Please be sincere
I will revere
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