Tag Archives: bee

Fields of Gold

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Every couple of years the field near my house turns a wonderful, shining yellow. It’s currently at the height of its glory, so I took a 5 minute walk after work today.

bumble bee on yellow rape flowers

(Photo taken at 1/1000, f/1.8, ISO 200)

bumble bee on yellow rape flowers

(Photo taken at 1/1000, f/1.8, ISO 200)

It was late in the day, so the sun wasn’t lighting the field as it often does.. I’ll go back and catch it like that if I can!

yellow rape field in watford, hertfordshire.

(Photo taken at 1/640, f/5.6, ISO 200)

But the softer light just meant I could appreciate each flower all the more.

yellow rape flowers against the sky

(Photo taken at 1/4000, f/1.4, ISO 100)

Update

I went back. It was cloudy, cloudy, rainy, cloudy, aaall day long. However, as soon as I left work there was a brief burst of sunshine. I ran to the field, and took a few more photos before the sun went away for the night.

(Photo taken at 1/4000, f/1.6, ISO 100)

I was so pleased, the sun was exactly where I hoped it would be, and just bright enough to make the flowers shine, with just enough cloud to make the sky interesting. The photo gods were smiling on me that evening.

yellow rape field in watford, hertfordshire.

(Photo taken at: 1/2500, f/2.8, ISO 100)

A little sun makes all the difference.

yellow rape field in watford, hertfordshire.

(Photo taken at: 1/2500, f/2.8, ISO 100)

“Incomplete and a little strange”

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“A Ming vase can be well-designed and well-made and is beautiful for that reason alone.  I don’t think this can be true for photography.  Unless there is something a little incomplete and a little strange, it will simply look like a copy of something pretty.  We won’t take an interest in it.”

- John Loengard

Bumble bees buzzing around pink echinacea flowers

(photo taken at 1/800, f/1.8, ISO 100)

“Incomplete and a little strange” is something I have to learn to love in my photography. I’m trying. Often when I search through my photos I discover little treasures that I set aside because they weren’t just right. This photo is one I classed as “incomplete”. The focus wasn’t exactly where I wanted it, which bothered me so much that I couldn’t look at it and moved on. I didn’t rediscover it until a few months afterwards. I came across the photo and did a quick edit, just to see what would happen. It was only when I gave it this second chance that I realised it’s one of my favourites.

I’m trying to be more forgiving in my photography; allowing more space for life and less for attempted perfection.

This takes a lot of gentle (and not so gentle) reminders; I get frustrated when things don’t look like they “should”. I’m taking it gradually, one photo at a time…