Is There a Botanist in the House

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on January 12, 2010 at 2:00pm

Thanks Chris,
Fred said the same thing, and it was trying to cut through the fog of my old brain. I appreciate the come back.
Best of Luck,
Keith Birmingham

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Permalink Reply by Fred on January 12, 2010 at 11:55am

Those white bits is not noise. The noise is visable in the green stripes behind the flower head and in the leaves.
Because the flower head is not in focus correctly I am going to guess those white bits are a larvae or maybe aphids

Noise enters the picture if you do not have the exposure spot on. the EXIF date for your picture tells me:
ISO 800
F/5.6
1/250 shutter speed
White Balance set to flash
sRGB
Saturation +2
Sharpness +2
Subject distance range = UNKNOWN
Spot Metering
Auto Exposure

Why was the White Balance set to flash when you did not use it?
What did you spot meter from?
Auto exposure, I only use manual for flowers.
Subject distance range= UNKNOWN tells me the flower was not in focus. Was the green light on in the viewfinder?

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Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on January 12, 2010 at 1:58pm

Thanks for your come back. I think your info on the larvae was spot on. Larvae - I just could not grab that word out of the back of my mind. Until recently it was a rare occasion for me to be able to stand still and make adjustments to my camera. I have been traveling at a dead run for so long that I had forgotten how to stop and enjoy life. Hopefully, things are changing for me, and I will be able to do my work right instead of just hoping for the best. If I am right I was sitting in my car in line at a stop sign when I grabbed this shot and took off. Truthfully, most of my digital work over the past three years has been done in this sort of situation. I am retired now and striving to build an " event and portfolio" book that I can attract clients with. And, yes, I know I have a long way to go.

Thanks a heap for the feedback.
Keith Birmingham

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Permalink Reply by Mia Rose on January 12, 2010 at 2:56pm

Hi Keith,

Just one more remark about noise. The higher your ISO setting (e.g. 800 in your photo) the more noise you can expect. It's always best to try and keep it as low as possible. I've just recently written a short article on ISO and managing light sensitivity for minimum noise. You can read it here if you're interested:

What is ISO?

Warm wishes

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Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on January 12, 2010 at 3:31pm

Thanks Mia. I am a little bit house bound right now, but itching to get out and practice what I know, and learn more. This stuff is doing a constant dance through my mind, but I am just now getting a chance to start working on my ideas and theories.

Thanks again.
Keith

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Permalink Reply by Mia Rose on January 12, 2010 at 4:25pm

I'm with you... it's so exciting to learn more, practice what you've learnt, learn more... you get the picture! :)

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Permalink Reply by Sean on January 14, 2010 at 7:37pm

Read your article. I just have one question. Why did you leave out green? Poor green was left out of the noise roll call. Some models give off an awful green noise in low light situations.:-)

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Permalink Reply by Ed on January 13, 2010 at 11:24pm

You have several things going on with this blossom:

1. This appears to be a hibiscus blossom, best guess with out a frontal view for observation of the organs.
2. White larvae, probably for white fly.
3. There are aphids present, visible as light green spots on the base of the blossom (corolla).
4. The coloration of this blossom suggests that it is nearing it's final stages.
5. Near scenecent blossoms often have a loss of pigment as suggested by the white striping in the blossom petals.
6. Most of the pigments of this blossom are somewhat oxidized and "spent" as indicated by the "washed out" look.
7. Swelling at the base of the blossom sugests that fertilization has occured and the ovaries are maturing into seeds and the blossom will soon be shed.
8. The aphids and probably the white fly adults have done considerable damage, producing small but open woulds at the cellular level. These wounds will exude plant primary fluids which contain sugars and these appear to be supporting a population of mold and/or fungi.
9. The plant is also infected with a mildew-like black mold.

An important aspect of shooting photos of plant blossoms is to remember that the blossoms are full of photo-reactive pigments and compounds. If the sensitivity of your camera sensor is dramatically different than that of your eye, it will see an entirely different spectrum of color from the blossom than what you see with your eye.

Many of these blossom pigments flouresce (i.e., re-radiate light energy) in the U.V. and I.R. ranges to attract pollinators, repel predators, etc.

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Mia Rose on January 14, 2010 at 1:09pm

Wow... it seems we really do have a botanist in the house! :) I'm impressed!

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Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on January 14, 2010 at 3:10pm

It ain't fair. Ed has the education. I have the headache. Life just ain't fair.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on January 14, 2010 at 7:53pm

Mia, purely a testiment to the patience and perseverence of my teachers. I thank them.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on January 14, 2010 at 3:08pm

Well, it helped. But, it also gave me a headache: ) I hope I don't get tested on it.

Seriously, I appreciate it. And, I have about 300 more plants shots if you want to identify them for me. I'm only an x-truck driver.

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