Petite Fleur Bleue

We have a whole pot of those little blue pansies, and they are so delicate, yet I hadn't managed to get a good shot of them previously. But I am quite happy with this one - I like the composition, the sharpness all through the flower, as well as the blurred background with other little pansies providing some nice blue hue

I'm also still very happy with my new D750 body - so fast, and great focus, exposure, etc. Coupled with my trusted macro lens (the Tamron SP AF 90mm 1:1, 1st generation) images keep piling up in my LightRoom library!

"Petite Fleur Bleue" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

As always, this image is also posted on my +500px page: https://500px.com/photo/123923427/petite-fleur-bleue-by-gilles-royer

And one my FaceBook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

Thanks for your visit

Spring is here!

With Spring (officially but not technically) kicking into gear here in Melbourne, the garden offers growing opportunities for my macro / close-up shots, with buds, blossoms, flowers and trees all enjoying the warm rays of the sun.

So this is perfect time for more in-the-field testing of my new camera, the Nikon D750. Full frame and as light as my (9 year old) D200! 

Below are a few shots that I've taken over the last few weekends.

"Peach Blossom" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

"L'Arome" (c) Gilles Royer 2015 

"Purple Cornflower" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

"Splash of Pink" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

These have also been published on my +500px portfolio: https://500px.com/groyer

And please also Like my +Facebook page dedicated to photography: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

Thanks!

"Looking Back"

Today was such a beautiful sunny day in Melbourne, I just can't wait for Spring to be here, with its warmth, longer days, and plenty of beautiful flowers and bugs in the garden!

But whilst we wait for this, the gazanias in the garden still give me plenty of opportunities for macro photography - it's amazing how many shots I could take from the same flower, yet very different angles provide different backgrounds, colours, and light reflections

This one taken from the back of the flower, with a few water droplets on the petals. The colours under the flower are darker and more purple than the front (pink) of the same - look at my previous posts for other variations.

(c) Gilles Royer 2015

As always, I've posted this on my +500px gallery: https://500px.com/photo/119106251/looking-back-by-gilles-royer

as well as on my (new) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

Have a great weekend!

"Elegance in Pink" posted

I've taken those flowers many times before - they are beautiful pink gazanias and grow in a pot in our back garden. I've shot them across seasons, in different lights, different times of days, but the difference with this one is that I'm testing my new toy - a Nikon D750. 

I'm really excited about it! I also went during the week to take photos of Melbourne city by night - but more of that in a future post. 

The camera is really good (as expected!) and it's amazing when I compare it to my (old now) D200 - about the same size, yet the D750 is a full frame camera, packed with twice the number of pixels, a bigger and tilting screen, better sensor and AF system, etc. Plus I get to use again all my old FX lenses, especially my 28-70mm f/2.8 and my 50mm f/1.4

Anyway - enough about the camera. I hope the skills of the photographer also play their part in getting a great image :-)

"Elegance in Pink" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

As always, I've posted the photo also in my +500px gallery at the following link:
https://500px.com/photo/118305531/elegance-in-pink-by-gilles-royer

And you can also now discover my Facebook page dedicated to all things photographic: http://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

"Moss & Flowers" posted

I'm still going through my stock of photos taken during my last trip to Europe, so keep looking for them! This one was taken in my parents' garden, a combination of moss and wild pink flowers, creating an interesting vegetal microcosm.

I've edited brightness and saturation, given I shot in RAW format. The shallow depth of field also created a more interesting image, creating a blurry foreground to anchor the photo, and a dark pink uneven background, to enhance the central pink flower (yes, there's nothing like breaking the rule of thirds I believe and put you key subject near the centre!!).

"Moss & Flower" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

The photo is also available in my +500px page: https://500px.com/photo/117524571/moss-flower-by-gilles-royer

And now on my new +Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

"Pink, Green & Bokeh" photo

Going through my stock of images from my recent trip to Europe... This one again from our rental house in the lovely town of Arundel, in West Sussex. 

Some beautiful sharp details in the pink flower, contrasting with a blurry background, but can still recognise the contours of the leaves.

"Pink, Green & Bokeh" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px gallery, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/115361063/pink-green-bokeh-by-gilles-royer

Cheers!

"Blue Cornflower and Rain" photo posted

A beautiful blue cornflower, shot in the garden. After some rain, it was glad to find a bit of sun to warm up...

"Blue Cornflower and Rain" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px portfolio, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/114664767

Thanks for visiting

"Nearly There!" photo posted

Continuing with the macro shots taken during my stay in Arundel (West Sussex, UK), this one is the flower of a spring onion, about to pop out:

"Nearly There!" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

Also posted on my +500px gallery, follow the following link: https://500px.com/photo/112972761/nearly-there-by-gilles-royer

Thanks!

"The White Nigella" photo posted

At the risk of becoming boring, I'm posting yet another photo of a beautiful Nigella flower, once again part of the series taken on my holidays - yes, that what happens when you're on holidays: you can take thousands of photos as you have all the time in the world!!

This one is a white one, and the beautiful spring sunlight catches the petals beautifully, on an angle. 

"The White Nigella" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px page, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/112540975/the-white-nigella-by-gilles-royer. So far, it's not doing bad, not as good as the "Floating Nigella" one I posted yesterday though. 

Let me know what you think...

"Floating Nigella" posted

I continue posting photos taken during my holidays in France and the UK, offering plenty of opportunities for macro photography of beautiful flowers bathed in the light of spring. 

This is another shot from the Nigella flower, which I fell in love with! The structure is so complex, yet very delicate and light. And there are multiple colours - blue, white, pink. Endless opportunities for photography! 

This one was has a selective focus, leaving most of the foreground and background slightly out of focus, and blurred. Overall, it's like it's floating in the air, in front of my camera. 

"Floating Nigella" - (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px gallery, at the following link:

I'm very pleased as it already has a score of 99.2, nearly the best of all times for me, and at the top of the macro category!

Thanks for reading

"Nigella Bella" posted

Continuing with my holiday shots, this one is taken in my parents' garden in France, and is a Nigella. I love those beautiful flowers, so intricate yet delicate, they make perfect subject for macro photography in Spring. 

Not sure they are growing in Australia, but I'll have to check when I'm back, to put some in the garden!

"Nigella Bella" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

You can also view it on my +500px portfolio here: https://500px.com/photo/111256995/nigella-bella-by-gilles-royer

"Psychedelic Bokeh" posted

Back from my holidays (within the holidays!) in the UK, where I spent a few days in the beautiful of Arundel in West Sussex

We rented a beautiful old cottage, with a little back garden, full of blossoming wild flowers, so I felt obliged to get my camera and my faithful Tamron macro lens and got a few shots. 

This first one is of a little pin flower, shot against some green foliage. The aperture of f/4 helped to separate the flower from its backdrop, as well as highlight the beautiful bokeh, which in my eye has a near psychedelic effect... but I'll let you judge:

"Psychedelic Bokeh" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it in my +500px gallery, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/111168895/psychedelic-bokeh-by-gilles-royer

Thanks for stopping by!

"Pink Cornflower" posted on 500px.com

This is taken today, under a beautiful early autumn afternoon light, in the garden. My wife planted a few of these, with multiple colours, so I can enjoy taking photos of them (plus, they really look nice in the garden!). This one is pink. Keep looking for other colours as I'll post them over the coming days / weeks

"Pink Cornflower" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

Hope you have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

"Bye Bye Summer" photo posted

Here in Melbourne, we have to say bye to summer, whilst spring is in full bloom in the Northern Hemisphere. I'm just taking opportunity of the five early autumn sun and the few flowers left in the garden to add to my gallery of macro photography.

This one taken just a few hours ago, late afternoon

"Bye Bye Summer" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

It is also posted on my +500px gallery: https://500px.com/photo/103123121/bye-bye-summer-by-gilles-royer

Hope you enjoy!

"Agapanthus Dream" posted on 500px gallery

Whilst the sun is out, I continue my collection of flower macro shots, this time finding a bunch of agapanthus around the corner from where I live. Those purple flowers are beautiful, and form balls of flowers, contrasting with the green of the plant itself.

This one is a bit closer, and is taken this afternoon in natural light - quite a harsh sunlight, but creating a beautiful soft, dreamy effect.

"Agapanthus Dream" - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to my +500px gallery is as follows, if you have time please come and visit: https://500px.com/photo/92579873/agapanthus-dream-by-gilles-royer

Thanks again for stopping by!

"Portrait of a Heron" posted on @500px gallery

I shot this image during my early mornings shootings around Melbourne City a few weekends ago (refer previous posts). This one was taken at the end of one session, as I was walking back to the car, near Swan Street Bridge. 

I saw this white-faced heron (or egretta novaehollandiae) on the banks of the Yarra, and took a few portrait shots. I really like this one, as the grass by the water gave a nice brown background, that I blurred with a wide aperture (f/2.8), leaving the profile of the Heron standing out.

"Portrait of a Heron"

The photo is also posted on my +500px gallery, at the following link:
http://500px.com/photo/79954861/portrait-of-a-heron-by-gilles-royer

I hope you like it, and please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Thanks for your visit!