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!

"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!

"C'est beau une ville la nuit..." photo

Breaking with the series of macro shot, but still from the stash of photos taken during my recent holidays to France, this is a more classical shot of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral.

I was staying in a hotel nearby, but hadn't taken my tripod, so I had to push the ISO to 800, and lean on the edge of the nearby bridge, to reduce movements. I'm quite happy with the result. A bit of post edition, to one the shadows and make the yellow hue of the lights on the cathedral pop out a bit more.

"C'est beau une ville la nuit..." (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px portfolio, at the following link:
https://500px.com/photo/113980917/c-est-beau-une-ville-la-nuit-by-gilles-royer

"Portrait of a Lupine Flower" photo

I'm on a roll, continuing to go through photos from my recent holidays in France and England. This one is from the little cottage we stayed in, in the town of Arundel (West Sussex), in the back yard. 

It's the detail of a Lupine flower, with selective focus showing only the inside of the petals, with some little 'hair'

"Portrait of a Lupine Flower" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

As usual, this is also posted in my +500px gallery, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/113351803/portrait-of-a-lupine-flower-by-gilles-royer

Please let me know what you think of it, as well as any suggestions for improvement. 

"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!

"Bathing in the Spring Sunlight" now posted

Change of country, but still from the (large) stock of images taken during my holidays in France and the UK. We are now in the town of Arundel, West Sussex (England), where we rented a cottage for a few days. The back garden offered also ample opportunities for macro photography, and we were lucky to have a beautiful English spring weather. 

"Bathing in the Spring Sunlight" (c) Gilles Royer

Also, posted on my +500px gallery at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/112637575/bathing-in-the-spring-sunlight-by-gilles-royer

Thanks for your visit

"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 #2" photo posted

Another shot taken in my parents' garden, in France, of those beautiful Nigella (also known as love-in-a-mist) flowers. Their structure is so complex and intricate, they make for great macro subjects. This one is another blue one, but I've also got white and pink ones to come.

"Nigella Bella #2" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

I've also posted it on my +500px gallery, at the following link: https://500px.com/photo/111371919/nigella-bella-2-by-gilles-royer

Let me know which of the 2 versions (refer previous one here: http://australianlightseeker.blogspot.fr/2015/06/nigella-bella-posted.html) you prefer

"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

2 new photos in my gallery!

Today, I posted not only one, but 2 photos in my +500px gallery, both taken in the back garden this afternoon - a beautiful sunny spring day here in Melbourne.

First is a shot of a geranium, taken against the bright blue sky, from underneath - quite unconventional composition, but I'm happy with the high key effect, and the pastel tones in the petals

"The Back of a Geranium" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to 500px is here -> https://500px.com/photo/86031959/the-back-of-a-geranium-by-gilles-royer

The second one is one from many shots of bees in the lavender - this one turned out quite sharp, with a nice glow of light reflecting on the shiny black parts of the body

"Afternoon Tea" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to 500px is here -> https://500px.com/photo/86034809/afternoon-tea-by-gilles-royer?from=user_library

Happy spring!

"Spring Has Arrived!" photo posted

Down Under, in Melbourne, this is Spring time - perfect season to get a beautiful strong light, as well as heaps of flowers and blossoms. 

Below is an example of this - a blossoming tree, taken just around the corner from where I live. I love the pink colours and tones, contrasting with the blue sky.

"Spring Has Arrived!" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

I've also posted the photos in my 2 active galleries:

• 500px.com -> http://500px.com/photo/83235135/spring-has-arrived!-by-gilles-royer
• Kujaja.com -> http://www.kujaja.com/en/photo/38422

Please let me know your views