IN THE FIELD: In My Element
You may recall me mentioning I can’t stay away from garden centers. I’m like a kid in a candy store…happy as a clam in mud at high tide…like a dog with two bones. Well, you get the picture. Earlier this week I was shopping at the local farm market. The place was overflowing with vegetable plants, annual flowers, perennials and flower baskets of all sorts of sizes and color combinations.
After finishing my shopping, I simply had to get the camera out and capture all that color. Because it was a bit crowded with plant material and customers, I opted to use my monopod rather than the tripod. Monopods are extremely handy in situations like this because they are lightweight, portable and it is much easier to stay out of the way. It was a sunny morning and I probably could have handheld most of the shots. But I find using some kind of support forces me to to really look at the composition rather than just taking snapshots. Especially when there is so much subject matter to choose from.
I am fortunate to have established quite a neighborly relationship with the folks at this local market. They have been very accommodating, allowing me free reign on their property whenever I want, and have used some of my photos in their online promotional pieces. So, it is a win-win scenario for everyone.
Around the middle of my shoot, a little boy wandered into the space and was in awe of all the variety and color laid out before him. I know I had the same facial expression during the whole shoot as well. Just like I do every time I visit a place like this. Yup, kid in a candy store.
David Heilman 
Wow – what a beautiful place! I love how you composed the photo, David. This photo would be a great one for advertising the store!
If you run out of ideas for posts, I would love to hear your tips for using a monopod and the type/brand you prefer. I bought a cheap one to experiment with and ended up returning it. How do you keep it motionless (prevent swaying)? Do you use a quick release attachment?
Thanks Karen, I submitted the photo to the owners to use on their website or wherever else they would like…along with a bunch from that day. Send me an email and I’ll give you some help with the monopod. I couldn’t get yours to work from your blog.
Beautiful, David.
Thanks Bob…the place was packed with flowers and veggie plants!!!
Beautiful place and shot! And here I thought that was you standing there with the timer set on the camera…hehehe
Thanks Teri, that is me! You guys have been asking for a self portrait…
A lovely image! I never know where to cast my eyes first when visiting a plant centre!
Thanks Meanderer, I feel the same way. Where to look???Where to look???
What amazing colours, really vibrant and beautiful. I wouldn’t know what to choose! Love the composition, too.
Good thing I didn’t have much money in my wallet because I picked out half a dozen hanging baskets I liked. We won’t even discuss all the stuff in small pots I found that I could have brought home!!!
I love this photo and can see why you can’t resist the place. The small boy standing there apparently stunned by it all is the perfect touch.
I love this place..I’m there at least once a week. A small time farm store with just about everything you would need food wise! Little boy??? That’s me!
I couldn’t resist getting a photo of him just staring at all the stuff!
Wow – quite a color explosion and nice photo! It’s nice that you have a relationship with the market to take photos. I was just at a huge local garden center this past weekend and bought several flowers to plant in the yard. We also went to a local botanical garden that was full of spring flowers. Hubby was very patient while I took many photos, he also carried my equipment.
If I were living there, this would have been my address everyday visit. I loved it dear David, and it is exactly like that for me how you expressed… Thank you so much, with my love, nia
What a great array of color!
I know…but the other side of this room is filled with even more color!!!
Stunning spectrum of colors, David!
It sure is…It is just so beautiful…I want them all!!!
What an abundance of colors! It’s just wonderful! I can see myself staying in there for hours just taking photos!
Come on down and I’ll take you there…actually there are a bunch of places nearby that are overflowing like this. Better have lots of room on the data cards!!!
Beautiful composition! Reminds me of an Amish garden center I used to shop at.
Thanks PC, I see that too…’course we are only a few fields away from Amish country here in Pa
Love this composition–a wonderland of colors!
It sure is!!! I was there yesterday for some deli stuff and fruit…they somehow packed more stuff in there!!!
I was happy as a clam to be invited into your candy store, David. Viewed full-screen, the photo looks like you could just walk into it. You would die a happy death if you could ever make it to the OFA Horticultural Convention held in Columbus each year. Seven ACRES of floral exhibits under one roof: http://ofashortcourse.org/ A non-member can get a 3-day pass to the exhibits for $45.
Oh, My, Gosh! I would be happy as a clam for sure!!! Seven acres?? Holy smokes!!! I will have to look into this…it would be a great vacation…especially since we haven’t been on one in 6 years!
So many colors! Yay. 😀 I loved this photo. Can’t stop staring at it. 😉
I really like the way you have framed it, and how some flowers are in focus and some are not. I want to be in that little kid’s place. Hehehe.
Thanks Nandini, I just love this place…they do super job with their flowers and flower baskets. And the market…..I want this,and this oh, and some of these….