IN THE FIELD: Immerse Yourself In Your Subject
Over the years I’ve heard a variety of humorous sayings regarding outdoor photographers.
“If you’re not sitting on the ground, you’re not a photographer.”
“You can always tell a good photographer. Their clothes are always dirty.”
Uhhh yup…folks often do look at me a little funny as I sit or lie down on the ground with camera in hand. And that’s okay because I’m creating an image that is uniquely mine. By changing my perspective or viewing angle, I feel I’m likely to create a more compelling image. And of course, there are times when I may get my pants dirty. But who cares about a little dirt anyway. Soap was invented a long time ago.
I took this photo at Longwood Gardens two weeks ago during the Celebration Of Spring Blooms.
f11
1/1000th
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ISO 200
David Heilman 
Oh wow, David, this is just so lovely. The tiny blue, the perfect amount of yellow and red, and then the green! It turned out to be a very pretty and amazing flower world. 🙂
Thank you Nandini, it was an amazing sight to see all the spring bulbs blooming. I never saw so many varieties. More photos coming this week. They planted over…get this…100,000 bulbs!
Whoa! I can’t wait..! 🙂
I think all photographers have dirty knees and torn jeans as a badge of honour! Brilliant photo, David, it was worth it! 🙂
Viva Terra Firma!!!!
I need to get a new pair of cargo pants for such things 😉 Beautiful shot.
Thanks Teri, I try to keep one pair of jeans as the “good jeans.” Never works out though LOL.
I like the blue who says all the edges have to be the same. And I like the soap comment too.
Exactly. I like to call that “artistic license.” I have to admit I borrowed the soap comment. It’s actually something my Mom used to say to the neighbors when we were kids. We were always outside playing…rain or shine.
Great photo, David! Yes, photographers do it in the dirt.
Thanks M, there’s no place better!!!
Beautiful colours – and I love that peek of blue sky top left!
Thanks Meanderer, it was really neat sticking my face and camera into this bunch of tulips. I like that too…just a peek.
A very “well grounded” photo, David. EXUBERANT color!
It’s all in the upbringing. Isn’t the color amazing? It was an overwhelming display!
Not only dirty knees but I’ve also had a few sore knees & elbows too, all for the shot! Next trip to garden shop I’m buying one of those lightweight foam pads to start carrying around for kneeling. Beautiful colors David, and I do love your perspective here. Well worth your dirty knees!
Thanks Donna, and thank you for reminding me to pick up one of those knee pads. Not only would it be very handy, but they are almost weightless and easy to attach to the camera bag!
Beautiful, David! I love these tulips. I was at these gardens several years ago and I still remember how much I enjoyed it there. Isn’t it an amazing feeling to be surrounded by such gorgeous flowers? I also like how you include your camera settings.
Thanks Fergie, it is an amazing place…indoors and outdoors. The best part is it’s always changing. Each time one visits, it’s different than the last time. Imagine having gardens like that at home…but on a smaller scale. LOL. I include the camera settings just as an FYI kinda thing, realizing situations and conditions are different for everyone, but they may help anyway.
I do it too 🙂 I sit, lie, roll on the ground, just for the sake of an inetresting shot 🙂 It’s part of fun, right! 🙂
You go girl and indeed it is part of the fun. We gotta do what we gotta do!!! LOL