Trout Lily
We live at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest, in New Hampshire. Our gardens include many plants and wildflowers that are native to New England.
The Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS macro lens is my favorite for creating dreamy, artistic images. Here I have used it to photograph a Trout Lily, with the focus on the part of the flower that has yet to blossom. The lines of the petals and stamen mimic the lines of the rest of the flower. I shot wide open (f/2.8) to blur the green background and create an almost monochromatic image.
Flowering Red Lichen
The forest creates interesting compositions if you know where to look. Here, red flowering lichen contrasts with the vertical lines of the leaves and twigs, and points to the repetitive curves of the curled leaf.
Scarlet Avens
Scarlet Avens and Bee
The Scarlet Avens is a member of the rose family. It’s attractive to butterflies and bees, and I love the hairy foliage, which is evident in the gorgeous morning back light.
This sort of back lighting is the kind of light I usually seek when I photograph flowers. I walked all around our cherry tree to find a blossom that was back lit. A storm was coming, and the sun was hiding here and there. The 100mm macro is quite versatile—I was probably eight feet away from these blossoms.
Backlit Cherry Blossom