Golden Apples at Twilight

David_S85

I spent an afternoon at our local arboretum a few days ago. We have an annual membership at The Morton Arboretum (Morton, as in Morton Salt). We think of the place as our rented 1,500 acre back yard. We visit there often, as it is only a few miles away.

Just my luck, as soon as I got there, the fantastic low-light sunshine ducked behind clouds and wasn't to return that day. I felt like taking a full card of shots anyway, plus the exercise wasn't bad either.

It began to rain a bit, but not enough to stop shooting. I had to pump up the dreary lighting a bit in this shot of Lake Marmo.


I came upon a grove of pines on top of a small hill to get away from some of the rain. The cover was a blessing as what was left of the remaining light was shining upon the grove beyond the pines.


This is an apple tree I had shot earlier in the day, and it didn't turn out well. The leaves were all down, but the apples hadn't yet dropped. As it happened, when it became twilight, I was on the wrong path back, and passed this same tree again at near darkness. What if I used my on-board flash here? I liked this surreal result a lot better.


This last shot is today's, and was inspired by a similar shot made by fellow DGrin member Jim Fuglestad from several years ago.

ehughes

Nice series David, I really like the first one....

erich6

I like the series also. And the Golden Apples has a great look to it. I often forget how useful flash can be in landscape shooting.

Erich

David_S85

Thanks Eric and Ed!

erich6 wrote:

I like the series also. And the Golden Apples has a great look to it. I often forget how useful flash can be in landscape shooting.
Erich

Yes, absolutely. I keep forgetting too. Here's the same tree a couple hours earlier as it was out-of-camera (yes, the natural lighting was quite terrible that day).


yuck!

Ric Grupe

Good shootin', David!

I particularly like the second shot with the colors as a backdrop for the stand of trees.

You know....I've lived near Chicago most of my life and have never been to the arboretum!

polartownjunkie

being a tree lover, specially groups of straight 'conforming' trees, i like these, i like you

Andy

Wow - you actually have a camera! I'm so glad to see you posting

Great stuff.

DavidTO

Nice series, especially the first two. Very nice. I like 'em!

David_S85

andy wrote:

Wow - you actually have a camera! I'm so glad to see you posting
Great stuff.

Um... Thanks!

Hey, I'm not an "all work, no play" kinda guy. And I do charge that 20D battery up and use the thing every once in a while.

gluwater

Nice shots David. I went to the arboretum once earlier this year and did some macro of the flowers (which I have yet to process). I haven't been there long enough to really walk around yet but plan to one of these days. It really is a nice place to get away from the city and people.

gubbs

David_S85 wrote:

Um... Thanks!

Hey, I'm not an "all work, no play" kinda guy. And I do charge that 20D battery up and use the thing every once in a while.

He's right David! We don't see enough, especially if they're like these