2. Macro and close-up

Life cycle - Lily of the Valley

2010 photographic study of the life cycle of the patch of Lily of the Valley outside my front door. Shot with an Olympus E-30, legacy OM 90mm f2 macro lens as the primary pieces of equipment. For the early small bud shots I added a 25mm extension tube to that lens. Changes in equipment noted where else they vary.
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  • March 25 - Lily of the Valley shoot done with the OM 90mm f2 macro lens + 25mm extension tube.

    March 25 - Lily of the Valley shoot done with the OM 90mm f2 macro lens + 25mm extension tube.

  • March 25 - Lily of the Valley shoots by my front walk - they will grow almost anywhere.

    March 25 - Lily of the Valley shoots by my front walk - they will grow almost anywhere.

  • Mar 31st - lilies of the valley study

    Mar 31st - lilies of the valley study

  • April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely, these guys are very determined.

    April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely, these guys are very determined.

  • April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely

    April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely

  • April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely, I especially like this grouping.

    April 5 - Lily of the Valley coming along nicely, I especially like this grouping.

  • April 5 - coming along nicely, this one gets more sun than some others and I'm sure that gives it an edge.

    April 5 - coming along nicely, this one gets more sun than some others and I'm sure that gives it an edge.

  • April 8 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. Those oak leaves are persistent aren't they? The rain and the sun are doing their work.

    April 8 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. Those oak leaves are persistent aren't they? The rain and the sun are doing their work.

  • April 8 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. The rain and the sun are doing their work while oak leaves persist.

    April 8 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. The rain and the sun are doing their work while oak leaves persist.

  • April 15 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    April 15 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • April 21 - Lily of the Valley leaves unfurling.

    April 21 - Lily of the Valley leaves unfurling.

  • April 21 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    April 21 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • April 21 - Lily of the Valley blossoms waiting for their day in the sun. OM 90mm macro + 25mm extension tube + T10 Ring Flash

    April 21 - Lily of the Valley blossoms waiting for their day in the sun. OM 90mm macro + 25mm extension tube + T10 Ring Flash

  • April 21 - Lily of the Valley flower buds and an surprise visitor. OM 90mm + 25mm extension tube + T10 ring flash.

    April 21 - Lily of the Valley flower buds and an surprise visitor. OM 90mm + 25mm extension tube + T10 ring flash.

  • Lily of the Valley - April 26 - this one slipped through the cracks. Bummer since I like it so much. Shot with the OM 35mm f2 lens probably.

    Lily of the Valley - April 26 - this one slipped through the cracks. Bummer since I like it so much. Shot with the OM 35mm f2 lens probably.

  • April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro. I think it's cool that when the buds break free from their paper wrappers, they bend downwards into their customary position.

    April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro. I think it's cool that when the buds break free from their paper wrappers, they bend downwards into their customary position.

  • April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro

    April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro

  • April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro Why it's in the best of 2010 - I call this one Stagefright and that really sums up how this shot of the emerging flower feels. As if it's shy and reticent about showing itself. I love the light and the slight shadows within the leaves. Just look at those leaves - so graceful and elegant. The fresh color and the focus is pretty damn good, too. I had the camera on my front steps cushioned by a bag of barley. So high tech.

    April 26 - Lily of the Valley study - OM 90mm macro Why it's in the best of 2010 - I call this one Stagefright and that really sums up how this shot of the emerging flower feels. As if it's shy and reticent about showing itself. I love the light and the slight shadows within the leaves. Just look at those leaves - so graceful and elegant. The fresh color and the focus is pretty damn good, too. I had the camera on my front steps cushioned by a bag of barley. So high tech.

  • May 3 - Lily of the Valley - the blossoms bloom from bottom to top. Already the smell is heavenly even with relatively few open. OM 35mm f2 for a change.

    May 3 - Lily of the Valley - the blossoms bloom from bottom to top. Already the smell is heavenly even with relatively few open. OM 35mm f2 for a change.

  • Drenched

    Drenched

    May 14 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 14 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 14 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 14 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 14 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • Through the parting

    Through the parting

    May 20, 2013 - I like the peering behind the curtains aspect of this lily of the valley shot. Even though I'm a couple years off my official project, I still shoot them when it rains. It's fun and it smells good while I do it. OM 90mm at probably f8.

  • May 14 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. This title isn't original, but it's all I can think of when I see this photo.

    May 14 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. This title isn't original, but it's all I can think of when I see this photo.

  • May 14 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study.

    May 14 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. - the same flowers as in Ride On Tears.

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study. - the same flowers as in Ride On Tears.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. Aging gracefully. Don't you wish we all could?

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. Aging gracefully. Don't you wish we all could?

  • Vogue

    Vogue

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

    May 25 in the Lily of the Valley lifecycle study.

  • Lily of the Valley May 25 - it took quite a few shots to get this right since the suspended flower kept spinning in the slightest breeze.

    Lily of the Valley May 25 - it took quite a few shots to get this right since the suspended flower kept spinning in the slightest breeze.

  • Lily of the Valley May 25 - For Miss Havisham; youth is gone, but the beauty remains. I couldn't decide on B&W or color, so we have one of each.

    Lily of the Valley May 25 - For Miss Havisham; youth is gone, but the beauty remains. I couldn't decide on B&W or color, so we have one of each.

  • Lily of the Valley May 25 - For Miss Havisham; youth is gone, but the beauty remains.

    Lily of the Valley May 25 - For Miss Havisham; youth is gone, but the beauty remains.

  • June 6 - Lily of the Valley - a single drenched blossom clings to its stem because of the berry underneath it.

    June 6 - Lily of the Valley - a single drenched blossom clings to its stem because of the berry underneath it.

  • June 6 Lily of the Valley - denuded stems begin to die back, starting at the tips, which is the opposte direction of its blooming.

    June 6 Lily of the Valley - denuded stems begin to die back, starting at the tips, which is the opposte direction of its blooming.

  • June 14 - Lily of the Valley - I had no idea they made little seed pods or fruit or whatever these things are. I think I'm going to have to cut one open.

    June 14 - Lily of the Valley - I had no idea they made little seed pods or fruit or whatever these things are. I think I'm going to have to cut one open.

  • June 28 -Lily of the Valley - I found a stem with 3 berries - they will turn orangey-red as they ripen. I hope they can hang on, others have fallen off or have been eaten.

    June 28 -Lily of the Valley - I found a stem with 3 berries - they will turn orangey-red as they ripen. I hope they can hang on, others have fallen off or have been eaten.

  • Taken August 17, 2011, not during the year of the primary project. I obviously missed this stage of leaf decline because I would have shot it otherwise. So striking. Interesting how differently the leaves aged last year, it's later now, but the leaves look better. Used the OM 90mm f2 legacy macro.

    Taken August 17, 2011, not during the year of the primary project. I obviously missed this stage of leaf decline because I would have shot it otherwise. So striking. Interesting how differently the leaves aged last year, it's later now, but the leaves look better. Used the OM 90mm f2 legacy macro.

  • Taken August 17, 2011, not during the year of the primary project. I obviously missed this stage of leaf decline because I would have shot it otherwise. So striking. The difference in the timeframe of decay is interesting. These are later in the year, but fresher in appearance than last year. Used the OM 90mm f2 legacy macro.

    Taken August 17, 2011, not during the year of the primary project. I obviously missed this stage of leaf decline because I would have shot it otherwise. So striking. The difference in the timeframe of decay is interesting. These are later in the year, but fresher in appearance than last year. Used the OM 90mm f2 legacy macro.

  • Aug 4 & the Lily of the Valley have begun to die off. It was really too hot to be out doing macro stuff, so that's for another day.

    Aug 4 & the Lily of the Valley have begun to die off. It was really too hot to be out doing macro stuff, so that's for another day.

  • Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

    Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

  • Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

    Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

  • Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

    Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

  • Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

    Aug 5 Lily of the Valley

  • Aug 26 - Lily of the Valley. Very few of my plants set fruit (because basically they're all clones of each other), but I've been keeping my eye on this one. OM 90mm macro at probably f11

    Aug 26 - Lily of the Valley. Very few of my plants set fruit (because basically they're all clones of each other), but I've been keeping my eye on this one. OM 90mm macro at probably f11

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