Shooting grass

This time of year, one of the joys of living on the prairie is the
many grasses coming into full bloom. However, I've never been able
to take any interesting pictures of them.

Right now, foxtail's in full bloom, with its golden heads making
billowy surfaces along the ditches and medians. Any suggestions
on how to capture this effect?

Framing, focal length, angle of the sun?

--
Michael F. Stemper
#include <Standard_Disclaimer>
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him talk like Mr. Ed
by rubbing peanut butter on his gums.

Michael Stemper wrote:
> This time of year, one of the joys of living on the prairie is the
> many grasses coming into full bloom. However, I've never been able
> to take any interesting pictures of them.
>
> Right now, foxtail's in full bloom, with its golden heads making
> billowy surfaces along the ditches and medians. Any suggestions
> on how to capture this effect?
>
> Framing, focal length, angle of the sun?

Grasses really are a challenge to photograph! I like to use a shallow
depth of field to give a soft background that makes the fine textures
jump out. Here's some really nice work from a guy in the UK:
* popgen.unimaas.nl/~jlindsey/commanster/Plants/Grasses/Poaceae.html
Some of my more successful grass shots use this portrait technique:
* w w w .baynatives . com /?SC=plant-list.php&fltrc=grass

Here's one that came out well this weekend:
< * w w w .edgehill . net /1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay-Area/Oakland/2007-06-24-redwood-park>

It's possible to get a nice effect without even any contrasting background:
< * w w w .edgehill . net /1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay-Area/Peninsula/San-Bruno-Mtn/2007-06-17/full-set&PG=5&PIC=26>

Here's a series touring some nice native grass habitat last year:
< * w w w .edgehill . net /1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay-Area/Richmond>


--
Paul Furman Photography
* w w w .edgehill . net /1
Bay Natives Nursery
* w w w .baynatives . com

In article <p__fi.15927$2v1.13527@newssvr14.news.prodigy . net >, Paul Furman writes:
>Michael Stemper wrote:
>> This time of year, one of the joys of living on the prairie is the
>> many grasses coming into full bloom. However, I've never been able
>> to take any interesting pictures of them.

>Grasses really are a challenge to photograph! I like to use a shallow
>depth of field to give a soft background that makes the fine textures
>jump out.

[snip beautiful examples]

I'll try some of your suggestions, thanks.

Any thoughts on how to deal, not with individual plants, but with
grass as a mass (heh)?

--
Michael F. Stemper
#include <Standard_Disclaimer>
Indians scattered on dawn's highway bleeding;
Ghosts crowd the young child's fragile eggshell mind.

Michael Stemper wrote:

> Paul Furman writes:
>
>>Michael Stemper wrote:
>>
>>>This time of year, one of the joys of living on the prairie is the
>>>many grasses coming into full bloom. However, I've never been able
>>>to take any interesting pictures of them.
>
>
>>Grasses really are a challenge to photograph! I like to use a shallow
>>depth of field to give a soft background that makes the fine textures
>>jump out.
>
>
> [snip beautiful examples]
>
> I'll try some of your suggestions, thanks.
>
> Any thoughts on how to deal, not with individual plants, but with
> grass as a mass (heh)?

Like 'amber waves of grain'?
Sunrise/sunset I suppose is your best bet or patchy clouds to light up
patterns of dark & light if you get thunderheads.

< * images.google . com /images?q='amber+waves+of+grain'&um=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=title>
< * images.google . com /images?svnum=10&um=1&q=prarie&btnG=Search+Images>

This is a painting but...
* w w w .eelram . com /ForAmberWavesOfGrainTerryRedlin.jpg
< * w w w .faizani . com /resources/free_wallpapers/images/skyPrarieLR.jpg>

This one uses fences & roads to get some contrast:
< * rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/Photos/Places/AmberWaves.jpg>

Up into the sky is a good way to go:
< * w w w .jupiterimages . com /popup2.aspx?navigationSubType=itemdetails&itemID=23422888>
< * oregonstate.edu/terra/2006spring/images/departments/wheat.jpg>

This is a drawing but the idea of very deep depth of field to show the
detail & mass is a good approach:
< * w w w .jupiterimages . com /popup2.aspx?navigationSubType=itemdetails&itemID=22209624>
< * w w w .rogallery . com /_RG-Images/Franklin_Mint/Hosford-Amber_Waves_of_Grain.jpg>
< * w w w .oilpastelsociety . com /photogallery/jwambach/PrarieLR.jpg>

Use the shapes of hills to give some definition:
* w w w .public.iastate.edu/~cfford/342wheatfield.jpg

Twilight & shallow DOF:
< * w w w .personal.psu.edu/faculty/m/w/mwl2/images/PrarieDogW.jpg>


--
Paul Furman Photography
* w w w .edgehill . net /1
Bay Natives Nursery
* w w w .baynatives . com