In the last month or so I have discovered Moon Flowers and the iT32 Godox flash unit. Combine the two and it’s a large nimber of images, and fun.
While I have another Godox flash , iT32 is small, easy to use, and fits the balance of an OM camera perfectly.
This little Carolina Anole is gripping the stem of a large tropical Elephant Ear plant. When shooting close like this it’s hard to get perspective on the world they live in.
Watching me closely. When I spot one I take a few shots and move away. I don’t want to get in the way of their life out there. At this point there are some that seem to ignore us.
Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-200, iT32 Godox flash, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack, Topaz.
If you visit this site, even sporadically, you will have seen many Moon Flowers. The life cycle of maybe 14 hours, bloom, to flower, to gone…during the night hours is just something unique to photograph. I think it’s made to be shot in B&W.
Below are three shots that show a little of the life cycle.
First photograph is when the large flower is first touched by the morning dew. The water beads up and the petals start to contract inward. Each flower is a little different but it’s the same general flow.
Next is the closed petals. Depending on how wet the plant is will be the shape now. The petals will become semi-transparent at times. The drops of water can look like rain.
Last the closed flower tightens and the entire long stalk is rejected from the vine. It almost looks like a clean cut. This part is always the same.
I never really understood shooting the same thing over and over. Like landscapes. Who knew it actually made a lot of sense.
Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100, Godox iT32 flash, Lightroom, DxO Silver Efex.
This little Anole has found his safe place, at least until he out grows it. This is the same Anole, the shots taken at different times, at least that’s how the image files were placed in a folder, I didn’t check any date stamps.
It’s easy to ID this as the same animal, he has a stubby black tail. Either an early wound or just hatched that way, many Anole have tails of various lengths and colors.
Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100, Godox iT32 flash, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack.
This is a common sight here, but he/she does look pathetic. đŸ¥¹
We have been on the House Finch tour for years. There are always one or more that settle in. This one is especially young but by sitting on top of a feeder the others eventually come back around and all is fine.
We usually just ignore them, they have food and water, and in an hour or so they either join other finches, or the Titmice lol. Little flocks pop out of the woods all day long.
When taking these shots I’m careful not to scare them, not stop them from going about their business (whatever that could be). Most of the Anole are small, however there are a few ‘big guys’ that have been living back here for a while.
These two are fairly small, maybe an inch.
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Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100, GODOX iT32 flash, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack.
The small vine, from a single seed, has grown and become part of a morning ritual. One of the first things we do is look for the flowers that have opened for the moon light.
It’s a gift that keeps giving and we have the cameras and flash ready. As soon as the dew covers the flowers they start to close. The process to open, or close, is so fast you can stand there and watch. Ellen filmed a flower opening in the early evening.
I’m starting to slow down on the number of images I’m taking. A few more collections like this to document the great summer surprise and the season should be over.
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General specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100, GODOX iT32 flash, Lightroom, ON1 PR, Topaz, DxO Silver Efex, DxO Filmpack.
I noticed her on plants alongside the house. It was a clear shot and she looked just about ready to jump. Catching an Anole in mid jump is harder than getting a bird at take off. These little guys just spring, no tell at all.
