Cherry Fizz

Or experiments with seltzer water ...

Cherry Delight
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Cherries are starting to arrive at the grocery store, and at a reasonable price. Seemed like an opportunity to do a wee bit of experimentation as well as having a 4th of July type snack on hand.

Cherry Set Up
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Several of the photography magazines and websites that I follow recently featured a variety of fruit floating in liquid and surrounded with lots of fizzing bubbles. The technique seemed easy enough and didn't require much in the way of intricate set up or equipment. A quick trip to the local supermarket and a rummage through cabinets yielded everything I needed. 

Fluted Fizz
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Cherry Fizz
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

My experiment involved a couple of different sized and shaped containers along with cheap seltzer water and more expensive sparkling water to find the best results. The clear cylinder provided plenty of space to let the cherry float while bubbles rose and surrounded the fruit, while the champagne flute was more confining. The seltzer produced great bubbles that were active; the sparkling water was better for drinking.

Next time I'll try securing the fruit to keep it submerged in the liquid. Now, what fruit or veggie will play the leading role in my experiments?

What I Learned from Dragonflies

Dragonfly Collage
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Dragonflies are some of Mother Nature's most intriguing creatures. They have gossamer wings and jewel-toned colors. The nature guidebooks and all of the guides to photographing dragonflies suggest these insects are in constant motion and a challenge for making photographs. I definitely agree, but when finally captured as images, they can be spectacular.

Rosie Glow
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

The first lesson I learned from dragonflies is patience. They flit away so quickly if not approached with stealth. But if they land and are still, it's possible to see the sun glinting off their wings. It's also helpful to hunt for them in the cool air of the early morning or as the sun starts to set. Like butterflies, they need the warmth of the sun to remain active.

Just a Wanderer
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

The second lesson I learned is technique -- depth of field matters to create images that are clear and detailed. A shallow depth of field helps in blurring ugly or busy backgrounds, allowing the dragonfly to be the star of the image. The roseate skimmer (above) was in the center of a butterfly garden surrounded by flowering bushes and plants -- very noisy background if in focus. The wandering glider (on left) is resting on the edge of a trash can with trees and swamp behind -- less than attractive setting, though the color of the trash can is pretty.

Each of these images was shot in RAW format, and they are essentially straight out of the camera.  Minimal color corrections to add mid-range tones and minor cropping was done in post-processing.

The stars of these images include: Great Pondhawk, Halloween Pennant, Roseate Skimmer, and Wandering Glider.

New Project Underway

One of my best friends told me the other day that her sons are both getting married within the next year and a half. Because both of the boys are very special to me, I offered to create special photographs for the young couples as a part of their wedding gifts. But where to start? This prompted thoughts about wedding photographs I've seen on various social media sites. Since my preference is not portraiture, I have decided to "focus" on close-up photography. This weekend I jumped in and began practicing while looking for inspiration.

I Do in Autumn Colors
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

I Do in White
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

My own engagement and wedding ring provided the first and most obvious starting point. Funny the objects and props found laying around the house. There was a lovely, dried maple leaf on the bookcase just waiting to be put to good use. A fresh cut bouquet of spring flowers with several delicate white blooms sat on the table. And, a large piece of glass from a picture frame was freshly cleaned. The light coming through the living room window was soft and diffused, putting a sparkle on the rings. I used a 36mm macro extension tube with a 200mm telephoto lens to pick out detail, and realized how badly my rings need to be cleaned.

Dancing Slippers
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Among other things I have a wide array of shoes, including the ones I wore for my own wedding. With a little improvising, I set up my champagne-colored slippers to appear as if they are on a wooden floor. The wood floor is actually a little table I've had for years. This time I used a 50mm prime lens, which made me work a little harder for composition and focus. Composing with my feet as it were.

Sit Father, I Can't Dance No More
copyright 2014, Stephanie Maatta Smith

Finally I grabbed a pair of bejeweled party shoes and headed over to the local historical village. There's a lovely gazebo in the center of the village perfect for weddings and small dances. Fortuitously there was a small white chair sitting in the gazebo, probably left over from Easter activities. I posed the shoes in a variety of spots and positions, ending up with them slightly tossed on the stairs of the gazebo. It was the golden hour when I was photographing outside, the sun starting its descent and cool and lovely glow to the sky.

Yes, definitely close-up photography for the "boys" and their fiancees.