Red Campion - Silene dioica

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Red Campion - Silene dioica
Photo Information
Copyright: Emma Taylor (Aramok) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 925 W: 99 N: 1402] (4787)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-26
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 III USM, Digital ISO 400
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Scotland July 2007
Date Submitted: 2008-04-18 5:31
Viewed: 489
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well diving back into my archives from my last holiday, I came across one of my favourite summer time flowers, Red Campion. I just love its flowers (a previous photo of mine can be found here) - that and Ragged Robin.

The holiday had been one of my usual epics for the UK anyway where we had driven the entire length of both England and Scotland and then had 2 ferry crossings, 1 onto the Orkney Mainland and then another onto the island of Westray. (We also went onto do a third ferry crossing from Westray to Pappa Westray (or Pappay as it can be known) which is a bird haven with many, many sea bird colony's there. It is definitely worth a visit. I was also able to see the very rare Scottish Primrose whilst I was there.)

Red Campion's main flowering time is May-July so I will get to see it again very soon. However, in the Orkney Isles last year (almost as far north in them as you can go), I came across this specimen in late July. But the further north you go, the later most things flower...

Interestingly I have discovered that the male and female flowers are borne on separate plants with the female flowers being slightly larger, the males slightly darker red.

I really get drawn to the darker red versions which have fantastic colour, but often I find that the background does not do them any justice. However, here, the background really emphasised their colour and added that wonderful extra to the picture.

The BG is in fact the Atlantic ocean and I was standing on a 35m cliff edge, literally at the very edge of it! But photographers will be photographers, and I just needed that angle to make the picture... These are growing on a sea cliff, right in the midst of the Puffin colony we had gone to see.

Whilst I was standing concentrating very hard on not slipping and being very conscious of the loose soil etc. under my feet, a puffin actually landed between myself and Red Campion, totally unknown to me. I had been concentrating very hard. It actually landed so close to me, that I was unable to focus the camera lens on the puffin to take a picture of it, and had to step backwards several steps to be able to photograph the puffin.

Anyhow, the picture has had no editing to it, it is as is, other than a crop to remove a little of the cliff edge. Colours are totally real, the ocean was that dark there because there was another cliff edge running parallel to me creating a darker area of sea.

The picture has simply been cropped, resized, USM'ed and a border added.

Nature at its best and simplest and wildest. There were also 3 Corncrakes in a neighbouring field calling over each other whilst I was taking this picture, in addition to the Puffins landing at my feet.
Jamesp, PaulH, Heaven, horia, marhowie, bobcat08, eqshannon, aido, uleko, Alex99, TAZ, jmp, anel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To aido: hiAramok 2 04-18 09:21
To horia: Better than wasAramok 1 04-18 07:29
To PaulH: enjoy the wetAramok 3 04-18 07:07
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1180 W: 0 N: 4310] (12630)
  • [2008-04-18 5:38]

Hi Emma

Good to see you back. Stunning composition - well framed and lovely contrast between the plant and the BG.

James

Hello Emma
Lovely colours, detail and composition in this flower shot. . A beautiful flower set on a cliff edge with puffins around. Magic! TFS
Regards
Lyndall

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 17 N: 2516] (9124)
  • [2008-04-18 5:58]
  • [+]

Hi Emma,
i have everything crossed you'll be back there exploring again this year too :o) A superb shot of this beauitful looking flower. Details, clarity and of course the colour - all excellent.
Have a great weekend,
Paul
(I'm off to N Cornwall tomorrow morning, to Croyde Bay...typically it's now forecast to be wet and gloomy! Shall have to stick to just surfing!)

Hi Emma!

I love this flower, too! I have some growing in the bank of my garden. It's just a small group, but every spring I'm delighted to see them again. Hopefully also this year!

Now, your picture is magnificient: the colours of the petals are true and so well highlighted by the dark background. They glow and shine like coloured light bulbs. Of course, I have read with great interest and pleasure your very detailed and narrative notes.

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2062 W: 220 N: 3579] (11676)
  • [2008-04-18 6:06]
  • [+]

Hi Emma

Nice to see you here again :) I truly hope you are better and will keep getting even better so that you will again be able to go on some trips, as i know you love and miss it.

Apparently you miss landscapes as i do macros :) I hope that the weather will get better here soon and i will have a bit of extra time to go out again...

This is a lovely shot of this cute small flower. The details are very neat and sharp on the focused parts and the colors are gorgeous - i especially like the contrast between the petals and the BG while the nice green in the lower corner does well to bring an extra touch of brightness.
Very good choice of DOF and great diagonal composition as well.
Overall: a lovely job!

Bravo, TFS and take care! Best wishes,
Horia

Hello Emma,

How do you do at this moment. Is your recovery after surgery well? I hope so.
Beautiful composition of this Red Campion. Beautiful natural colors. POV and BG are oké.
Have a nice weekend. TFS and take care. Greetings Bob

See my photo's of the red campion at:
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=115775

Archives are a good things..I am looking at who is critiquing here and see James..now there is a man who could live a life of luxury on his archives alone:-) you're welcome James....anyway..it is a lovely delicate floral Emma. Your depth of field control is absolutely perfect. This shows the complete you. You can climb mountains, or did at one time,, which is more of a physical challenge, yet taking time to stop and see the smallest and most delicate parts is a nice combination of talents and strength.
Bob

beautiful pic, great composition, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
  • [2008-04-18 8:07]
  • [+]

Hello Emma,
I see in other's critiques mentions of surgery, I sincerely hope all is well and your recovery is going to plan. Hopefully you'll be out and about and back to your normal ways very soon. Good to see you're still posting. This is a beautiful image, so delicate. Fantastic exposure and colours, this exudes a real sense of calm and tranquility. Excellent framing/composition too, well worth the effort I think. Great work.
Best regards,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2235 W: 168 N: 6506] (20422)
  • [2008-04-18 8:35]

Hello Emma,
Wonderful capture of the Campion in beautiful light and against the fine background of the sea. Great focus and the colours are fabulous.
I can imagine these growing by the steep cliffs although I've never been up north in GB even though I lived in the West Country for many years. It must be wonderful and I really miss not having seen the Puffins!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 145 N: 4201] (13581)
  • [2008-04-18 9:07]

Hi Emma.
What a charming shot of tender plant and flowers. I like beautiful diagonal composition of the image, nice combination of sharpness and pleasant blurriness, so fine delicate light and colours. Beautiful, refined work of person with great taste and skill. Bravo.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2008-04-18 9:32]

Hello Emma,
Wonderful macro, it is a pleasure for my eyes !
The "+++" : smart composition, lovely flower, POV, sharpness, DOF, blurred BG, exposure, contrast on BG, colors, useful complementary note...
The "-" : nothing...
Congratulations and thanks for sharing,
Christian

Hello Emma,
I loved the lighting here on this beautiful composition of yours!
great DOF in good sharpness, vivid colour and details
a great job well done
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2008-04-19 11:07]

Hi Emma,
An smart and beautiful presentation of this silene. I like composition a lot.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1661 W: 20 N: 4671] (15162)
  • [2008-04-20 20:01]

Hi Emma,
Beautiful flowers and you have captured them in all their beauty. Lovely pink colours and sharp details. I like the shape of the petals. Very skillfully handling of harsh lighting and perfectly exposed. A fine DOF isolates the subjects from the BG and I like your chosen POV to portray them. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3317 W: 144 N: 5601] (16553)
  • [2008-04-22 14:38]

What a lovely flower this is Emma, and I am sorry we can't see more of the BG as you have described it. And the puffins!
Well composed, nice and sharp, and good notes too,
Thank you
Janice

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2686 W: 67 N: 9197] (28756)
  • [2008-04-27 21:23]

Hello Emma

What a beautiful composition.
The lighting and DOF stand out.
Excellent colour saturation.
Wonderful pov.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2356 W: 134 N: 6487] (20173)
  • [2008-05-01 5:11]

Hello Emma,
I like the contrast of these beautiful Red Campion flowers with the grey neutral BG and the lighting and composition are superb.
If the photographs are like this one, your exhibition must be certainly worth a visit.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1075 W: 0 N: 1622] (7056)
  • [2008-05-01 5:28]

hello Emma,
By chance I just saw this picture. It is excellent, with a perfect composition and finest colours.Interesting to read that the Atlantic is is in the background! Really well seen and thanks also for the instructive note.
Best regards
Anne

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