Zinnias

During the three weeks since I last posted to my blog, I’ve been working on the lessons in Kim Klassen’s Month of Multiples course. The course officially ended this past weekend but I plan to continue applying the multiples mindset, information, and exercises to my photography going forward.

Over the next few days, I will upload some of the photographs I made in response to the course prompts.

Here are three images from still life practice sessions with zinnias from our garden. The first image was composed and captured quickly during my lunch break on a workday. It was taken using the natural light in my south-facing living room. The second and third images, using a light canvas background on my balcony, were taken on different days but at about the same time each day. I fussed over them more, but with mixed results. I am not skilled at arranging flowers and I often think my best strategy is to drop them in the vase and allow them to arrange themselves naturally. However, I am publishing them as a record of the flower harvest of our late summer garden.

Bouquets on the balcony

After sowing, thinning, and transplanting…

after supporting, protecting, and pruning…

after watering, weeding, and waiting…

after releasing expectations and gratefully receiving nature’s abundant, sublime gifts…

this…

a series of still life moments created and captured during recent gardening days at my mom’s home.

 

Papaver rhoeas (common poppy)

‘Parisian Pink’ larkspur

A mixed bouquet of zinnias, lavender, larkspur, and one long-lived hydrangea

Lathyrus odoratus ‘April in Paris’

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Jilly’

A mixed bouquet of ‘April in Paris’, ‘Jilly’, and ‘Mollie Rilstone’ sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus)