My wife has been buying sunflower blooms of late to decorate the home… convenient photography subjects! Capturing a few of them together in a photograph can be tricky though (in terms of composition and achieving the right depth of field and focus). I read some online recommendations about using a blue background to complement the bright yellow of the sunflowers. In the end, I made a blue makeshift background out of a yoga mat that we had at home!
The reporting time for the Canon PhotoMarathon I attended recently was set for 8.30am but the first theme of the event wasn’t announced till close to 10am! That did not stop me and my dad from chasing the earlier (and more photography-friendly) morning lighting for some photos even before the event started. The above was one of the pictures we caught right outside the event venue.
The last (and third) theme for the Canon PhotoMaraton 2024 I participated in last Saturday was “Wonder/Wander”. Heading indoors, we decided to explore this theme using a semi-slow exposure trick I have employed before in urban indoor photography. Looking for a high vantage point in a busy setting is the first step. The next is to look for groups of people with different vibes of activity so as to create what I call an “oasis of calm in a sea of chaos” effect. The effect in my final submission was done all in-camera as required by the rules. This version shown here is enhanced later in Lighroom for colour balance, clarity and luminance but is otherwise largely similar to the original.