Friday, May 09, 2014

Photography Challenge: Colourful


Donna's photo challenges are always interesting. This month, the challenge was colourful. (Actually, it was colorful - but I'm Canadian, so I'll add the extra "u.") I found this challenge a little more difficult than earlier ones. Don't we always photograph colour? How could I force myself to learn a little more with this challenge? 


My favourite colours are the cool tones of blues, greens, violets, pinks. I can handle some yellow, but not too much. My home and my garden very much reflect this cool palette. So I decided to stretch myself a little and go outside of my usual palette. Ta Da! Above is a detail of a Golden Chain Tree, currently blooming along the path I walk. Doesn't it glow against the greens?


A trip to Butchart Gardens was a revelation. I can walk by beds of orange, red, and yellow flowers without once feeling the urge to snap a photo. Okay, red, sometimes, but it has to be a deep, cool red. This time, I forced myself to really look at the other colour combinations. The jagged edge on the orange tulip above caught my eye. I think I photographed it more for the shape than the colour. But colourful it is.


I slipped backwards for this photo. A long, lovely bed of white tulips nodded gracefully in elegant uniformity. Then I saw her. And I giggled quietly to myself. One rebellious poppy, flaunting her blue petals and golden center in the midst of all that white. Brave little poppy. "Look at me," says she, "I'm unique." Isn't she adorable?

I enjoyed this foray into new territory with colour. Did you learn something new during this challenge? What is your favourite colour palette?

All photos were taken with my Nikon Coolpix P7100 and edited for colour contrast in Picasa. 

Visit A Personal Photography Challenge for more colourful displays. 


 


36 comments:

  1. Is that what we know as a Laburnum blossom...the yellow one?
    Isn't that blue Meconopsis sweet, I love the way you have captured her proudly standing in the middle of white.

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  2. I love these photos Lorrie. They are all so brilliant in colour. The yellow chain blossom is something I've never seen before. Very nice choices for the challenge.

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  3. Beautiful Lorrie! Love that pop of blue amongst the white. Happy Mother's Day to you!

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  4. Nice work, Lorrie . . . I can see continuous advancement in your photography skills.Love the Golden Chain Tree shot . . . there is one not too far from where I live but it is not yet blossoming. It is a very mature specimen and really gets your attention driving by.

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  5. it was an enjoyable read learning more about your thought process on color. We are exact opposites on this as my eye always goes to yellows and reds. You should certainly get a "A" for taking the second look. Now I'll have to think about your "water" colors, which I sometimes slough off as "depressing." There is nothing depressing about the final photo of the blue flower dancing among the white tulips...delightful!

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  6. Isn't it interesting how each person sees through different eyes? I am always drawn to red, but the tones that you love are calming and soothing. The challenge for me this month was to look for (or even set up) pairings of complementary colors...they really do "pop"!

    You have certainly met the challenge with your choices! The yellow chain tree is a lovely shot, as is the jagged-edged tulip. But the lone blue poppy in the sea of white tulips...that is spectacular!

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  7. Good choices Lorrie. That tulip photo is amazing and such depth to the image as well as the color. Love the personification you gave to the poppy. She is adorable so bravely joining the tulips.

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  8. Lindas, lindas cores! Amei!
    Parabéns!
    Um abraço!
    Beautiful, beautiful colors! Loved!
    Congratulations!
    Hugs!

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  9. Wondrous to behold! Oh my...sure enjoyed your post and your musings about colour (with a 'u'). And as for delightful Miss Blue Poppy... well, I know which song she sings: It's my garden and I'll bloom where I want to. Love your glimpses of beauty today.

    (No such signs here in Alberta..still struggling to keep temperatures above freezing this Spring).

    Happy Friday...
    Brenda

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  10. Lorrie, I love the choices you made to share colorful blooms here for Donna's May challenge. That last pic is stunning with the stark white tulips interrupted by a truly blue poppy - one I'm not familiar with but will definitely be searching for!

    Happy weekend - and may Mother's Day be extra special.
    Hugs - Mary

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  11. Just awesome color....love them all.

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  12. Oh my goodness they are beauties...I remember when they first hit the gardening scene, they cost almost $20 for a 4 inch pot, and no one blinked. Such a lovely shade of blue.

    And your orange tulip, it's stunning, simply beautiful.

    Jen

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  13. Very nice. I love little blue rogue.

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  14. For someone from Ontario, I am mesmerized by the golden chain tree and an elusive blue poppy. Fabulous macro of the orange tulip, both shape and colour are wonderful to look at.

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  15. PS... Guess what? I think I found the perfect quote to match your blue poppy and white tulips photo -- found it in an old magazine I was browsing through (La Vie Clair, Claire Murray's Art of Living):

    "Each garden has its own surprise." ~ Susan Allen Toth, from My Love Affair with England

    Brenda

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  16. Bravo for moving out of your comfort zone. I don't typically like orange, either, but that tulip photo is stunning. Well done.

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  17. Beautiful, popping colours! I too love the blue surprise.

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  18. First I must say - absolutely breathtaking!!! My favorite colors are pastels and bright-ish pastels - I don't go much for the autumn colors - so spring is my time of the year. I love the way you focused the photos and the white tulips and blue poppy are stunning - this one would win prizes in photo contest. I award you first place, here and now!

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  19. Beautiful choices. I haven't seen a blue poppy. Nice.

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  20. I am always drawn to lots of colors but reds, blues, and purples are some of my favorites. My favorite photo is the poppy in the tulip bed!

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  21. These are really good! I love the orange tulip, for both shape and color, and I love the blue poppy amongst the white tulips. That golden chain tree is beautiful, as well!

    Great job!
    Deanna

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  22. Beautiful colours especially the rebellious poppy! Have a colourful weekend xx

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  23. Oh that poppy! and the tulip edge- swoon!

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  24. I'm with you Lorrie. My fav colours are blues, greens, purples and pinks. I "tolerate" the hotter colours. lol Love all your photos but I'm in love with the Himalayan Blue poppy. I had one in my garden once- kept it going till its second year when it bloomed. Then it was gone. Our zone is too harsh/cold, I guess. If I lived near Butchart Gardens I'd be there every week. LOVE that place. You are so lucky to live handy. Great colourful captures!

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  25. I too am a cool color lover but my are these wonderful images.

    Have a beautiful weekend.

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  26. My favourite is the lone Himalayan poppy flaunting her blueness amidst the pristine white tulips, thanks to a little bird whom I like to imagine had a sense of humour!
    Your first image is a wonderfully vibrant example of 'stand out' colour!
    Like you Lorrie I'm a cool palette girl, I prefer the understated!

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  27. I guess I'm the opposite. I like the brilliant orange flowers best. But I do like that rebellious poppy!

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  28. Love that blue poppy amongst the white...

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  29. Pretty colors and gorgeous flowers! Your images are lovely.. Happy Mother's Day! Wishing you a happy week ahead!

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  30. How lovely your flowers are blooming on the island, I used to live to live in Victoria and Campbell River.

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  31. Love the color contrast in the first one. Vivid! And the orange tulip was begging for your camera's attention. I'm so glad that you edged out of your color palette comfort zone and chose some warm-toned subjects. And the last one really gave me a giggle. That poppy knows how to stand out in a crowd! Bravo, sweetie. You sailed through this challenge.

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  32. Hi! I am new following you. I saw your comment at Laura's Decor to Adore! About the shooting in Kansas City. Our world is so broken.
    You have a beautiful blog and the flowers are just spectacular. Thank you for sharing and I will stop by again soon. Hugs, Anne

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  33. Anonymous12:20 PM

    I didn't know the blue poppy existed - I see from reading just now that it's unlikely I could grow it here, which is not surprising - she is really amazing! I like the blues best, too, and that photo with the tulips and poppy is my favorite here.

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  35. Beautiful photos Lorrie! I tend to be drawn to the cooler colors also, but my 'heart' smiles when I see some orange California poppies on the roadside or the first yellow daffodils of the year! LOVE that blue poppy--I've never seen a blue poppy before. Love it:)
    Blessings, Aimee

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