Agaveville

I've been playing with Agave art shots for a project, and I thought I would post a few just for laughs. Last two pics are identical, except one is laying on its side.

Thought I would try some too, you inspired me and I am seeing more and more Agave prints for sale as wall art.

^ Those are really nice. My bank has Agave art shots all over!

I know they aren't agaves, but here are a few more.

Ron's photos are better than any I can muster, but I thought I'd try, so spent some time in the garden with my pocket camera.

When I logged just now I then saw the hauntingly beautiful Agave ovatifolia photos.

Well, the least my photos can do is make you appreciate the impeccable clarity and detail of the previous photos.

A few more photos (taken the day after the ones above).

MJP, you outdid yourself with the paper spine cactus! Wonderful photo!

I love the side low-angle sunlight hitting the side of the pot and setting the paper spines aglow, contrasting against the dark background wall. And the columnar cactus on the left, with just a hint of sunlight, provides a vertical element and a contrast of form and shape.

While all the above agave photos are very nice, this paper spine photo stands out for me because it is a different perspective than what I'm used to seeing.

Thanks toditd. Of all the cacti I grow, that has long been a favorite species of mine, but I forever had difficulty growing it in the form my imagination desired. Then three years ago I picked up that strawberry pot with a notion of what to do with it, and once planted left it in place untouched - even a slight bump can dislodge the newest segments of the paper spine cactus. By and by it grew into the specimen above, getting better all the time. A dream come true. So it pleases me no end to be able to share it, and that others find it mesmerizing too. It is serendipity that the warm color of the barn adds the perfect backdrop, as is the green columnar cactus - a gift from a friend placed there and nearly forgotten. I remember to water it every once in a while.

Here is a different kind of art shot, and yes this started as a photo.

Great shot! Love landscapes. Can I ask where that photo was taken?

mauiagave wrote:Great shot! Love landscapes. Can I ask where that photo was taken?

Mazatzal Mountains, central Arizona.

@Art Shots

Very Nice

Gorgeous plant

Shadowplay.

Not agaves but I like it.

Agave Americana. The flower is from the NeoMexicana and the small one is A.Parryi Truncata

Some shots of our snow this morning. The yucca is a recent native habitat rescue. I really hope it doesn't rot.

A. parrasana

Messing with Sempervivum

I have a good eye for a picture but little technical ability.

Shots taken just after the sunrise........

Cylindropuntia tunicata Agave oteroi cv. 'Solar Eclipse' Euphorbia venefica Euphorbia decaryi var. cap-saintemariensis Euphorbia clavigera

At the sunrise....

IMHO, photography is all about correct use of light conditions. Various editing softwares can do wonders and can really make an ordinary photo look superb but a keen eye can always see the original face behind the makeup. I was gifted my first camera by my late father in 1980 when I was studying in 10th grade. I got few photography sessions from an experienced photographer and one of the prime lessons was to keep the sun / light on the back. I followed this basic principle for many years but as I grew in experience, I realised that sometimes, exceptional photos can be taken by keeping the light source behind the object. This got me into early morning (sunrise) shots while looking towards the sun and I have been able to take few unique photos. The trick is to get up early in the morning and take photos in a time bracket that lasts just 15-20 minutes after sunrise. After that, sun gets too high, the light gets too bright and starts causing shadows.

Here is an unedited photo taken after sun rise. No editing has been done except resizing and cropping as the original photo was too heavy to be uploaded. Colors, light, contrast are absolutely original, as they were out of the camera. EXIF Sony A7RIII, Sigma 24-70 mm f/2.8 Art lens, f/7.1, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, FL 70mm.
First photo is without any editing for effects. Only cropped and resized for uploading.
2nd photo has been edited keeping the contrast and brightness on the higher side. 3rd photo has been edited with low contrast and brightness. It looks to me that the original unedited photo is not all that bad

Any views?

PS: Just noticed the leaves of A. desmettiana Joe Hoak in the background that have merged with the leaves of Kaleidoscope and have sort of spoiled the photo a bit. Please try to imagine a photo without those light green leaves.

Obregonia denegrii