[Photos] Cambridge Botanic Garden

[karohemd]

Yesterday I visited the Botanic Garden in Cambridge for the first time (I know, shame on me).
Given the time of year, there wasn't that much on show yet but there were enough interesting things for the three and a half hours I was there. It being a weekday, there weren't many people so neither were they in the way of my photos nor did I annoy others by hanging around various exhibits for a long time.
I really need to go back during other seasons, too.
Here's a selection of photos:

 
  
 

Comments

Beautiful!

[ysabetwordsmith]

These are awesome. I think my favorites are the gold currant (with the bee on the yellow flowers) and the sundew.

Re: Beautiful!

[karohemd]

Many thanks!

[gothindulgence.livejournal.com]

ooh nicely done - like the sticky plant

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I was really pleased with the sundew, too. They were up on a shelf so I could support the camera on my elbows and get really close with the macro lens.

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

Wow, fantastic photos! :)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You should go, too. For you it's even free.

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

I know, I have been a couple of times to take pictures of people.
By the way, I would be up for a fairytale themed photoshoot in the gardens if you are?

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Nice shots! I instantly feel calm just looking at them! And even though it was a little overcast, the colours are still really vibrant in some of these, and nice and desaturated/'peaceful' in others.

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

OMG CAN I PRANCE AROUND IN MAI LOLITA FOR A SHOT OR TWO PLEASE :DDD

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I actually much prefer overcast sky when taking photos as the light is more diffuse.
And the whole garden had a calm and tranquil atmosphere to it. Except for the bit that runs along Trumpington Road, you hardly knew you were bang in the middle of a busy city.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Very nice! Lovely colours. I like the blurring you manage to achieve with the backgrounds - really brings out the detail in the subjects.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a vague plan.

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

YES!!! :D good plan! Will brainstorm and message you with ideas :)

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Hahaha love it! Tea party plz. xD xx

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

Yay! I have a fairy outfit which I shall wear to the Calling on Saturday, avec my new red wig :D are you free next week or the week after?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Most of the shots were taken with a macro lens which means pretty much everything not in the focal plane was out of focus. When you get really close to the subject like in the shots of the sundew (probably about 1cm), the bit in which the subject is in focus is only a few millimetres deep. The "man eating" plants were in a greenhouse so there was no wind and I could those shots easily. It's almost impossible outside because a branch or flour swaying in the wind just slightly will screw up the focus.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Wow - 1cm! Didn't realise that's how it was done.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

One of the sundew leaves is less than 5cm long and one of the bits with the drop at the end about 3mm. With a macro lens at 1:1, the drop will be in focus while the other end of the bit it's attached to will already be out of focus.
When you're further away, the depth of field becomes deeper.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Not on the 9th (it's raggedy_man's stag do), week after should be OK (if you mean Saturday).

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

Do you mean Saturday 16th or the one after? I'll be in Manchester at the Easter weekend.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I'll be available on the 16th currently.

[thedinster.livejournal.com]

Me too :)let us discuss nearer the time!