Submitter's name:	Mickey Trageser
Title:	Bleeding Hearts
Gear used:	OM-4 + Zuiko 135/3.5 + Hoya Close-Up +3.
Diaphragm:	f8
Shutter speed:	1/250
Film used:	Kodak Supra Professional 400 ASA.
Technical information:	Simple handheld shot with a little backlighting from an afternoon sun. Scanned from 4x6 1 hour print from Fuji (at Sam's Club) on Visioneer OneTouch 8100 scanner. One spot touched up, saturation brought up slightly to match print.
Subject information:	These little delights seem to flourish despite my best efforts to ignore them. They have a lovely hue, that I think is well represented here. I was pleased with the contrast, since when shooting with close up filters, the contrast seems to drop off in the viewfinder. These guys were swaying in a breeze, so it was a little bit of a challenge to focus.
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Comment left by: Anonymous Visitor

But focus is not the be all and end all.... A nicely composed shot. I like it.

Comment left by: Anonymous Visitor

Yes, I was not able to get a crisp image due mainly to movement (both the flowers and me). But, as in portraiture, stunning sharpness isn't always critical to an image. I posted it because I liked the way the blooms were arranged, and the hues. And this bloom was even waving it's 'arms' at the camera. What a ham!

Comment left by: John A. Lind (jlind@netusa1.net)

When they're swaying in a breeze it's not only difficult to focus, it's difficult to compose too. Add to that the magnification of a macro that magnifies any motion. When blossoms are swaying I try to compose for them at the apex of motion and time the shutter release to make the image just when it has stopped to start moving the other direction. Tricky and can reqire a few shots to get one good one. I like the composition with only one in focus and that it's off-center. The lighting direction captures its texture well. The low key background isolates the blossoms even more than simply being out of focus could do. Nice job.

Comment left by: Bruce Hamm (bhamm@magma.ca)

This is a nice and interesting shot. I find that my eye is drawn to the details and I enjoy the colour and soft look. Well done. I wish I had the patience to shoot in the conditions you describe. :)

Comment left by: Ken N. (no e-mail specified)

There definitely is the telltail characteristics of close-up filters in use. Moving flowers are a real pain to photograph and trying to hold them doesn't help any either when you are in macro territory. Many pros will either suck it up and use flash or end up shooting a couple dozen shots in hopes that one of them is sharp. One learns to be very patient in breezy conditions as there will typically be one lull every few minutes. But that is when you realize that you are kneeling on a red-ant hill.

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