512 - Chatfield Farms
Today I went to the Chatfield Botanical Gardens. Surprisingly one of the only destinations in the Denver metropolitan area I’ve never been to. And I got in after hours…
Just one of the many perks of having a friend that works inside. I went over this a while ago at Cummins Falls, but social engineering is a fantastic photography tool that’s severely underrated. If you can get an employee to let you into a park when it’s normally closed, you’ll get the perks of better light, no crowds, and a personal tour.
Luckily I didn’t have to do any schmoozing to get in, since I’ve known her for years. But you get the point.
I didn’t realize how absolutely massive this place actually was until I arrived. It’s literally miles of plants. A botanist’s dream. We ended up mobbing around the place in employee golf carts, so I got to see the entire park in less than an hour. I’d literally stop and get out whenever I saw a plant that tickled my fancy.
Like this lil’ puppy:
“Sippy Silhouette”
Taken with Sony a7rIII + Zeiss 24-70mm f/4
[ISO 1000 ~ 70mm ~ f/7.1 ~ 1/60s]
(Want a Print? Get it here.)
Awwww. So cute.
Looks like something poisonous from Peter Pan. Honestly, if I ever owned a garden I’d be purely carnivorous and psychedelic plants. What’s the point of owning a plant if it doesn’t do something neat? One day I’ll get a tiny house + greenhouse setup to support such a catastrophe…
Let’s take a second to talk about that shot. I’ve become very good at finding subjects within macro scenes like this. I look for anything that pops out, and has a backdrop that’s subtle enough to not divert attention. Obviously the two center plants are the focus point….
I also use editing to darken the backdrop a bit and make the center plants stand out. With macro scenes like this, darkening nonessential elements is essential. At least if you want that surreal, ethereal vibe.
Moving on, I landed on a plant that had some dimension I vibed with. The curves on this baby were incredible:
“Orange Aesthetic”
Taken with Sony a7rIII + Zeiss 24-70mm f/4
[ISO 1600 ~ 43mm ~ f/14 ~ 1/60s]
(Want a Print? Get it here.)
The color scheme I was focusing on in that shot was blue/green. If you’re wondering what the subject is… There isn’t one. This whole shot is about the overall texture of the plant. AKA… the whole plant is the subject.
Aaaaaaand… it was at this point that I got fairly distracted. For me, photography is almost always best done in a “lone wolf” type of environment, unless you’re hanging out with another photographer. It seems the biggest detriment is that being social while doing photography can interrupt your “flow” state.
Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend shooting with friends. It’s difficult to zone in and out of that zen state of mind. I’m still learning this lesson the hard way, unfortunately. I love hanging out with friends and I love photography. I WANT BOTH.
Fortunately, I was able to tap back into that flow mindset at the very end of my personal tour for one more shotski:
“The Underground”
Taken with Sony a7rIII + Zeiss 24-70mm f/4
[ISO 1600 ~ 60mm ~ f/14 ~ 1/60s]
(Want a Print? Get it here.)
Boom. Nailed it. The contrast between those different colored plants was the reason I got that shot. A meshing of vibes…
Anyway, one way I’ve learned to keep in that flow state (even with friends,) is to keep shooting while talking and hanging out, even if it’s not something you’d even consider posting/editing. For example, when we were wandering amuck in old barns, I was taking photos of wood I’d never consider posting. But it kept me in the zone while we were chit-chatting.
Then when I do see a subject of interest, I won’t be entirely tapped out.
Alright. That’s the shot today, folks. Botanical gardens macro sesh. I’m honestly super fucking amped about those photos…
Haha. That’s how you know I haven’t been shooting much lately. When I’m excited about macros… Lol. The photography video course is coming along just dandy. Stay tuned…
I’m on a mission to explore as much as humanely possible.
Want to see my progress? Check out the Adventure Map.
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