Shooting the spring buds.....

[Michael Graves]

Okay, it's too late for this year, but I tried. The idea was to get the fresh buds on the trees to stand out against the darker tree trunks. I shot with HP5 and with Tri-X, and I used both green and yellow filters with each. Neither one of them gave me the POP I wanted out of the buds. HP5 with green filter was the best, but still didn't give the separation I was looking for? What should I be doing? Minus exposure and plus development? Give up photography and take up something I can handle? Like housecleaning?

[keith english]

I think we would have to know what color the buds and tree trunks were. If they were green buds I would think the green filter and + development.

[Scott Kathe]

Michael,

If you head up Route 108 into Smugglers Notch I bet the buds are still on the trees. I usually go up there to get some wildflower images after the season passes us here in the 'lowlands'. The big issue is wind, it's almost always windy up there but it may be worth a try if you feel like going for a drive.

Scott

[Michael Graves]

Thanks for the tips. And Scott, SN is about six miles from my house. I think I"ll head up there this weekend. Count on 60mph gusts!

[Ralph Barker]

Michael, apparently you didn't get the e-mail about the special Spring bud filter available at ripum-gypum-photo.com? ;)

The green-filter approach sounds reasonable, assuming green buds, but even with the lightening it provides to green elements in the image, other elements may over-power the buds. Selective focus at close distances may help, but that eliminates most of the context.

Have you considered using IR film with non-IR, or not-quite-IR filtration?

[Scott Kathe]

Michael,

Did you make it up into the Notch over the weekend? I see you had some fun with your 8x10:)

Scott