Inspirations
Get closer to the stunning Macro Art category winners in this year’s International Garden Photographer of the Year contest
01 Blue eyed Beauty By Gillian Plummer
“The centre of this Osteospermum ‘Serenity Blue Eyed Beauty’ plant contains concentric circles of deep blue, stencil-like stars, which provide a textured contrast to the smooth purple-tipped petals.” Gillian’s gorgeous floral portrait was highly commended in the Macro Art category of this year’s International Garden Photographer of the Year. By using a tripod and cable release, she has rendered the centre of the flower pin-sharp, even at the extended shutter speed.
Lens Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Exposure 0.4 sec, f/8, ISO100
02 Astrantia by Mandy disher
“Before photographing the Astrantia, I pressed them for a crisp two-dimensional feel in order to reveal their remarkably intricate patterns.” Mandy then lay these charming perennials on top of a lightbox in order to backlight their repeating shapes, textures and colours. The result is wonderfully delicate.
Lens Canon ef 100mm f/2.8 macro usm Exposure 1 sec, f/22, iso50
03 Aquilegia by Jane dibnah
“The falling stamens and graceful lines of the petals created a wonderful sense of movement.” For this peaceful shot, Jane used a tripod and reflector, bouncing light back onto her subject to create the balanced lighting you see here.
Lens Canon ef 180mm f/3.5l macro usm Exposure 1/640 sec, f/5, iso400
04 lace collocation by Minghui yuan
“The dried petals of Hydrangea macrophylla respond very well to light, which merges different elements of the plant while highlighting beautifully fine details," Minghui says. He shot this highly commended image in Wuhan City, China, which has many lakes and parks making it ideal for photography.
Lens tamron 90mm macro lens Exposure 1/160 sec, f/13, iso320
05 the creation by Peter Pullan
The bark of this eucalyptus tree is redolent of Australian Aboriginal art in its simplicity, colour and abstraction. Peter was awarded second place for his entry, which invites the viewer to look more closely and work out what the image is showing. Lens Canon ef 100mm f/2.8l macro is usm Exposure 1/100 sec, f/11, iso400
06 A spring treat by noortje russel
The changing seasons provide a wealth of inspiration for any outdoor photography or keen gardener. “I wanted to capture the essence of spring and knew a crocus would make the ideal subject,” Noortje says. He decreased the highlights and contrast in post-processing for this soft image. Lens tamron 90mm macro lens Exposure 1/200 sec, f/2.8, iso400
07 Waiting by bob luijks
“I found this spider just after sunrise with its web glistening in the morning light. I used a cooler-looking white balance to create a more dramatic scene,” Bob says. We love the abstract nature of this finalist, and that Bob has deliberately changed the colour temperature for added atmosphere. Lens lensbaby 56mm lens Exposure 1/5000 sec, f/2, iso100
08 Marbled White by Judith borremans
“This marbled white butterfly had just opened to its wings to catch the first warming rays of the morning sun.” Judith’s symmetrical shot is a quintessential butterfly portrait; the soft light and lovely out-of-focus background ensures our eyes are instantly drawn to the subject. Lens Canon ef 100mm f/2.8 macro usm Exposure 1/320 sec, f/2.8, iso250