Random Thoughts

Green on Green /  by Todd Henson

Green on green: mantis

Sometimes we use color in photography to help accentuate the subject, perhaps by using bold colors that just jump right out at us. But sometimes it’s fun to create photographs with a far simpler color palette, perhaps demonstrating how subjects can blend into the background, essentially becoming a part of it.

In this case while out photographing on the boardwalk I was lucky to see and photograph two instances of green subjects on a green background. In the first case I found a young mantis, likely a Chinese mantis, resting on some leaves. It took a lot of moving back and forth to find a position where I was able to get this little insect in frame and in focus. Each time I moved it was also a struggle to find it again against all that green. :-)

Green on green: treefrog

In the second case I noticed another photographer already focusing on a subject. As I walked by we struck up a conversation and he pointed out the small green treefrog resting on a green plant. He offered to move aside and let me photograph it from where he stood (which was a great location to get a side view of the frog), but this was his find and I didn’t want to pressure him to move so I created a couple quick photographs from a slightly different position and left him in peace to continue composing with the treefrog as I’d done with the mantis.

These sorts of monochromatic scenes can be a lot of fun to explore. And they don’t have to involve a unique subject different from the background. In many cases the subject and background can be one and the same.

Steven Schwartzman has more examples of green on green in his post, Green, green, and more green.

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Transient Beauty /  by Todd Henson

Transient Beauty - Wild Geranium

I debated whether or not to share the photo in this post, that of a small cluster of wild geranium growing just off a trail in the forest on a slope above a creek. If you look closely you’ll see many imperfections in the petals of one of the flowers. The most fully open flower is a bit past its prime, though there are a couple unopened buds that I didn’t return in time to see. And it’s these imperfections that led me to question whether the photo was worth showing.

But I really liked the color balance, with those nice soft purple/pinks against the light green background, that’s what drew my attention while hiking. And I mostly like the arrangement of flowers along with the branches and vines twisting along the branches. So I figured why not? So the flowers aren’t perfect. That just shows the transience of the natural world, and that of the beauty of flowers like these. We have a short span of time to admire them before they’re gone. And for that reason I’m glad I chose both to create this photograph, even while knowing the flowers had their flaws, and for sharing it with you. I hope you’ll also be able to appreciate this small example of transient beauty.

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Traces in the Tree /  by Todd Henson

Nature’s Circuit Traces

Today’s post is less about creating great photography and more about the fascinating things you can find while photographing in nature. I’ve titled the two photos in this post Nature’s Circuit Traces and Traces in the Tree. Technically, they’re not actually traces, but I call them that because I think they resemble the electronic traces on printed circuit boards. But what are they really?

These interesting patterns are caused by beetles boring their way through the tree creating what are often called beetle galleries. I’ve no clue what species created these galleries but I find them fascinating. In this particular case it appears something long ago split the bark along the tree revealing these galleries that I assume were once hidden under bark.

Traces in the Tree

Earlier this year another photographer, Steven Schwartzman, shared photos of some beetle galleries he’d found in Texas. It’s interesting to compare the patterns he found with these and see how similar and yet different they are. Granted, they may have been created by different species of beetles.

Steven also shared a link to a great article describing beetle galleries.

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