New Life

Behavior Observed

Cradled in the tulip leaf, these big drops stand in line, neat and orderly. Clustered around them, the baby sprinkles are more scrambled yet remain close. I love how the background echoes the drops' form. Like the youngsters on the leaf, the bokeh is not so orderly and seems to multiply the original shapes with a little chaos.

My macro lens was perfect for drawing close enough to see this most interesting pattern of behavior. Any other lens in my gear bag would not have allowed for this perspective.

Closer

Don't be afraid to get close. If your lens can focus, get closer until it cannot. Then back off a smidge. A little blur can work for you. It adds mystique, depth and interest. By contrast, blur can accentuate form and texture. In this image very little of the subject is actually in focus, just enough to show you the pointed tips of the thistle. Shape eclipses overall detail here and it is just right for me.