We all have a style of photography, whether or not we recognise it ourselves. My interest in colours and patterns pre-dates my love of taking pictures and I like to look up close, probably because my long-distance vision leaves something to be desired.
So Anne’s challenge – Filling the Frame – is a natural one for me, perhaps too much so. Over the years, a couple of people whose opinions I respect have suggested that my photography would improve if I stepped back a bit and showed more of the scene.
Perhaps, but I’m not anticipating awards for photography. I take pictures to please myself, knowing I can share some of my favourites here with others who take photographs for the love of it and who will cut me some slack.
In some pictures, I’m aiming towards a flat surface decoration effect, such as you might see on wallpapers or fabrics.
Often I’m trying to capture something charming that will otherwise slip away.
At flower shows, we are often being invited to admire details on new plants or old favourites.
Variegated leaves…
subtle or startling colour combinations…
plants in tip-top condition with perfect leaves and flowers. It only seems right to get up close.
My eye can be drawn more to moods and harmonies in the colours than to the notional subject of the picture.
My portrait of Monarda ‘Berry Taffy’ is unlike any other I’ve seen online – and I checked. (I google images of flowers before I post them under their names as I would rather not add to the misinformation online where I can easily avoid it.)
Here, the younger, pale green leaf bracts with their delicate red stripe and the mounded buds add their patterns to the open flowers and the darker, more mature leaves.
My instinct to fill the frame does come at a cost, mainly paid by the viewer. I remember seeing an iron bedstead covered with bedding plants at this year’s Southport Flower Show, but if I hadn’t mentioned that, it’s not easy to make out from the crop.
I’ll leave you with a handful of roses, as they are the subject I most often return to:
Shared for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge: Filling the Frame. Thanks for hosting, Anne!
Susan Rushton 
You end with an exquisite rose but I think my favourite is that shot of the dahlias. I just want to stick my nose in amongst them.
That’s one of my favourites too. It’s from this year’s Tatton Park Flower Show – part of a flower shop installation. There is a glimpse of a passing lady with a back pack at the top, but her colours seem to add a little, so I just about get away with it.
🤗🌹🩷
Delightful
Thanks, Sheree.
I’ve always taken photos which show the ‘bigger picture’ but a while ago your blog gave me the inspiration to do more close-ups of flowers and leaves to fill the frame and I’ve had some good results. My favourites of these are the first and fifth, they are beautiful 🙂
That’s very nice to hear, Eunice. Your favourites were both from the same display in the Tatton Park Flower Show Floristry Marquee.
Susan, your eye for color shines through with the beautiful gallery you shared. Such beautiful photos!
Thanks for your kind words, Egídio.
I always love your photos, Susan. You have a great eye for colour, texture and combinations that please the eye. Take the criticism with a grain of salt. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Thanks, Eliza. They may have a point, but they haven’t usually seen what distracting object(s) I am trying to keep out! On the plus side, I might not have become aware of having a style at all if it hadn’t been raised.
You stick with your style Susan. I’ve always admired your photos, and like the way you dive in and place your subject squarely in the frame. You really celebrate whatever has caught your eye. It’s very ‘you’, I think.
Thanks, Margaret. It’s very sweet of you to say that. The urge to celebrate things I enjoy is a large percentage of the urge to blog, and I’m glad that comes over.
Excellent gallery Susan. Love the Bromiliad and roses 😀
A very splendid Bro, I agree, dressed for a stroll down an awards ceremony carpet… a green one, need I say?
👍😁
The closer the better as far as I am concerned 😁 and I’m with Jo, the roses are fab but the dahlias look like a painting. Absolutely brilliant.
Seeing those dahlias was a treat. My sweetheart had to find somewhere to sit while I admired them!
Susan, your macros and close ups are stunning, filling the frame. And when you back away, you keep that beauty. Well done!
Thanks again for setting such a tempting topic, Anne.
You are welcome Susan!
I’ve never thought much about the style of photos, but now that you’ve brought it up I am intrigued. I love your photos, and how else but close and cozy could you capture the buds? As for these photos today, that creamy rose with the apricot middle stopped me cold. Wow. And the sweet peas! I couldn’t tell at all what they were in that vase — those are stained glass window colors! And then there’s that dark tunnel of shade leading to somewhere in the Fort Worth garden — I think maybe an element of mystery figures into your style. Thanks for new thinking, as always.
I am still trying and largely failing with the rose buds. I do much better when I pretend to ignore them and let them ‘sneak’ in. The apricot rose is a lovely colour and its floral companions complement it well. I don’t know about the mystery… you’ve given me something to think about too.
Oh, it’s there. The mystery, that is. Definitely in that shadow. I do think that buds sneak in, and rosebuds in particular love to photobomb. As well they should! One ignores rosebuds at one’s peril!
At one’s spiritual peril, certainly.
Some beautiful close-up images of glorious flowers Susan. Especially loved the bromeliad and the coleus.
I have seen some wonderful coleus plants this year. Such a pity that they won’t survive a hard freeze.
Great selections. Say it with flowers!!!
Thanks, John.