For my spouse's birthday this year we went to the Tesselaar Kabloom flower festival in the Dandenong mountains, just East of Melbourne. It was really a sight to behold, all the flowers in bloom. When we first arrived, we spent some time poking around the smaller garden areas next to the performance space. Once we heard the music start on the stage, we wandered over, got a fried potato spiral for my spouse, and watched a fascinating acrobatic performance of flowers blooming. The performers danced on tall poles and interacted with each other, pulling open each other's petals. A person danced in the center, also on a pole, but inside of some sort of woody cage. They in particular played pranks on the flowers outside. The meaning was inscrutible, but it was fun to watch. At one point they threw heaps of confetti everywhere and the little kids had a blast running around and screaming with joy. The musician was pretty cool too, they danced around playing a bass saxophone to the ethereal and plucky driving beat of the music.
After that, we walked down to the large flower fields. We walked up and down all the beautiful rows of flowers and especially enjoyed the sunflowers, my spouse's favourite. Most of these photos are from down in the field.
I've since lost the RAW files for these, which is a shame, as I'd really like to be able to redevelop many of them that are too dark or have unbalanced colouring. My approach and knowledge to RAW development and in-camera exposure has changed a lot since I originally took these photographs in April (writing this in December). But, it is fun to look back and see how I was approaching things then anyway, and especially cool to discover what a transformation my approach really has taken! If you compare these to the Raymond Island gallery, the difference in priorities is clear. Photos I've more recently developed are much brighter.
My favourites are towards the top.
Red flower
A red flower, surrounded by entirely red flowers. There is a noticeable red cast over the entire scene, causing an ethereal sense.
Red flower (05 April 2023 at 12:26:29)
Description: A red flower, surrounded by entirely red flowers. There is a noticeable red cast over the entire scene, causing an ethereal sense.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 400
Purple leaves with green edges
Purple serrated-edge leaves with green borders on the edges and frequent green spots towards the end of serrations, before the green border. Hundreds of leaves are visible from a wide angle.
Purple leaves with green edges (05 April 2023 at 12:13:43)
Description: Purple serrated-edge leaves with green borders on the edges and frequent green spots towards the end of serrations, before the green border. Hundreds of leaves are visible from a wide angle.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/9
Shutter speed: 1/80s
ISO: 400
Honey bees on a sunflower
Bees crawl over a sunflower's centre. Thick sap can be seen in the very centre of the sunflower, and its yellow flowers radiating bright out on the left side of the photograph. The rest of the sunflower is out of frame.
Honey bees on a sunflower (05 April 2023 at 12:40:25)
Description: Bees crawl over a sunflower's centre. Thick sap can be seen in the very centre of the sunflower, and its yellow flowers radiating bright out on the left side of the photograph. The rest of the sunflower is out of frame.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 1600
White flower, green-yellow centre, bouncy yellow anther
A white flower with a striking yellow-green pistle and long stamen with yellow anthers. Others of the same kind are visible in the background, most with wilting, dry, and browning edges on their petals.
White flower, green-yellow centre, bouncy yellow anther (05 April 2023 at 12:08:42)
Description: A white flower with a striking yellow-green pistle and long stamen with yellow anthers. Others of the same kind are visible in the background, most with wilting, dry, and browning edges on their petals.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1/200s
ISO: 400
Sunflower about to bloom
A sunflower just about to bloom, with green still pushing the yellow petals inwards. There is a distinct impression of a masqueraded eye.
Sunflower about to bloom (05 April 2023 at 12:38:53)
Description: A sunflower just about to bloom, with green still pushing the yellow petals inwards. There is a distinct impression of a masqueraded eye.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/400s
ISO: 800
Wilted orange flower
An orange flower wilts. Sturdy green leaves with serrated edges surround it. Dark and light orange colours are on the petals.
Wilted orange flower (05 April 2023 at 11:59:44)
Description: An orange flower wilts. Sturdy green leaves with serrated edges surround it. Dark and light orange colours are on the petals.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1666666667/100000000000s
ISO: 400
Blue-gray moth on green plants
A mostly white moth with blue-gray accents and wing tips and visible antennae sits on a leaf of a green plant. The foreground and background are all very green leaves.
Blue-gray moth on green plants (05 April 2023 at 11:25:51)
Description: A mostly white moth with blue-gray accents and wing tips and visible antennae sits on a leaf of a green plant. The foreground and background are all very green leaves.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/4
Shutter speed: 1/1250s
ISO: 400
Bright pink flowers
Bright pink flowers grow from a green plant. Dry spindles hang off the plant and budding flowers are seen about to burst from their green buds.
Bright pink flowers (05 April 2023 at 11:27:30)
Description: Bright pink flowers grow from a green plant. Dry spindles hang off the plant and budding flowers are seen about to burst from their green buds.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 400
Blue and purple flowers collide
A green background of leaves is cleanly divided in half, with blue flowers spotting the right side, and purple flowers on the left. A small clash of blue/purple/white flowers is seen in the bottom half of the line dividing the two colours.
Blue and purple flowers collide (05 April 2023 at 11:28:02)
Description: A green background of leaves is cleanly divided in half, with blue flowers spotting the right side, and purple flowers on the left. A small clash of blue/purple/white flowers is seen in the bottom half of the line dividing the two colours.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/400s
ISO: 400
Purple flowers surrounded by white flowers
A small bed of purple flowers is surrounded by white flowers on every side. Dirt is visibile on some sides.
Purple flowers surrounded by white flowers (05 April 2023 at 11:28:14)
Description: A small bed of purple flowers is surrounded by white flowers on every side. Dirt is visibile on some sides.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/640s
ISO: 400
Yellow flowers
Yellow flowers with rich orange centres in soft focus.
Yellow flowers (05 April 2023 at 11:28:58)
Description: Yellow flowers with rich orange centres in soft focus.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/13
Shutter speed: 1/125s
ISO: 400
Yellow flowers, up close
Yellow flowers with rich dark organge centres, which have dark tips on the longer parts, crowd the lens.
Yellow flowers, up close (05 April 2023 at 11:29:06)
Description: Yellow flowers with rich dark organge centres, which have dark tips on the longer parts, crowd the lens.
Notes: Under-exposed
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/13
Shutter speed: 1/125s
ISO: 400
Bark with lichen
Gnurled bark on a tree, up close, with lichen and other moss-like greens next to it. A small spiders web is visible on the gnurled bark.
Bark with lichen (05 April 2023 at 11:58:33)
Description: Gnurled bark on a tree, up close, with lichen and other moss-like greens next to it. A small spiders web is visible on the gnurled bark.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5
Shutter speed: 1/100s
ISO: 1250
Flowers so orange it hurts
Flowers so orange the colours seem unreal. The flowers have a lovely ombre of dark orange towards the centre on the petals and light orange tips.
Flowers so orange it hurts (05 April 2023 at 11:59:26)
Description: Flowers so orange the colours seem unreal. The flowers have a lovely ombre of dark orange towards the centre on the petals and light orange tips.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1/250s
ISO: 400
About to bud (orange flower)
A green bud, seemingly on the verge of bursting forth with an orange flower, is surrounded by bright orange flowers, suggesting what is to come for the visible flower bud.
About to bud (orange flower) (05 April 2023 at 11:59:53)
Description: A green bud, seemingly on the verge of bursting forth with an orange flower, is surrounded by bright orange flowers, suggesting what is to come for the visible flower bud.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1/250s
ISO: 400
Purple-red flowers
Flowers so bright, purple, and red in colour that you can almost sense the UV light shimmering off of them
Purple-red flowers (05 April 2023 at 12:10:58)
Description: Flowers so bright, purple, and red in colour that you can almost sense the UV light shimmering off of them
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5
Shutter speed: 1/100s
ISO: 400
Purple leaves with green edges
Purple serrated-edge leaves with green borders on the edges and frequent green spots towards the end of serrations, before the green border
Purple leaves with green edges (05 April 2023 at 12:13:02)
Description: Purple serrated-edge leaves with green borders on the edges and frequent green spots towards the end of serrations, before the green border
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter speed: 1/250s
ISO: 400
Dusty orange flower
A dusty orange flower, with a clear dark orange ring around the petals. Outside the ring, on each petal, a peach-skin like orange texture emanates out.
Dusty orange flower (05 April 2023 at 12:15:31)
Description: A dusty orange flower, with a clear dark orange ring around the petals. Outside the ring, on each petal, a peach-skin like orange texture emanates out.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/320s
ISO: 400
Dark orange flower
A very dark, almost red, orange flower with bright yellow flashes in the middle of each petal and very long stamen. The stamen have distinct, star shaped anthers and dark bodies.
Dark orange flower (05 April 2023 at 12:15:47)
Description: A very dark, almost red, orange flower with bright yellow flashes in the middle of each petal and very long stamen. The stamen have distinct, star shaped anthers and dark bodies.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/250s
ISO: 400
Purple and yellow flowers meet
Purple flowers and yellow flowers divide the scene along a horizontal division.
Purple and yellow flowers meet (05 April 2023 at 12:16:39)
Description: Purple flowers and yellow flowers divide the scene along a horizontal division.
Notes: Under-exposed
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/1000s
ISO: 400
Soft focus yellow flowers
Delicate yellow flowers in soft focus
Soft focus yellow flowers (05 April 2023 at 12:25:40)
Description: Delicate yellow flowers in soft focus
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/1000s
ISO: 400
Soft focus pink and orange flower
Delicate pink petals with orange flashes in extremely soft focus
Soft focus pink and orange flower (05 April 2023 at 12:25:05)
Description: Delicate pink petals with orange flashes in extremely soft focus
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/320s
ISO: 400
Red flowers in a row
Tall red flowers form a distinct row. In the background, similar rows of yellow and purple flowers can be seen, with farm buildings and a tree line far off in the distance.
Red flowers in a row (05 April 2023 at 12:26:22)
Description: Tall red flowers form a distinct row. In the background, similar rows of yellow and purple flowers can be seen, with farm buildings and a tree line far off in the distance.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter speed: 1/2000s
ISO: 400
Various shades of red and purple
Various shades of red, pink, and purple flowers in neat, maintained lines.
Various shades of red and purple (05 April 2023 at 12:28:31)
Description: Various shades of red, pink, and purple flowers in neat, maintained lines.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/16
Shutter speed: 1/100s
ISO: 400
Various shades of red, yellow, and purple
Various shades of red, pink, yellow, and purple flowers in neat, maintained, noticeably curved lines.
Various shades of red, yellow, and purple (05 April 2023 at 12:28:44)
Description: Various shades of red, pink, yellow, and purple flowers in neat, maintained, noticeably curved lines.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/16
Shutter speed: 1/125s
ISO: 400
Bright pink flowers
Pink flowers so bright they seem to visibly emit UV, even through a photograph. They have neat serrated edges.
Bright pink flowers (05 April 2023 at 12:32:49)
Description: Pink flowers so bright they seem to visibly emit UV, even through a photograph. They have neat serrated edges.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/10
Shutter speed: 1/125s
ISO: 400
Dusty pink flowers
Dusty pink flowers with neat serrated edges.
Dusty pink flowers (05 April 2023 at 12:33:57)
Description: Dusty pink flowers with neat serrated edges.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5
Shutter speed: 1/1250s
ISO: 400
Delicate, long pink flowers
Flower with long pink petals and very long orange stamen. The flowers are clustered in pom-poms at the top of their green stems.
Delicate, long pink flowers (05 April 2023 at 12:34:42)
Description: Flower with long pink petals and very long orange stamen. The flowers are clustered in pom-poms at the top of their green stems.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5
Shutter speed: 1/1250s
ISO: 400
Long delicate, pink flowers, up close
Long, delicate pink petals and long orange stamen up close, in a macro-style photograph.
Long delicate, pink flowers, up close (05 April 2023 at 12:35:10)
Description: Long, delicate pink petals and long orange stamen up close, in a macro-style photograph.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 400
Sunflower about to bloom
A sunflower just about to bloom, with green still pushing the yellow petals inwards.
Sunflower about to bloom (05 April 2023 at 12:38:26)
Description: A sunflower just about to bloom, with green still pushing the yellow petals inwards.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter speed: 1/1600s
ISO: 800
Lone yellow sunflower
The archetypical cheesy sunflower photograph of a lone sunflower amongst a sea of green, unbloomed sunflowers and big green leaves.
Lone yellow sunflower (05 April 2023 at 12:39:38)
Description: The archetypical cheesy sunflower photograph of a lone sunflower amongst a sea of green, unbloomed sunflowers and big green leaves.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 800
Sunflower sap
A sunflower crowds the frame, with dark burnt orange petals, a green center, with a single large glob of sap seeping through.
Sunflower sap (05 April 2023 at 12:40:59)
Description: A sunflower crowds the frame, with dark burnt orange petals, a green center, with a single large glob of sap seeping through.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/640s
ISO: 1000
Sunflower halfway open
A sunflower part of the way through blooming, with the top already fully splayed open, and the bottom still curled inward.
Sunflower halfway open (05 April 2023 at 12:42:49)
Description: A sunflower part of the way through blooming, with the top already fully splayed open, and the bottom still curled inward.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/640s
ISO: 1000
Ping flower with yellow anthers
A simple pink flower with layered petals, and star-shaped, enormous anthers on its stamen.
Ping flower with yellow anthers (05 April 2023 at 12:44:02)
Description: A simple pink flower with layered petals, and star-shaped, enormous anthers on its stamen.
Camera: RICOH GR III
Lens: Ricoh GR III
Focal length: 18.3
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/500s
ISO: 1000
Red flower with wavy petals
A red flower with petals that wave around their edges and layered.
Red flower with wavy petals (05 April 2023 at 12:44:10)
Description: A red flower with petals that wave around their edges and layered.
