Dust Off that Macro Lens

My photo this week was taken with my Tokina AT-X 100mm F/2.8 macro lens which I purchased used on ebay several years ago.  I infrequently use the lens, but every once in awhile, I take it out for a walk around.  

One reason I shy away from using my macro is that it requires me to slow down and causes me to be more deliberate (proactive)  in my photography.  When using this macro lens, its thin depth of field becomes a blessing and a curse as it is difficult to manage keeping the camera and objects photographed on a parallel plane. 

Macro photography also requires a physical steadiness that is slipping away with passing years, but simultaneously makes me feel quite smug for buying a tripod that I enjoy using.  Periodically, I return to macro photography because it gives me unexpected glimpses into unique details hidden within ordinary objects, and the design of the macro lens accents those details with flowing dreamy colors and shapes surrounding the subject. 

My subject for this week's photo was just outside my front door.  Those irises which were stiff, green blades with tight buds last week, became delicate, colorful blooms today.  Since irises remain in bloom for such a short period, I photographed them to celebrate their blooming time beyond their normal brief season.

The featured photo is a single exposure that I photographed from a perspective to use the concrete sidewalk as its background.  I chose this as a background to isolate this iris from the many others around it and to create a high key effect. This was done intentionally to display the fine details within this particular flower.  

My reward was that I was able to see, for the first time,  that silky, transparent protective membrane surrounding each bloom that is much like a the wrapping of a cocoon around an emerging butterfly.  My composition created the fine art effect that I desired and reminded me how mysterious and "intrically simple" are the ways of nature.