Aloe Vera

[Mick Fagan]

This sits on our back verandah table.

Late in the day to utilise natural sidelight and less wind/breeze as the flower is atop a 400mm long stem from the base plant.

Shen Hao HZX45-IIA
Fujinon f/6.3 150mm
1 sec at f/16
Ilford FP4+ No Filter
10mm front rise

[Maris]

Simple, subtle, perfect! The vertical subject and the soft vertical pattern in the background resonate nicely together. In the big big versions of this picture the fine strands of webbing become visible and lend a reassuringly organic touch to this piece of natural sculpture. Mick, consider taking a picture of this inflorescence when it opens fully. That'll be something to see.

[Mick Fagan]

Maris, I am watching this plant in the hope I get the right conditions for most of the flowers to be open at the same time. But I'm not holding out too much hope for that, the bottom flowers are already wilting. In general this plant seems to flower for a considerable time, and to do it all at once would take a considerable burst of energy, hence the graduated floral display.

The Colorbond of the garage wall in the background blurred very nicely, which was something I strived to do from the outset. The idea being to have sympathy between the background and the plant.

Annoyingly, and just as the shutter clicked, I realised I hadn't taken the bellows extension into consideration. Another sheet was exposed correctly and when placed side by side on the light box, it really was correct density versus noticeably thin and definitely lacking in shadow detail.

Not the first time and won't be the last...... sigh!