Garden Portraits Newsletter, June 2006
Lupines
This past weekend I attended the Lupine festival in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. Fields of wildflowers are a garden photographer's dream. I have never seen such extensive fields of flowers as I viewed at Sugar Hill. However, I was told that the heavy rains we've had in New England this spring hampered their growth. Lupines dotted the grasses, but I imagine during a good lupine season the pretty purples, pink and whites form a carpet of flowers.
I searched for patterns among the flowers. Lupines lined themselves in rows among various shades of green that formed a neat frame around the flowers. I had about two hours to photograph while my family waited in the air-conditioned car. The trip to Sugar Hill was my main goal destination heading up north, but it was the last day of our trip. We were tired after attending Storyland in Glen, New Hampshire with my two-year-old the previous day. And the heat was almost unbearable on an exceptionally warm and hazy June morning. Because of the haze, I missed my opportunity to see the beautiful purple mountains that have made such a wonderful backdrop in others' photos. I followed a butterfly around the fields for a short while, but he was too quick for me. I had the wrong lens on and by the time I changed it, the butterfly was restless. I wanted those mountains in my images, but I should have started with my macro as I usually do. I like to seek out the details and then take in the scope. If I had followed my usual procedure, I'd have a butterfly picture to share!
I primarily use a macro lens when I work and after my missed butterfly I turned my attention to viewing the flowers up close. Lupines are not an exceptional flower in my opinion (feel free to disagree and write to tell me otherwise), but their abundance makes them beautiful. They are simple, spikey flowers in pretty basic colors that would make a little girl swoon. Their spikes present a challenge to a macro photographer who gravitates toward round flowers that fit easily in frame. I played with depth of field, making the layers of flowers in and out of focus. The light was very harsh at 10 in the morning and this did not help my efforts. A diffuser would have helped, but I was up to my knees in tick infested grasses and did not want to trek around with the extra equipment. I used my body as a shield to help shadow the flowers from the harsh sun when I felt the shadows were a detriment to my shot. Next year, I will hotel in the area rather than across the mountains in North Conway. Then I'll be able to catch early morning and early evening light. Despite the less than ideal conditions, I am pleased with my efforts. A horse-drawn carriage through the lupine fields rounded out my lupine portfolio for the year and made the charm of the little town of Sugar Hill with its famous flowers hit full-force. I will definitely take more time to enjoy it next year and I recommend that you do the same.
(Some of the lupines in my portfolio were taken at Uncanoonuc Mt. Perennials. The gorgeous yellow flowers (my favorite color) are from the garden center and are not found naturally in my area.) See my Lupine portfolio at melissamannonphotography.com/lupine_gallery.php.
