A bit trickier to shoot are lilies in bloom against the dark green of the leaves and black water in direct sunlight. This is one of those cases where a bit of diffusion from high clouds or even a little overcast would be welcome. White and yellow lilies especially are prone to high contrast blow-outs. Lavender lilies, on the other hand, can turn out quite well. I really like the green and reddish brown stripes on the leaves.
This was shot on the same day as yesterday's post, but at the new Chinese Garden at the Huntington. If you haven't seen it, it is well worth the visit.
For those who expressed a desire to see green lilypads on water, this one's for you. As I mentioned earlier, there is a tranquil quality about lilypads that attracts me in both black and white and in color. While these aren't the most attractive and green of leaves, they make a startling contrast with the black water and orange Koi. And yet the contrast does not disturb the peacefulness of the image, but takes it in its own unique direction. There is a reason why these fish in particular and ponds and aquariums in general are so popular. An oasis of calm in our stressful lives is both welcome and necessary for our sanity. Or at least some semblance of what sanity we can salvage these days. It brings new meaning to the phrase, "so long and thanks for all the fish."
Like the previous two posts, this was shot at the Huntington Gardens, but at the dolphin fountain in the statue lawn.
I don't know why, but I find lily pads very peaceful. They are also very photogenic in both black and white and color. I think what attracts me is the reflective quality of the water mixed with the shape, texture and colors and/or tones of the plant. The various ponds at the Huntington Library and Gardens offer some very nice lily pads and I never tire of shooting them. These were at the base of the Japanese bridge in the previous post and shot on the same evening. They make a rather complimentary set of photos.
The Huntington Library and Gardens is one of our favorite places to visit. It is also one of the most photogenic. The Japanese Garden is an old favorite, with the classical wood bridge arching over the lily and koi pond. While color images are nice, I like the timeless quality of black and white. It makes the scene very serene.
There are times when I like to get close to a subject. Tree bark, especially the heavily textured kind, makes for fascinating images. I shot this at the Huntington Library, in the garden next to the tea room. This almost has the feel of an alien landscape or of something you might see in an electron microscope. The impression is accentuated by the use of black and white film. It is one of my favorite shots.
A bit trickier to shoot are lilies in bloom against the dark green of the leaves and black water in direct sunlight. This is one of those cases where a bit of diffusion from high clouds or even a little overcast would be welcome. White and yellow lilies especially are prone to high contrast blow-outs. Lavender lilies, on the other hand, can turn out quite well. I really like the green and reddish brown stripes on the leaves. 
