MSA May/June 2016: "April Showers Bring May Flowers"

[jeffreythree]

The new Monthly Shooting Assignment May/June 2016 theme is:

"April showers bring May flowers"

The saying has been stuck in my head for a week with all our rain in April; so I decide to use it here. I want to see those flowers. A field full, a single stem, color or b&w, close up or from afar, indoor or outdoor. Extra ponts for something inventive that makes me think "Why didn't I think of that perspective?".

Monthly Shooting Assignment Guidelines you can find here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[NedL]

Good!

 

[MattKing]

Sounds like this will be fun.
As these are two month "Assignments", would you like the thread title changed to "April showers bring May (and June) flowers"?

 

[Wayne]

Sounds like this will be fun.
As these are two month "Assignments", would you like the thread title changed to "April showers bring May (and June) flowers"?

I think May showers bring June flowers

 

[Rick A]

If April showers bring may flowers, what do may flowers bring?
Mayflowers bring Pilgrims.

 

[nsouto]

Been a long time between posts...
Got two up there for this one.
More to come if I can surface again for air from work...

 

[TheToadMen]

Been a long time between posts...
Got two up there for this one.
More to come if I can surface again for air from work...

Nice flowers. These tulip fields looks the same as the Floriade overhere in Holland.
But since it isn't Spring time in Australia, I'm guessing these images weren't shot this month?
Maybe you didn't realize, but the entries to each MSA should be shot within the time frame (= 2 months) of that MSA, i.e. May & June 2016 in this MSA?

It's Spring time overhere in Holland (EU) now although it might still freeze at night. I'll try some pinhole images in my garden for this MSA.

 

[nsouto]

Er... It's Autumn here now. This shot was taken last Spring here in Canberra, which is in September.
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, it's very hard to take flower shots in our Autumn except for natives which flower all year around.
This was scanned recently, hence why I put it up. Wasn't aware that photos had had to be taken within 2 months, that was never a restriction before.
But if you insist, I can easily remove this one and put others taken this March. Not an issue at all.

 

[jeffreythree]

Er... It's Autumn here now. This shot was taken last Spring here in Canberra, which is in September.
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, it's very hard to take flower shots in our Autumn except for natives which flower all year around.
This was scanned recently, hence why I put it up. Wasn't aware that photos had had to be taken within 2 months, that was never a restriction before.
But if you insist, I can easily remove this one and put others taken this March. Not an issue at all.

They were nice photos and appropriate subjects for the theme, but please see #2 in the Guidelines link posted above:

(2) Take your photo(s) according to the assignment guidelines. You are expected to shoot something new rather than grabbing from your archives. Photos must originate as something that is consistent with APUG's principles - i.e. using traditional (non-digital) processes. Scans from prints, slides, or negatives are permitted, but any digital adjustments should be strictly limited to what would be acceptable in the APUG galleries.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Er... It's Autumn here now. This shot was taken last Spring here in Canberra, which is in September.
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, it's very hard to take flower shots in our Autumn except for natives which flower all year around.
This was scanned recently, hence why I put it up. Wasn't aware that photos had had to be taken within 2 months, that was never a restriction before.
But if you insist, I can easily remove this one and put others taken this March. Not an issue at all.

As noted above, it's always been a restriction (which is why I often end up missing out on these assignments - I have a whole backlog of images from previous assignments!). That said, it has never stopped people from posting appropriate images from their archives - not as a candidate for the assignment, but just to share.

 

[TheToadMen]

But if you insist, I can easily remove this one and put others taken this March. Not an issue at all.

The MSA intends to stimulate people to go out and shoot (more) and to help people get inspired (again).
But please don't remove your images since these are fine examples fitting the theme - just not eligible for winning this round.
And you're invited to go out and shoot some more flowers (or any other interpretation of the theme) and post the images here before the end of June 2016.
Bert from Holland

 

[MattKing]

Er... It's Autumn here now. This shot was taken last Spring here in Canberra, which is in September.
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, it's very hard to take flower shots in our Autumn except for natives which flower all year around.
This was scanned recently, hence why I put it up. Wasn't aware that photos had had to be taken within 2 months, that was never a restriction before.
But if you insist, I can easily remove this one and put others taken this March. Not an issue at all.

Please leave them up here - they certainly contribute to the thread!

Clearly this particular theme is more likely to create a challenge for our loyal southern hemisphere members. But knowing how creative they are, I expect nothing less than remarkable inventiveness from them. After all, if one of them "wins", they will get the chance to pick a theme that will be a similar, seasonal challenge for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

By the way, nothing in the thread description says anything necessarily about "fresh" flowers .

My 2009 entry into an Ilford/Harman print contest:

 

[nsouto]

The MSA intends to stimulate people to go out and shoot (more) and to help people get inspired (again).
But please don't remove your images since these are fine examples fitting the theme - just not eligible for winning this round.
And you're invited to go out and shoot some more flowers (or any other interpretation of the theme) and post the images here before the end of June 2016.
Bert from Holland

Ah, OK. Thanks for that. Apologies for the lack of awareness of these conditions.
Like I said: been a while since I posted anything and I completely forgot about it.

Yeah, definitely time to get out and sort some photos for this one!
Autumn can be a really nice time in Sydney, with sunny dry days making a come back after the heat and humidity of Summer.

The FM3A is loaded and ready to go, lessee what I can scrounge.
Pity my last Astia rolls are gone now...

Ah well, part of the challenge is to make do with what we got so that Fuji Xtra400 will be hit with a few photons!

 

[TheToadMen]

It was a wonderful day today so I tried to catch a bee on a dandelion with my pinhole camera.
A 20 second exposure at very close range with my RealitySoSubtle 6x17 on Fuji NPC 160 (expired 2004).
Just the right camera for the job, don't you think?

It might look a bit like this (or not at all):
## WARNING: looking at the next image might injure your eyes for it was shot with a d****l eye-phone ##



I'm hoping to get the film developed in a week or so. I'll post the results here.

 

[jeffreythree]

A bee on a dandelion with a pinhole on 6x17 is definitely one combo I would not thought to have tried. I can't wait to see if it turned out well.

 

[bdial]

We didn't have so many April showers, but the may flowers are out just the same.
One of my wife's Daffodils;

Ektar 100, with a new to me Nikkormat FTn and a 55mm macro

 

[ME Super]

This looks like a fun assignment! I'm a sucker for flower pictures. The tulips, daffodils, and the like generally bloom in April, so they are done, but the lilac bush in the back yard is blooming now. I'll definitely come up with something for this MSA.

For one totally not eligible because it was shot on a Kodak film-less camera, but for inspiration, here's one I took back in April 2011. This was shortly after I started shooting film again, my son and I were out for a walk, and he saw this:

No photoshop - just a scale down so I could upload it to APUG.

 

[jeffreythree]

We didn't have so many April showers, but the may flowers are out just the same.
One of my wife's Daffodils;

View attachment 156945

Ektar 100, with a new to me Nikkormat FTn and a 55mm macro

Thanks for posting. I love daffodils and this one is a beauty.

 

[jeffreythree]

I can't compete; so a couple I shot this week for inspiration since it is a bit of a slow start.
Red Yucca:

Salvia:

.

 

[nsouto]

Finally got the Xtra400 back from development. A few shots now uploaded.
All taken 2 weeks ago so I hope this will be OK.
Please let me know if not and I'll remove them.

 

[jeffreythree]

Finally got the Xtra400 back from development. A few shots now uploaded.
All taken 2 weeks ago so I hope this will be OK.
Please let me know if not and I'll remove them.

Those look great, thanks for posting them. The Grevillia(?) Has a really interesting form.

 

[nsouto]

The Grevillia(?) Has a really interesting form.

Yeah, they are very nice and varied. A major food source for nectar feeding animals - mostly birds.
This one was a Grevillia Robusta.
There are a zillion different subspecies, mostly varying in colours and openness of the "fingers".
"Spider flower" is the common name but I really don't think they look like one!
Good thing is they flower more or less all year round - which makes them my "last resort" for flower shots in Winter!

 

[aaronlego2]

All these flower shots in the gallery are lovely, and are getting me really excited for the color class at school this upcoming semester!

Finally got around to developing my film. I think I got three good ones on this roll.
I've also come up with a new naming scheme to help me be more organized with my negatives. (And so I don't have to call everything "Untitled #5." Year/Month/Roll/Frame)

16.5.1.9

• aaronlego2
• Jun 5, 2016
• 1

Honestly I just wanted to see how long my cat would hold still with the flower on her head...

16.5.1.25

• aaronlego2
• Jun 5, 2016

Just a rose, hiding behind some leaves.

This one is actually a double exposure, rotating the camera 180o between exposures.

16.5.1.31

• aaronlego2
• Jun 5, 2016
• 2

A double exposure of some small flowers out in the backyard.
I've really been enjoying these...

EDIT: found the gallery embed option.

 

[Julie McLeod]

I'm a first time participant and am very new to shooting film. I like the idea of shooting assignments and hope to be able to take part now and then.

and in the end

• Julie McLeod
• Jun 5, 2016
• 8

Taken June 3, 2016 with a newly acquired Pentax ME Super and 50mm 1:2 lens. Home developed in DD-X.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I'm a first time participant and am very new to shooting film. I like the idea of shooting assignments and hope to be able to take part now and then.

and in the end

• Julie McLeod
• Jun 5, 2016
• 8

Taken June 3, 2016 with a newly acquired Pentax ME Super and 50mm 1:2 lens. Home developed in DD-X.

Nice interpretation Julie!