Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park SF

[Michael Fraley]

From the official website:

The Conservatory of Flowers has captivated guests for more than a century. This gem of Victorian architecture has a long and storied history and is the oldest wood and glass conservatory in North America. A city, state, and national historic landmark, it remains one of the most beloved attractions in the park.

[nikonbob]

You are so lucky to have such a good conservatory in your area. I always try to go to a conservatory/botanical garden if there is one in the area I am visiting. Flowers are just so lovely looking and smelling that you can't resist taking photos of them. Yours turned out very well.

Bob

[mickeyobe]

How fortunate to have a year round conservatory to visit.

We have our beautiful Edwards Gardens where I often go to photograph the flowers and their attendant insects.
Unfortunately there are none during the winter months which makes the winters seem longer.

Your pictures are beautiful.

Mickey

[PeterW]

Very nice pictures, Michael.

A conservatory like that is a great place to photograph flowers. The large areas of glass give a good shadowless light just like being out of doors on a lightly overcast day.

We have a number of very nice public gardens in Kent but they are all open-air so photography is subject to the weather. Usually when I've been to take pictures either it has started to rain or the sun is in the wrong position for many of the flower beds, often shining right into the lens. And if I'm lucky enough to get a bright lightly overcast day with good lighting the wind comes up and blows the flowers about.

On the few occasions I manage to arrange an outing to take "pretties" nowadays everything in my favour seems to be against me. Must be Sod's Law or something.

I no longer have the inclination nor the ability to cart around my big Manfrotto tripod, portable windbreaks, fold-up reflectors, little slave flashes with sensors and the rest of the paraphernalia I used to load on to a small trolley when I took pictures on commission.

Maybe I'm getting sybaritic in my old age. I still like to take pictures of interesting buildings, architectural details or the occasional woodland scene but my favourite subjects have always been people. People in the street going about their ordinary everyday lives or at a market or a show of some sort.

The location and the weather doesn't matter a lot as long as there are plenty of people about and I can find shelter if it rains. I can trundle around in my electric buggy with just one camera with a short-zoom lens and let the pictures present themselves.

PeterW

[Michael Fraley]

Thanks guys, for the comments and observations Yes Bob, I do feel fortunate to have the greenhouse/conservatory in the park. It is open year round and as Peter points out it provides a good diffuse light. The only challenge is that it's very high temperature and humidity in some of the exhibit areas, to support the tropical plants. I was anxious to try my digital camera out there, having only taken film pictures before. The digital did give me the ability to check the lighting as I took pictures. I know the rest of the world went digital a long time ago, but to me it's still a novelty... I only have the one fixed lens, my next purchase will probably be a zoom lens for it. Peter, I completely understand not wanting to haul a lot of gear around. In fact if I carry an external flash I feel I'm making an effort! I took one today to the park along with my M7, and was glad I had it for fill flash.