Hellebore

lee beel has added a photo to the pool:

This Hellebore was photographed recently at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, near Harrogate.

I like the slight backlighting on the petals and their lovely red colouring.

I used a wide aperture to try and blur the foreground and background plants in order to isolate the central flower.

It was difficult finding a plant that was upright enough to show the stamens and carpels.

To work so close to the ground I had to have the centre column of my tripod horizontal so that it wasn't hitting the floor.

Canon 5D MKII.

Canon EF L IS 70-200 plus extension tube.

1/250sec @ f4 @ ISO400.

Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 plus geared head.