Popping Open

[Cheryl Flory]

Canon 40D
Canon 28-135 lens

65mm
2.5"
F29
ISO 640
Exposure -0.33

The moonflower opens late in the evening with a sudden burst. I wanted to catch that in an image. But instead of showing the full range of movement, this image looks more like a double exposure. I experimented with different length exposures, ranging up to 8.5 second exposures.

How would I improve my chances next year of getting an image showing tightly closed bud "exploding" into a fully open flower? (The open flower is the type in my previous image of the praying mantis. The bluish tint here comes from it opening so late into the evening.)

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Cheryl Might try a minor zoom blur? or if you are going after multiple exposure try a few more closer to each other.

For these I think its important to have something sort of sharp in the center. Overlaying in layers and painting the effect away from the center would also work. Excellent !!!