Capa de Leon: A Gallery
I had a short break from travelling early this year so I spent most of my time in a fruit farm which I’ve been trying to develop into a tropical garden for many years now. On one of those glorious mornings in the farm, I set out early to do a light and texture study of these exotic Capa de Leon aerial plants (also known as staghorn fern or elkhorn fern because of the shape of its fronds). I bought the seedlings from an agro fair some years earlier and installed them on the branches of several rambutan trees. Happy that they’ve grown so well and were starting to display their uniquely shaped leaves and fronds, I thought that it was time to capture their beauty in accordance to my favorite self-imposed challenge: no tripod, no artificial lighting. The resulting images were posted in a 4-part series in January.
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A YEAR IN REVIEW: This post is part of a series of galleries being featured this month in celebration of A Traveller’s Tale‘s First Anniversary at WordPress. The author wishes to thank all of you who have become part of this site for the past 12 months through the views, likes, reblogs, and comments you left on its posts. It has truly been a pleasure sharing tales, photos, poetry attempts and random thoughts with you.
– Shutter Bug
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Related Posts by Shutter Bug:
- Capa de Leon 1
- Capa de Leon 2
- Capa de Leon 3
- Capa de Leon 4
- Celebrating a Year of Off-the-Beaten-Track Photos and Tales
The drag of endless mental work in a strange land takes its toll. Fatigue can kill so petty escapades provide hopeful deviations from the brewing madness. An aging DSLR keeps good company to a walk around the neighbourhood, a short drive to a scenic place, or a silent recollection in a quiet nook granting that the host community and the elements of nature would allow one a safe passage to solitude and contemplation. Loneliness quickly turns to joy when something exciting gets captured by the cam’s shutter then set free into the laptop’s screen followed by electric words that rush from the fingers to the keyboard in an effort to describe the moment. Alas, the brain is alive once again!
I love these plants! And nice shots, too 🙂
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Thanks a lot.
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Great shots! The plants’ textures are so interesting.
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Thanks.
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These are amazing, Jesse! Beautiful shots, composition, color, contrast. Wow!
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Thanks for all the thumbs up, Lois. Appreciate it.
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Gorgeous!
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Thank you!
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I believe I discovered you with this series. It’s when I clicked that “follow” button. I remember these. I am transported to an otherworldly realm where the inhabitants adorn themselves with these fantastical accessories. You have been a jewel to follow and I look forward to more adventures.
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Aha.. I never noticed when you started following this blog but it seems that you’ve been encouraging me through your comments for a very long time now. Thank you so much, Dezra.
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These look so cool in sepia monotone. I’m definitely going to need and try this with some foliage and plants
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That’s the spirit. There is nothing too complex in taking these photos. Just some practice. Best regards.
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This is absolutely whimsical and captivating. It reminds of the inside of a seashell or a spiraling stairwell… and of elephant ears!!!
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🙂 You have a very active imagination — and I like it! Thanks, Valentina.
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Beautiful and fascinating shapes and lines. Graceful.
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Thanks, Jane Lurie.
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To see these for real…wow! We only get to see selected plants in indoor plant collections.
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Proud to have grown these plants myself, David. Thanks.
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Now you are just bragging!
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🙂 Well, at least I installed them on the branches myself.
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These are amazing. Beautiful work!
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Thank you.
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Such beautiful shapes and textures and the lighting is superb.
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Thanks for the approval, David.
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Jessie, these are so gorgeous. I tried to find a favorite, but in the end I could not choose. They are each perfect, the light, the shapes, the textures and the compositions. 😀
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Hello, Shez. Really glad you love all of them! 🙂
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Jessie, these are spectacular. I’ve never seen them like this before.
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Glad you appreciate their uniqueness, Gina. It’s nice to focus on greater detail once in a while. Thanks.
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wow Jesse I am totally blown away. I looked before I read [visual instincts] so was really studying them to figure out what the heck I was looking at. I did determine they were a frond of some sort but it looks like you shot them from a position on the ground looking up. Is this correct? Tell me more…..as I hit wikipedia to study up on Elkhorn and Staghorn Ferns.
Very cool and the lighting and color effects you have used are amazing. Fine Art quality my friend!! It would be lovely to come see your side of the world. Maybe someday.
Cheers.
Sue Ann
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I was hoping that they will have that effect on the viewer, Sue Ann. Yes, I shot them from the ground and many of them were strapped on high branches as a young seedlings so the long fronds won’t touch the ground when they mature. The lighting was mainly from early morning sunlight with some reflections from a nearby pond.
Thanks for the kind review. Will be happy to have you as a guest to my side of the world someday. 🙂 Cheers.
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Reblogged this on ℱractal♥ℒịf℮lịn℮.
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Thanks a lot for the reblog. 🙂
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