Apennines Flora II

 I am still getting to grips with macro photography. I have stated to experiment with flash, with a flashgun that I have hardly used since I bought it. These are from my latest couple of walks, in the hills above Reggio. I came across a really weird Orchid, which was difficult to photograph, as it was in a very windy position on a hill top.

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Himantoglossum adriaticum

Trifolium campestre

Anacamptis pyramidalis 

Anacamptis pyramidalis 

Apennines Flora

I am enjoying playing with my new Nikon Z105 Macro. I am still on a steep learning path regarding Macro and Focus Stacking, which is quite magical. Shooting Focus stacked pictures in the field is very hit and miss due to wind, but when it works it is brilliant, everything is in focus. 

Starting at the nearest in focus point, using a menu feature in the camera, the focus point moves forward over a pre programmed number of shots. I uses Helicon to merge the in focus parts of about 10 shots, which after combination produces a picture with a big depth of field. Here a some shots from my last few walks.

It is the Orchid season here in the foothills, so here is a collection of my first efforts. I have tried to name them.

Ophrys Bertolonii Moretti

Ophrys Bertolonii Moretti

Anacamptis pyramidalis

Sulla Coronaria

Orchis morio

Orchis morio

Orchis morio

Orchis purpurea 

Orchis purpurea 

Orchis purpurea 

Ornithogalum Umbellatum

Lysimachia arvensis

Geranium dissectum

Leopoldia comosa

Lonicera caprifolium

Thymus pulegioides

Polygala nicaeensis

Aegonychon

Anacamptis pyramidalis

The Long Wait

 The "Chiesa di San Domenico" has been closed since 2012 due to the Modena earthquake. It reopened in January, and it is now possible to see the terracotta sculptural group by Antonio Begarelli depicting "Jesus in the house of Martha, Magdalene with the Apostles Peter and Paul and other women" (XVI century). 

This is another entry for a project I have resumed, concerning Renaissance terracotta sculptural groups. The detail and expressivity in these sculptures is amazing. It is interesting to move around and see these sculptures from different angles.

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

Antonio Begarelli, Gesu' in casa di Marta, Maddalena con gli Apostoli Pietro e Paolo San Domenico, Modena

I also had time to revisit the "Compianto su Cristo Morto", by Guido Mazzoni, dating from 1477, in San Giovanni Battista decollato. I have seen this group before, but could not resist making another set of pictures of this dramatic group of sculptures.

 The stylistic difference between Mazzoni and Begarelli is clear, the former a realist, dramatic and popular and the latter adopting a more courtly artistic language, inspired by classical antiquity.

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena

Guido Mazzoni, Compianto su Cristo Morto,San Giovanni Battista decollato, Modena