I spent the morning of Earth Day shooting at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I had heard the iris were in bloom and gorgeous. Iris are not native to Arizona, but can be grown here.
Growing up in the midwest, iris were quite common. My hometown’s official flower is the iris. My mom had iris and her eldest brother had iris. My uncle was quite proud of his iris and the show they displayed every year. So it’s no wonder that I have a personal admiration for iris. As I won’t be shooting flowers in the midwest this spring, this was not an opportunity to be missed. Especially as Earth Day is an extra special day for me.
This was the first time shooting iris with my 105mm macro lens and was more challenging that I expected. Not only are the flowers much larger than the wildflowers in Arizona, they have more shape and texture. While processing my images, I wondered what images could have been made with my 50mm 1.8 lens. Sometimes that lens works better for larger flowers and also has a greater depth of field. As it is 150 miles roundtrip to the arboretum, a second trip is unlikely.
Happy Friday everyone, hope you enjoy this week’s post!
Different Isn't Wrong, It's Just Different 
I love the subtle colors you were able to capture. Really nice.
Thank you Debra!
Tamara
More Opulent than a Mt. Pleasant Iris
Tamara, I could not choose a favorite if I had to – these are all so amazingly beautiful!
~Lindy
Lindy,
Thank you for your continued support and very kind words! I don’t know if I have a favorite either. Lots of contemplating these days as to the path of my photography. As much as I love all nature photography, including landscape, macro is my true passion. Considering taking the path of exclusive macr photography.
Tamara 🙂
Loooooove irises! These are beauties, and well worth the portraiture. I share your obsession with macro, too. 😉
xo
Thank you Kathryn! Not a flower you would expect to see in Arizona! I’m tempted to make another trip even though it is so far.
Tamara