This spring in central Texas we have had a wildflower season that keeps giving. Everyday I drive home from work and see things that I want to shoot.
Not far from my home in Leander, there is a large patch of wildflowers that keeps getting better. I went over to this spot Tuesday evening to see if I could do anything with the purple wildflowers. There is also a barbed wire fence and a busy highway (US 183) in the background. I tried to shoot around the highway and wait for lulls in traffic as I wanted these photos to look as though they were taken in the country instead of in the middle of a city.
I shot close up on this flower at 65mm focal length so I could soften the background and include the fence line to run to that tree in the distance. I was hoping that the shady area would allow the foreground purple flowers to stand out. There is a busy road beyond the tree and I waited patiently for a break in traffic.
I wasn’t really equipped to shoot birds, but this guy, a mockingbird I think, kept hanging around so I knelt down behind some flowers and shot. I also spooked a rabbit. Just over the horizon is a really ugly hotel being built and I tried hard to keep that out of my photos.
I can’t identify all of the wildflowers, but they are making for a magnificent spring show around here. It must be a good time to be a bee.
Everything here was shot hand-held using a Nikon D750 and 24-120mm f/4 lens as that’s all I felt like lugging around.
That’s my quick blog for this Wednesday. Been very busy with the end of the school year, especially with a high school senior with severe senior-itus right about now. Thanks to Steven Schwartzman for encouraging me to get out and shoot the wildflowers.
Thanks for reading and please leave a comment.
Jason Frels 
I love the closeups best. Great shots, in my view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Tippy–those are great shots. The purple flowers are Texas Horsemint. The yellow and red are Indian Blankets. They are both blooming here, too. I was on your very highway last night (US 183), but 160 miles north of you. I stopped to look at a large Live Oak in between Cisco and Breckenridge. I’m planning to go back and take pictures soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder how something gets a name like “horsemint” .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, me too. Some old cowboys or pioneers probably gave those names. Many of the common names of Texas flowers are not politically correct.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you listened to Steve~these are lovely shots. I particularly like the first one looking down the line of the fence, the way the flowers are composed. I was thinking the purple one looked like the horsemint I’m currently working with here, but wasn’t sure. Thanks to Nowhere Tribute for identifying it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flowers have been amazing this year. Love the shots. I got a few flower shots at McKinney Roughs, but none were as good as these, and I didn’t post them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I appreciate the nice comments.
LikeLike
It is really not easy to photograph wildflowers. They all kind blend together and make the photo distracted. I try to isolate one or two, but struggle with a decent composition.
LikeLike
I know what you mean. You did well.
LikeLike