We all have those “gotta get away” moments in our lives. Knowing that wildflowers would be blooming in Mount Rainier, I thought it would be a good to book a hotel and head out for a few solo days of photography and writing. I had been to the park in the past and remembered it being beautiful, glorious, perfect and serene. I could picture the mountain from Reflection Lake with the flowers in full bloom down below, a nice foreground element for the beautiful landscape image.

And then the clouds rolled in.

I woke up at 4:00 am to make the drive out to Reflection Lake well before sunrise, hoping to get a few nighttime star shots while both the sun and moon were set. It was so dark, but I could tell that there were clouds. No big deal, I thought. The clouds will just make the mountain sunrise even more beautiful!

And then I realized … “what mountain?”

As soon as the sun started to rise I realized I would be scrapping my perfect idea of a photograph—all I could see was a white blanket of fog and clouds where a glorious mountain should have been. If I hadn’t been to this spot before I would have continued driving, looking for the mountain, thinking I would find it if I kept on going … but knowing this location and what I would find I was seriously doubting that I was even in the right spot as I could see nothing. Where was the mountain?

So instead I used my “lemon” of a morning to make lemonade. I relinquished the idea of getting the “obvious” photo, and went off in search of smaller beauty to put my Canon 100mm Macro Lens and brand-new Really Right Stuff macro rails to use (you can see the BTS setup for this shot here: http://bit.ly/RdFdRh). After searching for about 30 mins I found this little guy, just waiting for me.

My blue lemonade.

We all have those “gotta get away” moments in our lives. Knowing that wildflowers would be blooming in Mount Rainier, I thought it would be a good to book a hotel and head out for a few solo days of photography and writing. I had been to the park in the past and remembered it being beautiful, glorious, perfect and serene. I could picture the mountain from Reflection Lake with the flowers in full bloom down below, a nice foreground element for the beautiful landscape image.

And then the clouds rolled in.

I woke up at 4:00 am to make the drive out to Reflection Lake well before sunrise, hoping to get a few nighttime star shots while both the sun and moon were set. It was so dark, but I could tell that there were clouds. No big deal, I thought. The clouds will just make the mountain sunrise even more beautiful!

And then I realized … “what mountain?”

As soon as the sun started to rise I realized I would be scrapping my perfect idea of a photograph—all I could see was a white blanket of fog and clouds where a glorious mountain should have been. If I hadn’t been to this spot before I would have continued driving, looking for the mountain, thinking I would find it if I kept on going … but knowing this location and what I would find I was seriously doubting that I was even in the right spot as I could see nothing. Where was the mountain?

So instead I used my “lemon” of a morning to make lemonade. I relinquished the idea of getting the “obvious” photo, and went off in search of smaller beauty to put my Canon 100mm Macro Lens and brand-new Really Right Stuff macro rails to use (you can see the BTS setup for this shot here: http://bit.ly/RdFdRh). After searching for about 30 mins I found this little guy, just waiting for me.

My blue lemonade.

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Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.

79 Comments

  1. amruta more September 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm - Reply

    wow!!! beautiful :)

  2. amruta more September 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm - Reply

    wow!!! beautiful :)

  3. Brad Sloan September 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm - Reply

    Delicious detials +Nicole S. Young 

  4. Brad Sloan September 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm - Reply

    Delicious detials +Nicole S. Young

  5. alican çekmen September 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm - Reply

    my name is turkey

  6. alican çekmen September 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm - Reply

    my name is turkey

  7. Gatto NineNineNine September 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm - Reply

    =^.^=

  8. Gatto NineNineNine September 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm - Reply

    =^.^=

  9. karolina aliaga September 3, 2012 at 5:38 pm - Reply

    inspirated!!! 
        =D VERY BEAUTIFUL….muy hermoso!

  10. karolina aliaga September 3, 2012 at 5:38 pm - Reply

    inspirated!!! 
        =D VERY BEAUTIFUL….muy hermoso!

  11. Veer Patidar September 3, 2012 at 5:38 pm - Reply

    nice

  12. Veer Patidar September 3, 2012 at 5:38 pm - Reply

    nice

  13. Valerie Billionis September 3, 2012 at 5:40 pm - Reply

    Absolutely beautiful!  The best things seem to happen when it seems like your options are limited.  :) 

  14. Valerie Billionis September 3, 2012 at 5:40 pm - Reply

    Absolutely beautiful!  The best things seem to happen when it seems like your options are limited.  :)

  15. MaryBeth Farrell September 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm - Reply

    thank you +Nicole S. Young
    for sharing the story behind your journey
    and this absolutely stunning flower !

  16. MaryBeth Farrell September 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm - Reply

    thank you +Nicole S. Young
    for sharing the story behind your journey
    and this absolutely stunning flower !

  17. Aswathy Anil September 3, 2012 at 5:43 pm - Reply

    beautiful!

  18. Aswathy Anil September 3, 2012 at 5:43 pm - Reply

    beautiful!

  19. يسرى صبرى المليجى September 3, 2012 at 5:44 pm - Reply

    summit romantic

  20. يسرى صبرى المليجى September 3, 2012 at 5:44 pm - Reply

    summit romantic

  21. mike montejo September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm - Reply

    gorgeous..

  22. Mikaela Ryden September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm - Reply

    The blue color is gorgeous, works so well against the green background. Inspiring.

  23. Mikaela Ryden September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm - Reply

    The blue color is gorgeous, works so well against the green background. Inspiring.

  24. Mahesh Aditya September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm - Reply

    BB = blue beauty……

  25. Mahesh Aditya September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm - Reply

    BB = blue beauty……

  26. Boris Manic September 3, 2012 at 5:52 pm - Reply

    BEAUTIFUL SHOT!

  27. Boris Manic September 3, 2012 at 5:52 pm - Reply

    BEAUTIFUL SHOT!

  28. Abhik Sil September 3, 2012 at 5:58 pm - Reply

    I like the colours…

  29. Abhik Sil September 3, 2012 at 5:58 pm - Reply

    I like the colours…

  30. Sandra Parlow September 3, 2012 at 6:01 pm - Reply

    beautiful!!

  31. Sandra Parlow September 3, 2012 at 6:01 pm - Reply

    beautiful!!

  32. Naomi Watkin September 3, 2012 at 6:01 pm - Reply

    So beautiful

  33. Naomi Watkin September 3, 2012 at 6:01 pm - Reply

    So beautiful

  34. Naomi Watkin September 3, 2012 at 6:02 pm - Reply

    +john sanders  you will love this

  35. Naomi Watkin September 3, 2012 at 6:02 pm - Reply

    +john sanders  you will love this

  36. jackie jordan September 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm - Reply

    Oooo, what lovely complimentary colors. Nice.

  37. jackie jordan September 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm - Reply

    Oooo, what lovely complimentary colors. Nice.

  38. john sanders September 3, 2012 at 6:09 pm - Reply

    That's Lovely thanks Hun!

  39. john sanders September 3, 2012 at 6:09 pm - Reply

    That's Lovely thanks Hun!

  40. Kelli Seeger Kim September 3, 2012 at 6:10 pm - Reply

    That is the most delicious blue lemonade I have ever seen.  Whoa.  ♥  (and yay for going with the flow and making lemonade!)

  41. Kelli Seeger Kim September 3, 2012 at 6:10 pm - Reply

    That is the most delicious blue lemonade I have ever seen.  Whoa.  ♥  (and yay for going with the flow and making lemonade!)

  42. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 6:46 pm - Reply

    I see this and think "Man I should really get that 100mm that I've been itching for the past year" then I see 22 stacked images and realize that maybe I should learn to do that with my 18-50mm macro lens first.
    This is gorgeous Nicole!!!

  43. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 6:46 pm - Reply

    I see this and think "Man I should really get that 100mm that I've been itching for the past year" then I see 22 stacked images and realize that maybe I should learn to do that with my 18-50mm macro lens first.
    This is gorgeous Nicole!!!

  44. Naeem Eltaief September 3, 2012 at 6:48 pm - Reply

    Wonderful

  45. Naeem Eltaief September 3, 2012 at 6:48 pm - Reply

    Wonderful

  46. Kimberly Dubry September 3, 2012 at 7:11 pm - Reply

    Beautiful!!

  47. Kimberly Dubry September 3, 2012 at 7:11 pm - Reply

    Beautiful!!

  48. Katarzyna Mikulska September 3, 2012 at 7:13 pm - Reply

    Beautiful:)

  49. Katarzyna Mikulska September 3, 2012 at 7:13 pm - Reply

    Beautiful:)

  50. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 7:19 pm - Reply

    Seeing as your up close and snuggly with +Brian Matiash, if you don't mind me asking, is this possible to do with Perfect Layers +Nicole S. Young or is PS better for this amount of stacking?

  51. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 7:19 pm - Reply

    Seeing as your up close and snuggly with +Brian Matiash, if you don't mind me asking, is this possible to do with Perfect Layers +Nicole S. Young or is PS better for this amount of stacking?

  52. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 7:25 pm - Reply

    +Chris Bagley You have to use a stacking script to make it work well … it's possible to do it manually by hand-painting the masks, but it would take forever. There is also dedicated focus-stacking software that you can use (Zerene and Helicon). For now, I just use the stacking in Photoshop and it works … if I get more serious with this I'll probably invest in the other software.

  53. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 7:25 pm - Reply

    +Chris Bagley You have to use a stacking script to make it work well … it's possible to do it manually by hand-painting the masks, but it would take forever. There is also dedicated focus-stacking software that you can use (Zerene and Helicon). For now, I just use the stacking in Photoshop and it works … if I get more serious with this I'll probably invest in the other software.

  54. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 7:27 pm - Reply

    Thanks Nicole :)

  55. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 7:27 pm - Reply

    Thanks Nicole :)

  56. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 8:13 pm - Reply

    btw, I hope you or Brian took no offense to the up close and snuggly comment? Sometimes I don't think before I type :/
    I just meant that if you don't use the program that Brian might know if it's possible.

  57. Chris Bagley September 3, 2012 at 8:13 pm - Reply

    btw, I hope you or Brian took no offense to the up close and snuggly comment? Sometimes I don't think before I type :/
    I just meant that if you don't use the program that Brian might know if it's possible.

  58. Biplab Pamja September 3, 2012 at 8:58 pm - Reply

    add me

  59. Biplab Pamja September 3, 2012 at 8:58 pm - Reply

    add me

  60. Ratul Maiti September 3, 2012 at 9:53 pm - Reply

    Great shot. Just curious did you use the 22 points out of 51 autofocus points and then used stacking to get sharp looking macro? I have used 4-5points so far, so just wondering….
    +Nicole S. Young  this is the one I tried https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=wX#photos/113967235219638835876/albums/5783528113408478961

  61. Ratul Maiti September 3, 2012 at 9:53 pm - Reply

    Great shot. Just curious did you use the 22 points out of 51 autofocus points and then used stacking to get sharp looking macro? I have used 4-5points so far, so just wondering….
    +Nicole S. Young  this is the one I tried https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=wX#photos/113967235219638835876/albums/5783528113408478961

  62. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    +Chris Bagley No offense at all. I'm actually writing a book on the +onOne Software suite so I know my way around it pretty well. :)

  63. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    +Chris Bagley No offense at all. I'm actually writing a book on the +onOne Software suite so I know my way around it pretty well. :)

  64. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 10:05 pm - Reply

    +Ratul Maiti I used a macro rail, and then inched closer to the flower after each shot. I didn't exactly refocus, instead I moved the existing plane of focus.

  65. Nicole S. Young September 3, 2012 at 10:05 pm - Reply

    +Ratul Maiti I used a macro rail, and then inched closer to the flower after each shot. I didn't exactly refocus, instead I moved the existing plane of focus.

  66. Ratul Maiti September 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    That sounds interesting, never heard of the macro rail technique, but I can understand you kept in manual and moved forward to the flower, how come it does not change the scale….hmmm +Nicole S. Young 

  67. Ratul Maiti September 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    That sounds interesting, never heard of the macro rail technique, but I can understand you kept in manual and moved forward to the flower, how come it does not change the scale….hmmm +Nicole S. Young

  68. Kerry Bennett September 3, 2012 at 10:24 pm - Reply

    I have not used it. But Helicon Remote for Android looks like a great tool for taking photo stacks.

  69. Kerry Bennett September 3, 2012 at 10:24 pm - Reply

    I have not used it. But Helicon Remote for Android looks like a great tool for taking photo stacks.

  70. Angel Soriano September 3, 2012 at 11:52 pm - Reply

    muy bonito no es muy comun pero bonito

  71. Angel Soriano September 3, 2012 at 11:52 pm - Reply

    muy bonito no es muy comun pero bonito

  72. Kerry Murphy September 4, 2012 at 4:03 pm - Reply

    That is pretty enough to eat! :D

  73. Kerry Murphy September 4, 2012 at 4:03 pm - Reply

    That is pretty enough to eat! :D

  74. Ramon B. Nuez Jr. September 4, 2012 at 8:00 pm - Reply

    That 100mm macro lens is wonderful. This is such a wonderful capture. I love the bokeh and the detail.

  75. naveed chandi September 6, 2012 at 5:18 pm - Reply

    very nice….

  76. naveed chandi September 6, 2012 at 5:18 pm - Reply

    very nice….

  77. Katrina Mortenson September 9, 2012 at 5:35 pm - Reply

    I love those colors! I'm inspired..

  78. Katrina Mortenson September 9, 2012 at 5:35 pm - Reply

    I love those colors! I'm inspired..

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