Maria Mazo, PPSA
July 2026 - Agapantus
Original
About the Image(s)
For this month's image, I chose this photograph of an agapanthus, which is currently in bloom in my garden.
EXIF data
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 800
Camera: Canon R5 Mark II
Lens: Canon RF 100??“500mm
Focal length: 324 mm
10 comments posted
This is a flower I've never heard of before and had to look it up. You captured the buds in sharp focus with a clean, blurred-out background and pleasing blues and greens throughout. The fly is an added bonus. I hope you shoot the flower when it fully blossoms and post it here. Posted: 07/02/2026 23:31:08
Hi David,
It surprises me that you don't have this flower in your gardens. Here it's very easy to find, although it only blooms once a year, which is a pity because it really fills the gardens with wonderful colour while it's in flower.
I also tried taking a few wider shots of the whole flower, but I'm afraid they weren't very interesting. The lack of free time and the limited opportunities I have to dedicate to photography these days have made it difficult to spend the time experimenting and refining my compositions.
Posted: 07/15/2026 08:09:48
It surprises me that you don't have this flower in your gardens. Here it's very easy to find, although it only blooms once a year, which is a pity because it really fills the gardens with wonderful colour while it's in flower.
I also tried taking a few wider shots of the whole flower, but I'm afraid they weren't very interesting. The lack of free time and the limited opportunities I have to dedicate to photography these days have made it difficult to spend the time experimenting and refining my compositions.
Posted: 07/15/2026 08:09:48
This is a really interesting take on shooting this flower before it blooms. You have the center in sharp focus, and since it leans to the left I appreciate how your crop leaves a little more room on that side. I'm not a fan of the fly however. Since it's just a dark, common insect, I don't feel it adds anything here. If it were a more colorful insect or maybe one with colors in it's iridescent wings, I could see leaving it in. But I feel the image would do well without it. Very pretty with the smooth green background. Posted: 07/03/2026 19:58:31
Hi Denise,
Thank you for your lovely comment. I think you may be right, perhaps the fly isn't really adding anything to the beauty of the flower. I'll consider removing it so that the viewer's attention is focused entirely on the flower itself.
I appreciate your suggestion! Posted: 07/15/2026 08:12:25
Thank you for your lovely comment. I think you may be right, perhaps the fly isn't really adding anything to the beauty of the flower. I'll consider removing it so that the viewer's attention is focused entirely on the flower itself.
I appreciate your suggestion! Posted: 07/15/2026 08:12:25
This is a beautiful shot of an agapanthus, which I also did not know of. The composition works well, with the placement of the buds radiating from the center flower, or is it bract? (A suggestion would be to add some more space on the right side.) I like how the stem anchors the flower to the frame. The center of the flower is sharp, and focus fades of nicely into the distance. The lavender of the buds compliments the green and browns in the center, and the green bokeh background isolates the subject. Lighting is soft and diffused. Regarding the fly, at first I didn't like it, but the more I looked I think it adds to the photo's storytelling and draws my eye upwards. The only insect better would be a butterfly! Very nice photo! Posted: 07/04/2026 12:29:51
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your lovely comment.
This plant has become very popular in Spanish gardens. Although the most common colour is purple, you can also find white varieties, and I recently read that pink ones are now available as well.
I would also have preferred to photograph a butterfly rather than a fly! Unfortunately, butterflies don't seem to be particularly attracted to this flower. It tends to attract many more bees than butterflies, so I had to make the most of the visitor that was there.
Posted: 07/15/2026 08:18:15
Thank you for your lovely comment.
This plant has become very popular in Spanish gardens. Although the most common colour is purple, you can also find white varieties, and I recently read that pink ones are now available as well.
I would also have preferred to photograph a butterfly rather than a fly! Unfortunately, butterflies don't seem to be particularly attracted to this flower. It tends to attract many more bees than butterflies, so I had to make the most of the visitor that was there.
Posted: 07/15/2026 08:18:15
I too have never heard of this flower. So glad you have shared it with us. Great background with nice soft lighting. At f-8 the top half is tack sharp with the bottom half soft. With the flower the main subject the focal point in the image I too do not feel you need the fly in the image. As I view the image my eye goes right to the flower but is then drawn to the fly. So, to my eye the fly is a distraction. It would make a great macro shot by itself. We don't need both they compete with each other. Like Mark a butterfly would work but it would now be the main subject (focal point) of the image. So glad you shared this beautiful plant with us. Posted: 07/09/2026 00:52:03
Hi Dick,
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Now that you've pointed out that the fly is competing with the flower for attention, I can see how it becomes a distraction. It will be easy enough to remove it.
Agapanthus isn't a flower that attracts many butterflies. The only frequent visitor I've noticed is the hummingbird hawk-moth, which is actually a moth rather than a butterfly. It seems to have a particular fondness for purple flowers!
Posted: 07/15/2026 12:58:40
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Now that you've pointed out that the fly is competing with the flower for attention, I can see how it becomes a distraction. It will be easy enough to remove it.
Agapanthus isn't a flower that attracts many butterflies. The only frequent visitor I've noticed is the hummingbird hawk-moth, which is actually a moth rather than a butterfly. It seems to have a particular fondness for purple flowers!
Posted: 07/15/2026 12:58:40
Love the soft color palette and the diagonal flow of the buds and the background. The stem in the lower middle is a little strong, it could be lightened a bit. Beautiful image! Posted: 07/10/2026 14:05:10
Hi Janet,
Thank you for your lovely comment and your suggestion. I really appreciate both. Posted: 07/15/2026 13:00:34
Thank you for your lovely comment and your suggestion. I really appreciate both. Posted: 07/15/2026 13:00:34