Featured Artist Donald Bolak

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Fine art photographer Donald Bolak presents a stunning collection of macro floral images that capture the complexity and beauty of nature. View more of his portfolio here.

 

closeup botanical photo

“Echinops 8” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

As a photographer for over 20 years, my craft and artistry have evolved over time. I began with simpler equipment that I used to explore and document how plants grow. A self professed “plant geek”, I quickly gravitated toward closeup and macro photography of botanical subjects. I was fascinated with the sights to be seen that most of us never notice, literally right under our feet.

 

fine art photo of a milkweed plant

“Milkweed Seed Head” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

My early photography efforts display this more documentary style and typically had a high level of sharp detail. I still enjoy this style of photography when I find a subject worthy of that level of detail. Early on, I learned how frustrating shooting everything outside can be (wind is the enemy of macro photographers). I purchased my first set of lights, and my kitchen studio was born.

 

closeup photograph of a coneflower

“Pale Purple Coneflower” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

As photographic technology has advanced and my skill set with it, I have embraced the opportunities it provided. A technique called focus stacking was a huge game changer for me. It allows me to capture more detail at higher magnification.

 

macro photo of an anemone flower

“Poppy Anemone” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

Prior to this technique, my very small subjects had a substantial amount of blurred areas. My esthetics had to evolve to embrace these flaws as I originally perceived them. My work to this day is still a balancing act between sharp and soft focus subjects.

 

“Tower of Jewels (Echium wildpretti)” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

While I love exploring our native woods and prairies for the next fascinating native plant, I equally enjoy discovering crazy looking plants from the far corners of the earth at local gardens, plant sales, even parks. The botanical world is more like a universe and the variety contained is astonishing.

 

closeup photo of a phlox flower

“Phlox Tapestry” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

There are many different ways I photograph plants. A particular technique I enjoy is filling the  frame with your subject. Without a traditional background, every element contributes to the success of the image.

 

“Fern Spiral” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

In the last five years or so, I finally started to embrace social media. As part of that, I discovered all of the photography competitions available. It is an interesting way to see how your images stack up against others. In 2024, my Fern Spiral received first place in the Amateur Macro Category for the International Photography Awards!

 

floral macro nature photograph

“Euphorbia Myrsinites” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

One of my favorite subjects, and a recurring theme in a sizable number of my images, is the spiral. Spiral forms are fairly common in nature and especially in plants. I do have a bit of an obsession with these forms and enjoy interpreting them through my camera.

 

nature photography coneflower

“Purple Coneflower Abstract” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

Another newer technique that is all the rage currently are multiple exposure and intentional camera movement images. These techniques are examples of how changes in technology have impacted photography. The artistic application of these techniques has been profound and enabled many artists to use their camera as both the brush and the canvas.

 

fine art photograph floral

“Poppy Dream” digital photography, available in various sizes on archival paper

 

While botanical macro photography is my primary focus, you have to get your “head out of the ground” occasionally and look around. Those flowers I am photographing can be in fairly spectacular settings.

 

Donald Bolak invites you to follow on Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

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