Spring Miscellany

At the Garden and Art Center

The smell was heavenly.

They looked like crepe paper.

A cloud of fluffy white purity.

Pink sweetness reaching for the sky.

A delicate sea of tiny blue dots.

I recognized his call right way. He looked and looked around but his mate never showed.

Hope your weekend is full of spring beauty.

Summer at the Garden and Art Center No. 2

The Cosmos has become one of my all time favorite flowers. It may have replaced the sunflower as number one on my list. 

It's petals have such defined crisp lines. 

It can be quite stately if you catch it by itself.

And quite dramatic.

It will dress in orange if invited to a party.

I love it's messy chaos which represents freedom and grace to me.

I think the main reason I love these flowers so much is that I can identify with them. From the feelings of messy chaos to the stately elegance. Sounds like a perfect package.

Summer at the Garden and Arts Center

Spring is my usual time to shoot the flowers at the Garden and Arts Center. The poppies just make me swoon. But I stopped in this week to what was going on. The rudbeckia were just phenomenal. I had taken my 70-300 lens by recommendation of Kathleen Clemons. I used to use it on my flowers but had gotten out of the habit. 

I love the rich moodiness of this.

f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 320.....f/4.5, 1/180, ISO 160

f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 320.....f/6.7, 1/180, ISO 320.....

I was also pleased with the shots using my 100mm.

f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 160

f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100

f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 320

f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 100

These babies were surrounded by gaillardia, also known as blanket flower. They had planted several species. I don't think I got shots of all the colors.

f/2.8, 1/180, ISO 100

f/2.8, 1/180, ISO 100.......f/4, 1/180, ISO 160

Back to the long lens. Taken at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 800

I may just have to go back.

I took a ton more with my phone so maybe you'll see more on Mobile Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The End of 59

Today is the last day that I'll be 59. Tomorrow I cross over into old lady-hood. Sometimes there's a part inside me that screams with agony about getting old. Other times I feel a gracefulness and peace about it. 

Last month when I colored my hair I just did lowlights rather than covering all the white (which is closely approaching 100%).

This girl has the capability of enhancing both these extremes. "Sit here. Come, get under here." Sorry, the body can't do that as easily anymore. On the other hand, she helps me get into 'play' mode which, as an adult, is hard for this serious old coot to do most of the time.

We went to the Garden and Art Center for our yearly photo shoot. Spent most of the time in the shade rather than the flowers battling mosquitoes. But that will be for another day.

I think I will celebrate today perhaps more than tomorrow.

Be Still 52 Week 36

Today's assignment: Open to Interpretation.
I did a self portrait photo shoot last fall and this shot came to mind when I saw the prompt. I really think the still life shots in the book were what Kim had in mind, but hey!

Have a blessed Sunday! And if you are still getting snow….. I'm sorry. But go take a few unusual photos.

Texture Tuesday July 1

Hard to believe June is gone and I'm just now working on shots I took of my granddaughter in May! Well no, actually it isn't hard to believe at all.
My favorite place to shoot in May is at the local Garden and Art Center. The poppies and larkspur are amazing.
This was the first time she actually 'posed' for me too. I'm not sure if I'm excited about that or not. I like candid best. Catching them in the moment… unaware.
She backed up into the flowers...

And gave me a big grin!

She then sat down and started playing with 'Baby'.

You can tell by her attire and the hairdo that this wasn't a planned shoot. I knew the poppies were at their peak and since I was picking her up at daycare that afternoon, I prayed her clothes would be clean because we had perfect cloud cover(rare). If there is anything around that resembles a purse, it goes on her arm or shoulders. I threw her doll and a couple props in my tote bag for our expedition. 

I was so glad to grab this shot because I have one from last year of her heading down the same path.

Of course we had to have a flower in our hair and play in the dirt.

She likes to sit in my lap and we make videos with the camera turned toward us. I put this one together in iMovie.

I'm a preset lover! Here are a few of my favorite Lightroom Presets. From top left going clockwise: Cool Faded Peonies(mine), Redrex-White Putty, Cool Pale Red(mine), Matt B&W (Pretty Presets), Bad Ass Film, Noir Film- MakeLightReal.com. Now to figure out which to print.

kk-rainyday Multiply 74%, kk-rainyday Screen 48%, kk-evolve Linear Burn 100%
Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday.

Hallie in the Gardens

This precious little girl delights my soul. Our Garden and Arts Center has a fabulous garden that is at it's peak in May. So with props in hand and a change of clothes, we ventured out. Fortunately we were the only ones there for quite awhile. Hallie was delighted by the flowers and colors and enjoyed picking poppies and running down the paths. Here are a few of my favorite shots. I'll post more later. I have some choice black and whites.