Totally forgotten....

It seems I've forgotten about this blog.  I'm guessing the business of life and an especially exhausting day at school has really shown me where my priorities lie.  I really wish I had more energy to devote to shooting and blogging but right now it's just not the case. And I have to be okay with that.  At least for the time being.  For today I'll take you back to some beautiful fall weather and a day spent at Longwood Gardens.  It'll take my mind off how cold and blustery it is outside today.  I'm not complaining because day's snow has given me a snow day and time to do come catching up! 









Photography Camp at Longwood

Friends of mine started a kids summer camp this year and asked me to help out as an instructor for a  few days.  All I can say is "Wow, what I great experience for the kids!"  
The material was well thought out and age appropriate.  I was amazed at how much the kids absorbed in only a few days. I was even more amazed at their creativity when told to "go shoot!"  
When they received a dozen or so printed images on the last day, I couldn't believe how many images they took that I had no idea were taken at Longwood Gardens or that I never "saw" before.  Part of what we tried to teach was to "see" the image before taking it.  Kids as young as 8 took some shots that blew me out of the water! They also motivated me to go back into Longwood, both with my Nikon and my cellphone!  Here are the few of the images that the kids inspired me to take! 


  








Valentines Day

White Roses
for me this year.  
I'm a lucky girl, but not high maintenance.  Any kind of flowers make me happy.  I just like knowing that's he'd thinking about me!
I just love how simple, yet complicated, and beautiful these are.







Back to Longwood...

I went last Sunday in search of the Blue Himalayan poppies that usually 
adorn on of the conservatory gardens this time of year. 
Unfortunately they weren't in bloom yet, except for one pot, but that didn't stop me from
walking around and soaking up some "spring time!"





















Spring has sprung!

At least it has at Longwood Gardens!  
I spent a few hours there last Sunday morning while it was snowing, sleeting, with a little freezing rain thrown in for some extra fun on the drive home.
All is well though and worth every minute I spent there! 














Project Create 9/26

Project: Create 

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographer(s), is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

 I'm not sure which of my friends is onboard this week.  This is a busy time of year for the professionals.  I exclude myself from that statement!  

 I pulled out the Lensbaby again at Longwood.  
I really tried for some different, and my different I can talking oof and with broken rules of photography.
Just have to change things up once in a while.
Maybe you like.  Maybe not.
But for today, I do!







To look to see who else has posted start with Denean...

Dandelion Days!

The weed-n-feed is on order, so I had no choice but to try to get some shots of the dreaded weed.
Well, I dread looking at them in my nice green lawn, 
but I love the challenge of capturing them creatively!



Project: Create 8/26

Project: Create 

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographer(s), is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

 Pink Dogwood Blooms!

 I pulled my macro lens back out again this week. 
 I couldn't resist the beautiful morning light falling on my pink dogwood tree when I was walking 
the dog.  Of course, as soon as I grabbed my camera and got back outside, the sun was behind the clouds.
Patience paid off!










I almost forgot!
Click on this link to see what the other photographer(s) created this week!
Denean Melcher

The poppies were here! The poppies were here!

The orchid extravaganza at Longwood Gardens is also host to  

When I met my friends from Berks County, out at Longwood, recently, 
this displaywas the first one I visited! 
The blooms were towards the end of their growing season, 
but still beautiful!
I found out the the flowers are harvested from Alaska in the fall, 
and forced to bloom here in the spring by Longwood's staff.








Project: Create 6/26



Project: Create 

We're back this year with a new project designed to help us build more creativity into our photography.
Every other Monday we'll post our images, many of them taken with our Lensbaby lenses.
The effects of the Lensbaby can be somewhat subtle or quite dramatic.
At the bottom of my post, as well as in the post of the other photographer(s), is a link to next photographers images. Click those links to take a trip around our circle!

 Articulture
was an interesting theme for this year's Philadelphia Flower.  
Horticulture inspired by art. 
Famous artists.
Local artists.
Live artists.
Deceased artists.
Contemporary artists.
Everywhere you looked you saw something inspired by art.

 Here is my take on the Flower Show through my Lensbaby.  I challenged myself to shoot with only one lens for the whole day.  It worked, until driving out of the parking garage, then I lost my bet with myself!





These artists were dancing horizontally, suspended from cables, using sculptures, that were suspended vertically from the ceiling, as their floor.  If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I'm not sure I would have believed it!


Dreaming of warmer weather!


A sculpture of a famous Marilyn Monroe pose!


And the WWII Kissing Sailor scupture made quite an impression on everyone@


"STOP THE CAR!"
On the way out the parking garage, on the very top level, this is what we saw!
Breathtaking!




To see what the other photographers have in store, start here with
Denean Melcher

It's just another Macro Monday! 24/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

WOW!  Week 24, almost finished!

This past weekend I took a brief walk through Longwood Gardens.  I was hoping to share some of those images, but alas, I've been banned from giving a "spoiler alert!"  
It seems that my preview of Longwood bothered some of fellow photographer friends up in 
Berks County.
You see, we had planned to go as a group tomorrow.  Unfortunately, there is a significant snowstorm predicted so it's been postponed until next week. 

Instead of flowers from Longwood, I'll share a couple of pictures I took for my Macro Madness Study Group.  The first is a first try at using something besides bugs or flowers. 
A common household object.  
My initial image is with correct settings and white balance.


 This image was created playing with the settings on my camera and my external flash!  What a difference a couple of clicks on a dial can make!



I bought this poinsettia just because it was blue, and had sparkles, and I thought it would make an interesting subject.  My expectations didn't quite live up my execution, but you can be the judge.


To continue around the circle, start here with Stacy Vitallo Heap and continue around the circle until you're back here at my blog!

It's Just Another Macro Monday! 23/26

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

This week's images come from a Macro Study I'm doing on my favorite photography forum.

One of my many favorite photographers is sharing his love of macro photography and the how-to's with a small group of us. 
This week's challenge was to use a different lighting source than you normally do...an off-camera flash, a reflector, a flashlight...whatever you could find.
Since I have an off-camera flash, but little experience with it, I decided to try that.  
These two pictures couldn't be more different in color and tone, but 
I like them anyway.



To see what the other three photographers, particpating in the challenge, posted this week
and click the link in each post until you end up back here.
The circle will, then, be complete.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are! 

It's week 12 and hard to believe that we're almost half way through this challenge.  I have, only, two images to share this week.  Neither was planned, not exactly anyway.  I started to go for the new flowers that were blooming in my yard when the buds I was focusing on, got a visitor.
Those visitors became the focus of my images!



To see what Denean, Faye and Stacy found this week, start here with Stacy's post!

We are not all linked, yet today.  So if you don't see someone's post, be sure to check back!

It's just another Macro Monday!

  Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are!
This Monday project sneaks up on me.  I have two weeks to think about shooting, but the procrastinator in me has the upper hand.
The flowers are beginning to bloom in my yard, but unfortunately for me, this morning, the rain clouds had decided to make an appearance.  
I really did hope it would come out later in the day but took the break in the downpours to grab a few of the flowers that are currently blooming in my gardens.  
So, while the light is not pretty, the flowers and the buds are.
There's no such thing as an ugly flower.
I read this quote earlier this week.
I think the meaning behind it is much deeper than the words seem to be, especially when you take a minute to consider the possibilites.

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” -Buddha

 





 To see what the talented Faye, Denean, and Stacy have chosen to share with us this week, start here with Stacy's blog and click the link in each post to go the next one. 

One flower, five ways...

On a recent trip to Longwood I met up with a fellow photographer from my Photoshop group.  
To say he's a talented artist is an understatement.
His work hangs in the halls of Longwood Gardens and in the Bradywine River Museum, which also hosts the works of Andrew Wyeth.
He's a quiet, unassuming man.
He doesn't have the best camera or the most expensive lenses.
He does have a passion for art.
He's self taught.
I would love to just follow him around and watch him work.  
To see just how he shoots.  
To figure out what he sees.
I was fortunate this day.
He shared with me, some of the things he does.  
The things he looks for, like the way shapes flow or bend.  
Some of his techniques for creating an image.
That he likes to watch how people create an image too!
That he shoots, truly, for himself.
Yes, there are rules, but he looks for the beauty.
The interesting.
Regardless of the rule,
He looks for the light.

He pointed me towards a basket of flowers that was high on a pedestal. "Look." he said.  "Walk around. What do you see?" he asked.

This is what I saw:





I owe this man a debt of gratitude!

It's just another Macro Monday!

 Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year.  We shoot what we love, what makes us happy,  to hone our skills,  to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are!

Spring is finally springing in my neck of the woods.  The last two days have been relatively warm, at least compared to the last few weeks. 
This is one sign of spring that I don't usually look forward to .
It means work.
It means hours on my knees with my gloves on my hands yanking this stuff out of my garden.
Now that I have a macro lens, I may feel a little differently
because
in the right light, even a weed, in this case the beginning of some chickweed, can be
beautiful!









 To begin your journey through the circle of other photographers, start here with photographer 
and check out her MM7 post!
After seeing what she has to share this week, find the link in her post to what 
Denean Simon Melcher and Faye Kingston have to share this week!
I know you won't be disappointed!