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! 

While outside last weekend I found a few critters to keep my company.  I was weeding and replanting some flowers that had reseeded themselves in places I didn't want them to grow!  There was also the yearly task of removing the leaves and debris from the river rock that surrounds our house.  Many of these critters made their home in the moist, muddy environment.  




I just loved this baby worm!  
 





We are halfway through our challenge for this year.  To see what the other talented ladies found, 
and from there you can check out Denean and Faye's images!

Project Life 365-day 178

"#some_day"

I have know this "some day" would come for years.  My baby is out of college and on his own in New York City.

I am so proud of the man he has become, what he's made of his life, and how he has accomplished his goals.

I hope his "some_day" brings him joy and the realization of his dreams!

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! 

Rain drops keep falling on my head....
that's been the song in the back of my mind all spring long, so when I woke up to rain, again, this morning, I knew exactly what I wanted my post today to be.
I just love how the view in droplets is upside down.






I almost missed this little drop!


To see what the other ladies found this week, start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

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. 

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 week's post is dedicated to my youngest son.  
On Sunday, May 5, 2013 
Kevin graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Finance. 
As I was sitting in the stands of Bryce Jordan Center, I took a few pictures of some of the little things, that are part of a graduation ceremony.
There are, also,some pictures of some things that were important to him over the last few weeks. 
There are some images of some Penn State memorabilia that I found at the house where was stayed.
I couldn't be any prouder of Kevin, but there's a part of me that still doesn't quite believe it.
Am I really this old?
Interesting enough, I heard people offer Kevin their condolences.  Literally.
Instead of saying "congratulations" these kids were saying "my condolences" to each other.
They didn't want to graduate either! 
There's more to the story but you'll have check back to find out. 
 I'll share the rest of the images as I get time to sort through and edit them,
and when it's not a macro Monday!
For today, here are just a few.  Some you will understand. Some you'll question, but don't ask.  Those are probably the ones that are special to Kevin.
 
























and just because it's so incredibly difficult not to give you a flower, here's two taken at the arboretum on campus!




To see what the other three talented photographers found, 
start here with Stacy  Heap Vitallo.
From her post click the link to the next photography and the next.
Four in all!


.

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!

__________________________________________________________________________________

"The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah 
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah 
The ants go marching one by one, 
The little one stops to suck his thumb 
And they all go marching down to the ground  
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"






One day last week my son told me that there ants in the candy bowl in my family and in my dining room, which is on the other side of the house.
No where in between, though.
I found one ant in the candy bowl, dumped the candy in the trash, and washed out the bowl.  My son took care of the ants in my dining room.
Problem solved, or so I thought.
A few days later I threw a bag of Tootsie Rolls in the bowl in the family room.   
Over the next couple of days I ate a Tootsie Roll or two, until Thursday.  On Thursday, I ate a Tootsie Roll and thought it tasted kinda funny.  I grabbed another Tootsie Roll, unwrapped it, popped it in my mouth, started chewing, and screamed when I realized it wasn't just a Tootsie Roll.
Yep, you guessed it...the ants were back.  
I get ants every spring. No big deal.
 A few on the kitchen counters.  Maybe a couple around the dogs bowl.  
We treat the perimeter of the house.  
The ants disappear.   
Now, that I'm positive, or at least fairly certain, I may have ingested some of these little creatures ( I still have this funny feeling in the back of my throat when I look at these pictures) I am on an all out mission to rid my house of their presence. 
I realized after I calmed down that an opportunity had just presented itself to me and I grabbed my camera.  
This is the last I hope to see of these things!  












 To begin your journey through the circle of other photographers, start here with photographer 
and check out her MM8 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!
 

 


Project Life 365-day 44 "steps"

During a recent trip to Washington, DC, I took this picture of the steps of the Jefferson Memorial from the opposite side of the tidal bassin while the Cherry Blossum Festival was in full swing.


Project Life 365-days 107 and 108

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be able to complete this project.  It should be fun, but one of the things about learning a new craft is that you realize that you can do better. Be better.  Nothing is good enough. 
I really need to get out of that mind set.
It's killing my creativity.
I work as a substitute in a school, but rarely havsome re a day off.  Today is one of those rare days, so I sit here in front of my computer looking through  the pictures from last week's trip to 
Washington DC. 
(I really should be cleaning, but, hey, I have priorities!)
As I was scanning Facebook, I saw an update from the main group of Project Life and decided to check out today's theme, in case I had a picture that qualitifies. It just so happens that I have one for yesterday too!  Who knows, maybe I'll be back later with more.  

Day 108/365-"Hello, oh hi there!"


Day 107/365-"symetry"

Did you know that butterflies are symetrical?  


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!

and now for the rest!

One of my most favorite place to take my camera is Longwood Gardens.  It doesn't matter how dreary, cold, miserable, hot, humid, or even nice the weather outside is, it's always warm and welcoming inside.  
I've decided to try something different on each of my trips.  I want to only take one lens. I think this will force me to see things differently, to take risks, and to grow as a photographer. 
First up, my beloved 105!




































You can see a few more of my pictures from Longwood on my previous Project 365 post!

Project Life 365-day 85

I am really behind with this project.  Today I am going to attempt to catch up a bit with shots that I took this past weekend at Longwood Gardens that fit the various prompts that I have missed. 

Day 23 "transparent"


Day 68 "contained"





Day 75 "in the middle"



  Day 77 "light"
 

 Day 80 "weather"

 
   
 Day 85 "green"






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!
 
 
 
As I sit here to type my post, it's snowing outside and snowing hard.  We've already passed the 1-2" that were predicted. It's probably the most snow we've had all winter, combined! 
It's so pretty, and I thought about going out and taking some new pictures to share this morning, but even though I will take them, I might wait to share them until it's 98 degrees outside with humidity to match!
Instead, I'm going to share pictures from the second newborn shoot I've ever done.  Just a few, so as not to give away too much before the proud parents have had a chance to see them all!





To see what Denean Melcher, Faye Kingston, and Stacy Heap Vitallo are sharing this week, 
and then find the link in her post that will take you around the circle!

Project Life 365-day 72

"message"

Messages are everywhere.  
On our phones.  In our mailboxes. In a card from a friend. In a note on a table. 
I like the more subliminal messages sometimes.
Today, especially, is one of those days. 
As I added my picture to the page on our Facebook group page, I said "This was my message from God this morning that I'd see the sun, if only for a little while and in between rain showers this afternoon.'
Life is like that sometimes.  
We don't see the sun for a long time, but it's there.  Sometimes, it's  between the rain showers and sometimes it's after the monsoon. 
A friend of mine is experiencing a monsoon right now.  I hope she knows that at some point the sun will peak out from behind the clouds again.



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!

The Philadelphia Flower Show is always a sight to behold.  I walked through the Convention Center for hours taking picture after picture, loving one more than the last, but not quite sure of which ones I was going to use for today's blog.  I took a break, had a great lunch at the Reading Terminal Market with my friends, and returned to show.  And then I saw these sunflowers along a fence of one of the displays and  I knew that they had to be the object of this week's post.  
The only thing missing are the bees!







 
 
To see what Denean Melcher, Faye Kingston, and Stacy Heap Vitallo are sharing this week, 
and then find the link in her post that will take you around the circle!

Philadelphia Flower Show-Part 1

For the past several years, I've anxiously looked forward to the Flower Show.  My enthusiasm peaked when Michael was in school at Williamson and the boys worked for a year to research, plan, design, grow, build, and show off their talents.
Ever since Michael graduated, it's been about photography.  I still love to see the displays, don't get me wrong, but photographing the flowers and details is what drives me now.  
This years theme is "Brilliant."
If it's about Britain, it's in!
While the state of our economy has slowed over the past years and the size of the displays, as well as the number of displays, has dwindled, the work that goes into planning and implementing the beautiful scenes is evident. 
                                                             Take a look for yourself!



Here are the other reasons I like to go to the Flower Show, my peeps, fellow photographers, my students and most importantly, my friends, hard at work!



Now just one of the three of us together.  It's a bit blurry, but we'll forgive the photographer!