Dec 14
I love the exercise of finding something beautiful among the seemingly mundane. It’s a great way to keep my photographer’s eye in shape–continually training it to see the forms, colors, and textures that come together to form an artistic composition. You’ll notice I use the word “training” and “exercise.” The quest to better my photography in this way is never-ending. Which is just fine with me. It’s a journey, and as a photographer, I enjoy every step along the way.
Yesterday, we awoke to dazzling array of white–a rare treat in our corner of the world–even for mid-winter! Soft, beautiful white fluff, wafting down from the clouds, quietly covering all that was green below. With temperatures predicted to rise by mid-morning, I moved quickly toward the ever-inspiring landscape of my own backyard, armed with a dedicated macro (a lovely Christmas gift indeed!) to capture what I hoped would be some unique images. This one above is one of my favorites from the morning, because while I shot many sequences of snow while looking down, I particularly like the aspect of looking up, seeing how the tiny variegated privet delicately balances the loft of snow on its leaves.
Within an hour or so, all the snowdrops became drips… as the sun shone and the greenery returned. I hope you enjoy these tiny frozen moments that remain.
Enjoy…
As the world around me turns increasingly grey and brown in January, I often yearn for the season gone by, even as I look forward to new treasures ahead. In looking back over the last several weeks of shooting, I recently came across this early December image, just waiting to be shared. This delicate leaf was just hanging on when I shot it one breezy morning… one of the last leaves to join all the others, disintegrating into mulch, creating fodder for new life in the spring. I am drawn to compositions like this because I love to be able to capture that “moment in time” when even the smallest, often overlooked, aspects of nature can be contemplated, and a greater meaning can be found. The leaf is long gone by now, but my image, and my memory of the moment, remains. Hope you enjoy…
There is something so exciting and fulfilling about macro photography. I never tire of the joy of discovery–peering through the lens at a Lilliputian world, stumbling upon compositions that reveal minute, breathtaking beauty, most of which are within mere feet of my door. We had a stretch of lovely autumn weather recently that offered a wealth of possibilities for morning macro photography. Freshly fallen leaves, still mostly alive and supple with sap and vibrant color, yet captive and resting, waiting for my camera. The frost and dew still lingering at these early morning hours added a touch of brilliance to scenes that were lovely to behold to the naked eye, but up close, became exquisite. Hope you enjoy…
I recently completed a WordPress survey that asked the question: Do you ever have trouble coming up with something to write about. I answered truthfully, “never.” Maybe that is because I don’t put any pressure on myself to post daily, or on any regimented schedule, so I write when the spirit moves. But I think it has more to do with the fact that when I view the images I’ve created, the words simply flow. That to me is the heart of photography–not simply looking at a pretty picture–but the fact that the image “says” something to me. I never fail to be inspired for a post, because I am communicating here the feelings and thoughts I had when I originally composed the shot. Sometimes with time, I even see more than I thought was there, which makes it doubly interesting to write about. But no matter what, there is always a message–an inspiration–in every photograph I post.
This photo was taken in Seagrove Beach this summer. An ordinary palm branch, right outside the condo where we stayed. I was struck each morning, by the beauty and symmetry of the leaves as they spread out from the center, and the gorgeous golden light that illuminated its natural, yet graphic design. On the last morning there, I decided to capture it. Today, it makes me smile each time it pops up in my gallery viewer. I hope you enjoy it, as well…
This image is a follow up to my last post, taken that same morning. I love the way these tiny evergreen needles look like starbursts, each popping out in perfect symmetry, and crystallized in the morning’s frozen dew. Hope you enjoy…
f/11, 0.6 sec; ISO 100, 90 mm with macro extension tube
Dec 7
There is something almost electric about the first frost of the season… you look out and all you can say is… wow… I had forgotten about this magic! Overnight, it was as if fairies from childhood tapped their wands on everything living and gave the world a spectacular lustre… a glow that beckoned me to bundle up and venture out with camera in hand. And, truly, I was rewarded. This was one of my favorite shots, where it appears as though these scarlet leaves have been dipped and sugar-coated, in preparation for the day. This is one of those times when you realize there is a wonderful world waiting to be photographed, all just a few yards from the back door. Welcome Winter! Hope you enjoy…
Nov 21
Thanksgiving week is upon us and that means the opening of the late fall early winter season, which also means that nature will transform itself again. Fall holds so many luxurious photographic opportunities, that it is always hard to see it slip away as November seems to charge full steam ahead into December. This photograph is one of a series I did last fall one early dewy morning, under a the sky’s lovely gigantic softbox, which allowed the natural colors of the leaves to show themselves beautifully. The intricate designs of the leaf lines hold infinite interest for me; tiny veins that bring life and breath to the leaf itself as well as its environs. Hope you enjoy…
f/7.1, 180th, ISO 400, 85 mm with extension tube
PS: In the spirit of the week ahead of Thanksgiving, I want to sincerely thank all those who stopped by, offered comments, and signed up as followers last week as a result of my Freshly Pressed spotlight. It was a delightful experience, and all the positive feedback was quite gratifying! Many thanks and I hope you will continue to enjoy the new images and posts in the weeks and months to come. Cheers!
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