well worn

4.6mm f2.8 1/80s ISO100

Taken while I was sitting around.  These are my painting jeans. Levi Signature Blue and Behr Parisian Taupe prove to be the canvas that caught my eye.

curtains

80mm f4.2 1/125s ISO100

Liberty Reservoir, Baltimore County, Maryland

The late afternoon sun was lighting up the far bank, in turn casting a brilliant reflection across the waters surface. These colors are untouched as the fresh Spring green leaves come to life.  The fallen tree here adds only perspective.  With out it in the image the colors don't look natural.

buttercupbench

500mm f4.2 1/160s ISO100

Rawlings Conservatory

28mm f7.1 1/400s ISO100

The Howard Peter Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore, a lovely architectural relic from the Victorian era, still blooms in Baltimore today.  Its original structures, The Palm House (the distinctive arched structure) and Orchid Room (hidden behind the palm house), were built in 1888.  Later additions include the three greenhouses that each mimic desert, tropic and Mediterranean habitats.  Conservatory grounds (1½ acres) feature 35 well developed and groomed flowerbeds (currently tulips).

I took this photograph yesterday afternoon and had this processing in mind when I did so.  I wanted to see and feel the history of this wonderful structure and find a way to convey that out to a viewer.  Creating what seems like a vintage postcard may have been just the way to achieve my goal.

chub eye

28mm f3.2 1/100s ISO100

What a bizarre looking, but very common fish.  This "creek chub" is one of the larger fishes to be classified as a minnow.  They typically grow 6-8 inches and can grow up to 12 inches.  They eat smaller minnows, tadpoles, frogs, insects and crayfish.  The male chub builds a nest for eggs in the spring by hollowing out a lenghty hole on the riverbed.  After the eggs are laid he guards then until they hatch.  Mature males grow these "tubercles" on it's nose.  I caught this chub yesterday on a hard crayfish crank-bait.My daughter caught this chub yesterday using a small sonic minnow spinnerbait.  It was indeed beautiful, gold and rosy, and her first catch of the day. Yay Madibo.

sully's giant

28mm f8,0 1/1300s ISO100

The lighthouse on Sullivan's Island, SC stands 140 feet tall and marks the entrance to Charleston harbor.  This formidable beach invader, by reckoning, must stand close to 700 feet.  I was sure to keep my distance.

Slow Down

just a reminder...

fresh catch

28mm f4.0 1/125s ISO100

My favorites lure, Joe's Flies Super Striker, never fails to ignite the fish.  Here is a small white bass I landed on Sunday while out for my birthday fishing adventure.  Painted beauty and a fine memory...

The Front 40

Brenda Photo Challenge: Lighting

114mm f3.5 1/30s ISO100

Palmetto trees back lit by a fanciful sunset sky in Charleston, SC.  This is an example of lighting your subject, or rather back lighting it.  The trees silhouette into a crisp clean row of stately symbolism carrying power and impact to the viewer.

o'georgia

lion's tooth II

28mm f2.8 1/125s ISO100

This is an example of shallow Depth of Field (DOF) and different focal points.  You can see here how small amounts can change you photograph in different ways.  In this case from a soft delicate image to a crisp detailed image.  Not there there is a right or wrong here.  This is more creative taste and pursuit of what you are looking for.  How do you see the image and what do you want to capture.  With autofocus you can get creative by "tricking" the focus sensor.  Simply point at what you wish to focus on.  Press the trigger down half way until if "goes green" with a proper focus. Now keeping the trigger button half depressed...  re-frame your shot.  This way you can achieve the composition you really want AND get the focal point you want.  Give it a try.

things heat up

80mm f3.2 1/6s ISO200

Where will you find your next photograph? Are you even looking?

watercolor

500mm f4.2 1/125s ISO200

I've showcased painting filters and brushed images here in the past.  In this one though I took a more realistic approach.  This is real water color.  These yellow blossoms are reflected atop the slow moving stream.  The big green background of trees is blended softly with an afternoon sky.  The soft ebb flow in this stream offers the organic impressionistic reflections.  Look beyond what is right in front of you.

Scurry

28mm f2.8 1/6s ISO200

This is not your perspective, it is theirs.