I'm not usually one for pretty flower pictures -- but wow, I love the color and texture in this poppy
(Poppy by johnbasus)
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Blue Agave
Who knew blue agave was actually such an interesting shade of blue-green-purple?
Agave by vanswearingen
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Leaf Green...
I'm ready for green plants again (enough with winter, already)....
A somehow tender macro of an Amarylis
A somehow tender macro of an Amarylis
Saturday, November 29, 2008
A quick post for a holiday weekend, with finals coming up soon (eek!)
Here in Massachusetts, it's getting cold, and Thanksgiving marks the end of fall for me (it's not officially winter until the Solstice in December, but in New England, that never really worked for me) so, I'm trying to psyche myself up for how beautiful winter can be(and avoid thinking about digging my car out of the snowdrift to get to work)
So, here's a picture from a snow storm a couple of years ago...
Here in Massachusetts, it's getting cold, and Thanksgiving marks the end of fall for me (it's not officially winter until the Solstice in December, but in New England, that never really worked for me) so, I'm trying to psyche myself up for how beautiful winter can be(and avoid thinking about digging my car out of the snowdrift to get to work)
So, here's a picture from a snow storm a couple of years ago...
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sometimes it's the journey...
With the return of spring, I'm re-learning to love my commute, which is down back roads along and over the Connecticut River.
I stopped after work, at a conservation area along the river, the high river bank topped with a narrow worn path. It's quickly becoming a favorite spot.
Former girl scout, I was prepared with my camera in my tote bag.
Last time I stopped, a week or two ago, the river looked almost stately. Pewter grey, broad, flooded with melting winter snow, with surprising little whirlpools dimpling the edges.
Today, a hazy Friday at the end of a week of coming-summer weather that's been tempting students at the college where I work onto every spare spot of lawn, it's languid. Sliding lazily along the channel. All of the colors of the river and surrounding mountains, hazy, but the trees are starting to turn leafy green.
Despite the threat of grass stains on my just-pulled-out-of-winter-storage-new skirt, it's still worth it to sit watch the river, and listen to the birds and buzzing insects.
I spent an hour or so, happily walking, taking pictures, sitting and enjoying the afternoon. As a photographer, I'm fascinated by the play of light on water. It was a lovely way to start the weekend.
But, observant reader, you might have noticed a distinct lack of pictures in this post, about stopping to take pictures, on a blog with "photography" in the url.
I was going to show you, I really was. I had the post all planned out in my head as I drove home.
But, I got back to my computer and uploaded my pictures (almost burning dinner in the process) and found...
Nothing.
No, the camera hadn't malfunctioned. The pictures just weren't any good. Sometimes, a beautiful thing, and a beautiful photograph aren't the same thing.
I'm disappointed. But philosophical, at least I had a beautiful afternoon.
I stopped after work, at a conservation area along the river, the high river bank topped with a narrow worn path. It's quickly becoming a favorite spot.
Former girl scout, I was prepared with my camera in my tote bag.
Last time I stopped, a week or two ago, the river looked almost stately. Pewter grey, broad, flooded with melting winter snow, with surprising little whirlpools dimpling the edges.
Today, a hazy Friday at the end of a week of coming-summer weather that's been tempting students at the college where I work onto every spare spot of lawn, it's languid. Sliding lazily along the channel. All of the colors of the river and surrounding mountains, hazy, but the trees are starting to turn leafy green.
Despite the threat of grass stains on my just-pulled-out-of-winter-storage-new skirt, it's still worth it to sit watch the river, and listen to the birds and buzzing insects.
I spent an hour or so, happily walking, taking pictures, sitting and enjoying the afternoon. As a photographer, I'm fascinated by the play of light on water. It was a lovely way to start the weekend.
But, observant reader, you might have noticed a distinct lack of pictures in this post, about stopping to take pictures, on a blog with "photography" in the url.
I was going to show you, I really was. I had the post all planned out in my head as I drove home.
But, I got back to my computer and uploaded my pictures (almost burning dinner in the process) and found...
Nothing.
No, the camera hadn't malfunctioned. The pictures just weren't any good. Sometimes, a beautiful thing, and a beautiful photograph aren't the same thing.
I'm disappointed. But philosophical, at least I had a beautiful afternoon.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Spring has finally, emphatically come to Massachusetts, and I have a three day weekend (Monday is Patriot's Day here. In theory a commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord which marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In reality, I had to look that up on wikipedia. But everyone in the Boston area knows it's Marathon Monday. )
So, I spent a sunny afternoon hiking in the woods and hills with my camera: my first hike of the season. At first the woods seemed discordant: the oaks still winter-bare, hardly in bud, and the usually cool, shady forest was hot and sunny. I usually find the forest at once soothing and inspiring -- but I just wasn't feeling it.
Further down the path, a little stream. We're not far from the Connecticut River, which is at spring flood right now. But this stream was full, but cheerful not rushing. There are smooth pools behind fallen trees, and gurgling ruffles over stones. The edges were lined with brilliant green plants, surprisingly lush. The leaves brilliant green and folded slightly, adding lines of sun and shadow.
Someone had built a sturdy, simple bridge with concrete pilings over the stream: but what's the fun in that? Its predecessor, a pair of wobbly, warped pressure-treated boards placed directly on the muddy banks, was just a few feet further down. Much more picturesque. I wobbled myself, crouching down, to dip my hands in the cool water, sun touched where it ruffled over the rocky bed.
If you've looked through my
photography, you might have guessed: I'm fascinated by the reflections and patterns in water. There were no other hikers around, so I could sit to my hearts content, watching the stream ripple and reflect, trying to get in 'on film'. (Note to self: find a technologically appropriate phrase, 'on memory card' just doesn't work)
I ended up hiking for hours (my muscles remind me now) up the rocky hills and along the stream bank. The trails are not terribly well maintained, and on my way back, I found I'd meandered off my path. I've got a GPS unit in my backpack, a cell phone, it's daylight, I'm standing right next to a river I can follow if I really needed too, in a pretty tame patch of woods, with major roads on all the borders and I'm perhaps 50 feet from the path. No reason to be worried, unless you're the sinking feeling in my gut.
I got back to path no problem, and on my way, almost as compensation, found a beautiful patch of flowers I've never seen
before. (If you can identify them, I'd love to know). Almost like compensation for that bit of worry ... or a lesson in getting off the beaten path. In any case, I'm grateful for one last, wonderful surprise.
And a surprisingly wonderful shot.
This is one of those gifts from the photography gods when holding the camera out, blind, underneath a flower and madly pushing the shutter actually works. The only retouching: boosting the contrast back to something like the flowers' natural tone. (I didn't even crop, and I crop everything!)
And with that, Happy Patriots' Day everyone!
So, I spent a sunny afternoon hiking in the woods and hills with my camera: my first hike of the season. At first the woods seemed discordant: the oaks still winter-bare, hardly in bud, and the usually cool, shady forest was hot and sunny. I usually find the forest at once soothing and inspiring -- but I just wasn't feeling it.
But, tucked under the edge of a fallen tree, right at my feet were tiny little flowers. Mayflowers, delicate little stars, white with the tiniest hint of pink., set off against generic little apple-green leaves. Soothing and inspiring, my hike redeemed.
(Too bad the pictures just didn't come out)
Further down the path, a little stream. We're not far from the Connecticut River, which is at spring flood right now. But this stream was full, but cheerful not rushing. There are smooth pools behind fallen trees, and gurgling ruffles over stones. The edges were lined with brilliant green plants, surprisingly lush. The leaves brilliant green and folded slightly, adding lines of sun and shadow.
Someone had built a sturdy, simple bridge with concrete pilings over the stream: but what's the fun in that? Its predecessor, a pair of wobbly, warped pressure-treated boards placed directly on the muddy banks, was just a few feet further down. Much more picturesque. I wobbled myself, crouching down, to dip my hands in the cool water, sun touched where it ruffled over the rocky bed.
If you've looked through my
photography, you might have guessed: I'm fascinated by the reflections and patterns in water. There were no other hikers around, so I could sit to my hearts content, watching the stream ripple and reflect, trying to get in 'on film'. (Note to self: find a technologically appropriate phrase, 'on memory card' just doesn't work)I ended up hiking for hours (my muscles remind me now) up the rocky hills and along the stream bank. The trails are not terribly well maintained, and on my way back, I found I'd meandered off my path. I've got a GPS unit in my backpack, a cell phone, it's daylight, I'm standing right next to a river I can follow if I really needed too, in a pretty tame patch of woods, with major roads on all the borders and I'm perhaps 50 feet from the path. No reason to be worried, unless you're the sinking feeling in my gut.
I got back to path no problem, and on my way, almost as compensation, found a beautiful patch of flowers I've never seen
before. (If you can identify them, I'd love to know). Almost like compensation for that bit of worry ... or a lesson in getting off the beaten path. In any case, I'm grateful for one last, wonderful surprise.And a surprisingly wonderful shot.
This is one of those gifts from the photography gods when holding the camera out, blind, underneath a flower and madly pushing the shutter actually works. The only retouching: boosting the contrast back to something like the flowers' natural tone. (I didn't even crop, and I crop everything!)
And with that, Happy Patriots' Day everyone!
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