This year I set myself a goal. A mini-project if you will. Borne out of the fact that I hadn't been able to take a decent picture of indian pipes. Seriously. I tried. I'd see some next to the trail and set up. Everything sucked. I even shot some in winter and those are passable,... Continue Reading →
The Legendary Olympus 90mm f2 macro lens
One of the internet search terms that often leads people to my site is for the Olympus 90mm f2 macro lens. I'm not exactly sure where they end up since I use that lens a lot and post many shots taken with it. Like this one. I found this little crawler on my backpack yesterday... Continue Reading →
When It Becomes Visible
You know, I think I spend more time with my backpack off and it lying on the ground than I do actually wearing it! Being that I spend so much time way down on the ground, photographing tiny things I think I need a different rig. Or one that allows me to work differently. But... Continue Reading →
Into the Great Wide Open
Phew. Our most recent heatwave is over and I can probably get back outside. I say probably because it's horse and deer fly season and those just make me miserable. They're relentless and will bite you to death if given half a chance. Lately I've been playing a bit more deliberately with bokeh and its... Continue Reading →
Spring Beauties
Back to your regularly scheduled program. More nature stuff. I am a bit bummed at the moment because I came upon a very active great blue heron rookery the other day and my old 300mm lens isn't up to the task. Most of my old legacy glass is still very good when paired with a... Continue Reading →
Mining Bee Macro
A follow up to the last post, I went out back to the carpet of whitlow grass again and found it buzzing with tiny mining bees (1.5 cm or 5/8 in). The sun being strong, but slightly diffused by clouds I went back in for the camera. So glad I did - Isn't she sweet?... Continue Reading →
Spring has Sprung
Remember that scene in The Jerk when Martin ran all over yelling "The new phonebook's here! The new phonebook's here" ? Well I felt like doing that about spring today. This is what tells me it's arrived - It's whitlow grass and there's a big patch of it in my backyard. They're the very first... Continue Reading →
Junk or Junque?
Before I take on writing a Black and White Photography 201, I'm going to share some more junk drawer photos. Well, this first one isn't from a drawer, but a forgotten cabinet over the fridge. In a clean-out binge I found a bunch of weird booze we stuck there for some reason. Pepper flavored vodka. ... Continue Reading →
What’s the frequency, Kenneth?
Frustrated by my inability to see outside in nature lately, I've turned my attention to the Junk Drawer in hopes of finding some worthy subjects. Dredged up this old transistor radio that was my husband's when he was a kid. It still works! These first three were shot with the Olympus 90mm f2 macro... Continue Reading →
Aliens Stole My Gear!
Well not really, but on a photography board someone asked if aliens stole your gear (all of it) and somehow digital photography was rendered out of existence or banned or whatever (no cell phone cameras either), would you shoot film or would you give up photography? If you decided to shoot film, would you go... Continue Reading →
The Best of 2010
This is a new thing for me, choosing my best photos of the year. I’ve done it with books I’ve read and albums I’ve bought, but not things I made myself. It can be hard to subjectively judge your own work, but I think it's a worthy exercise for anyone who wants to get better... Continue Reading →
Down on my knees again
Suffering for my art. Snagged a branch off a wonderfully photogenic, but wickedly invasive, bittersweet plant. They're everywhere now, like purple loosetrife, choking the life out of native plants. Anyway, I haven't been shooting macro much so decided to bring out the big guns for these - the OM 90mm f2 and the OM 35mm... Continue Reading →
Lily of the Valley – Part 10
Part 10 of the lifecycle of the Lily of the Valley study - berries go from luscious and ripe to fallen and decaying.
Lily of the Valley – Part 9
Fruit ripens and an unexpected visitor drops by.
Lily of the Valley – Part 8
After some weeks of relative sameness, the plants are beginning a new phase - the die back. I love the contrast between the still verdant leaves and the dying leaves. The textures are still terrific. And of course I couldn't resist a monochrome conversion. The shapes and light variation in the early morning is perfect... Continue Reading →
Dr. Evil’s Tomatoes
Evil salad ingredients in the backyard.
Boo!
Clever spider and her hunting blind.
Lily of the Valley – Part 7
Hey - these guys make fruit!
Spine Trials
Please don't let it be the agony of defeat.
Woman v. Nature
Man v. Nature isn't always just a Jack London book report topic.
Lily of the Valley – Part 6
The latest set of photos in the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. The bloom is off the rose so to speak.
Lily of the Valley – Part 5
The lilies of the valley are in full bloom.
All I have to do is dream
Pushed into originality I decide to go with the flow.
Lily of the Valley – Part 4
Lily of the Valley life cycle study progress...the most beautiful phase yet.
Lily of the Valley – Part 3
Much delayed progress post on the Lily of the Valley life cycle study. April 8 - 21st.