Strawberry To Be

- The patio strawberries are just starting their second round of blooms. In a few weeks this will be a tasty red berry. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/200 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Strawberry Bloom

- The patio strawberries are in full bloom. This variety is "June-bearing" and I should see some ripe berries by late May. Take a close look at this small bloom just to the left of center and notice the small unwelcome pest already at work. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/14.0, ISO 1600, 100mm macro lens taken at night with two LED Litepanels for illumination.

Living Picture

- My first Lytro "Living Picture" for the blog. I took a picture of these spring flowers at the McDonald Garden Center in downtown Norfolk. Check out the variable focus by clicking on different areas of the picture to move the focus point around. Lytro, 1/125 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 200, 45mm focal length, in creative mode.

First Sunday

- This is my first "First Sunday" project. A soon to open Iris bud stands among the tall green foliage. Snapchick issued a challenge on the first Sunday of each month to focus on composition and creativity rather than high tech camera gear. The challenge was to use your oldest digital camera, set it on a high ISO and a low resolution. The idea is to show what the photographer can do rather than what the camera can do. This photo was taken with my first DSLR a vintage 2003 Canon Digital Rebel aka 300D, 1/2000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600 (the camera's highest setting) using a 50mm prime lens.

My First Lytro

- This is the first picture I've shared from my new Lytro camera. The Lytro changes almost everything for digital photography as its new and innovative design allows you to refocus the picture after you take it. This birthday bouquet does not have a lot of depth of field so the effect isn't that noticeable. Look for new pics in the future after I develop some skill in actually using this camera. You can play with a "living" version of the photo on my Facebook timeline page. Just click on the image to refocus on that spot. Lytro, 1/80 sec @ f/2.0, two LED Litepanels for illumination.

A Yellow Baby

- "Yellow daisy, a dandelion or a pussy willow,
It's a different thing.
Oh-oh, Forsythia. Forsythia. Forsythia"
from Forsythia by Veruca Salt
Canon 5D Mark II, 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Bradford Pear

- In the mid 1970's Virginia Beach, like many American cities, planted the Bradford Pear trees along main roads. At the time the tree was considered to be the perfect street tree, with beautiful early white blooms, a nice cone shape, and good fall color. Thirty years later many of trees weaknesses are now apparent including a relatively short life and the tendency to easily break in high winds and under the load of winter ice. These trees are located along Princess Anne Road just southeast of Newtown Road and while some show the effect of age and breakage, the early spring debut of white flowers is still a wonderful sight. Canon G1X, 1/160 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Little Earth Stars

- To some the dandelion is a weed; but not to me, unless it takes more than its share of space, for I always miss these little earth stars when they are absent. They intensify the sunshine shimmering on the lawn, making one smile involuntarily when seeing them. Moreover, they awaken pleasant memories, for a childhood in which dandelions had no part is a defective experience.
Source: "The Home Acre," by E. P. Roe

Canon 7D, 1/30 sec @ f/10.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro, converted to black and white in Lightroom 3 using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Spring Walk

- Took a spring walk around the neighborhood this afternoon and took this pictire of these delicate very pale violet flowers. I'm not sure what they are but I liked the texture and decided it would make a good black & white photograph. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro, converted to B&W in Lightroom 3 using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Can You Smell This?

- Can a photograph trigger the memory of scent? Some research says it can. These hyacinths located near my front porch provide an amazing and welcoming aroma to visitors. They've been blooming for over a week now and the scent has been imprinted in my brain. Can you smell them? Canon 7D, 1/30 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro, two LED litepanels.

Cold & Wet

- It's a cold and wet night for this early daffodil. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro, LED Litepanel.

For My Valentine

- Nothing says "Be My Valentine" like a red rose. Red roses are the traditional symbol for love and romance. In Greek and Roman mythology the red rose was closely tied to the goddess of love. The red rose says you have my love and fidelity. Happy Valentine Day to my love.
Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro, tungsten hand held video light for illumination.

Snow Camellia

- Went out early this morning to catch last night's dusting of snow before it disappeared. There wasn't much snow but the dusting on this camellia bloom caught my eye. Canon G11, 1/60 sec, f/8.0, ISO 400, macro mode and on-camera flash.

From Above

- This is kind of an odd view from above of a tulip bloom. The back lighting from underneath is illuminating the inside of the bloom. At first I wasn't sure that I liked this photo but there was something about it that caused me to come back to it. I think it was just the vantage point. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Tulips

- They grace my table sweetly as they stand so straight and tall
And then with time they curtsey and they take a humble fall
- From Tulips by Linda Hogeland.
Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Perfect

- As a photographer you develop a technique to "see in frames", images freeze in your mind and your try to capture them with the camera. You apply your skills and execute trying to capture the image in your mind. Occasionally after you upload it to the computer and really look it and realize there's so much more than what you envisioned. Tonight was one of those times for me. I have often photographed these blooms from my camellia bush. The water droplets from a light rain falling tonight helped this perfect shaped blossom jump off the screen when I looked at it. There is so much texture and detail in these flowers, truly a miracle of beauty. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro, 1 LED Litepanel.

Early Hyacinth

- Yep, this hyacinth is in full bloom in my backyard at least 4 weeks early. Sure smelled like Spring while getting close to take this picture. It has been an amazingly (fingers crossed - knock on wood) mild winter here in the southeast corner of Virginia. I still have oregano and basil going strong in the planters on the deck. Hopefully we can go another 4 to 6 weeks without a major cold snap. I bet I just jinxed that by staying it - stay tuned for the coming snow pictures. Canon 7D, 1/160 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro with two LED litepanels.

Press Flowers

- Real flowers on the table make lunch special. These were side lit by a great mid-day winter sun at 626 Press in Norfolk, Virginia. iPhone 4, 1/536 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Star of Bethlehem

- The star-shaped flowers of the Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum) are a delight of the holiday season. Canon 40D, 1/500 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800, 100mm macro, LED Litepanel.

Blue Mystique

- This is a Blue Mystique orchid that I saw today at Lowes and had to have. It is a really striking and unusual color. Mine has two stems with a total of 15 blooms. Canon40D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens, micro Litepanel LED for illumination.