Bling-bling

From 2010 Blog

- This wall of cheap jewelry screamed "take my picture" so I obliged. Of course I asked permission and the Asian shop manager said OK but gave me the "why would you" look. It's a look I'm very familiar with. This was one of many shops we visited in Greenwich Village during our trip to New York City back in April. Canon G11, 1/200 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Corymb

From 2010 Blog

- This photo is from a few weeks back. These flowers of a red-tip photinia are produced in dense terminal corymbs - branched clusters of flowers. Each flower is about 5mm in diameter, with five rounded white petals; they have a mild scent. I used to have a long hedge of red-tips but they feel victim to the common fungal disease that has plagued this once popular shrub. One lone survivor across the yard still produces these flowers and the bright red new spring foliage that gives the plant its common name. It also hosts a pair of nesting cardinals; red birds in a red bush. Canon 40D, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 50mm macro.

Doodlebug

From 2010 Blog

I caught this little beetle scrounging around in the center of one of the blooms of the Siloam Doodlebug daylily. I spot all kinds of insects in the daylily blooms. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 1600, 100mm macro.

Dragon Fly

From 2010 Blog

- Got this close up photo of a dragon fly at the beach today. His face has a kind of carton like appeal. Swedish folklore holds that the devil uses dragonflies to weigh people's souls - pretty heavy stuff. I think they are just valuable mosquito eaters. Canon 7D, 1/1250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens.

Valediction

From 2010 Blog

- How our office vending machine thanks you for spending your dollar. The inflection is a little cold and mechanical, kind of like you get from those scripted service employees at national franchises. I have a good friend who always replies "Don't tell me what to do!" Apparently this is a U.S. custom as Europeans feel the phrase is fake and that the speaker only wants to sell something to them - duh. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Big Pharma

From 2010 Blog

- Big Pharma lines up to battle my sinus infection. From left to right, Amoxicillin antibiotic, Mucinex D "Mucinex in - Mucus out" yuk and prescription strength Ibuprofen 800mg - yea. Canon 40D, 1/125 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800, 50mm macro.

Lovely Gardenia

From 2010 Blog

- The lovely gardenias have busted out in bloom. I have a couple of varieties but this is from the oldest and largest of my plants. The bush is about 8 feet high and six feet in diameter. Hundreds of blooms have literally transformed the backyard with the most amazing aroma. The delicate white flowers against the shiny deep green foliage make for great photos. I hope you enjoy the image and wish I could bring you the smell. Canon 40D, 1/125 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 400, 50mm lens.