Sunday, March 29, 2009

Bursting forth


A bud from a tulip tree in my neighbor's yard. I was pleased with this shot and how the blossom in the background mirrored the bud in the foreground. I did a bit of post processing in Photoshop. Originally planned a black and white shot but it looked better with a bit of muted color.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rain Kissed

This morning as I was taking my Sadie out for her morning routine, I notice how lovely all the blooming flowers looked in the rain. I rushed Sadie up so I could get my camera as the rain began to come down a bit harder. This is a blueberry bush that yields wonderful tasty fruit in the late summer. But now it looks lovely with its rain kissed blossoms. Made for a nice early morning shot.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Garden Bench

Strategically placed in my mother's garden. The perfect place for a squirrel's lunch spot, a bird's perch, falling leaves, or a tired gardener. And one of our favorite photo spots.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

A Different Kind of Art

My dad is an artist. Not in the sense of the word that most people think. He isn't a painter or a sculptor but he creates. This is one of his creations. He built this buggy himself--from scratch. Not a kit or anything like that. He is very proud of it and rides it in some of the local Christmas parades. He also makes knives. From scratch! He cuts the blades and tempers the steel in a very hot oven. He make the handles from different materials. And he even cuts and stitches his own sheaths. I am very proud of my dad. He is amazing.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Ghost Bridge

Taken at Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. Looks like the remnants of an old railroad bridge but I don't know any history of it. It was just an appealing shot. I love how the woods have just swallowed everything up. It was cold and rainy the day we visited. I hope to go back. There are some good photo opportunities here.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Something Old

This is a little antique shop on the square in Pendleton, SC. I was in Pendleton setting up a bridesmaids luncheon for my daughter's upcoming wedding. Just noticed the sign over this shop. The paint was peeling away to reveal that it was probably once a drug store. (That's a Rexall Drug sign hiding underneath.) It had an interesting appeal. I'm not sure I like that lamp post right in the middle. Wish I had taken a few more shots from different perspectives, but this is all I got. I am learning by making mistakes.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Let's Get on our Knees

Just a reminder to myself of the importance of being on my knees. Sometimes in my hectic schedule I forget that God can handle it all if I just ask.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Candle in the Window

Wedding stuff is taking up all my time lately. Just 6 weeks to go and lots to do. So wedding stuff may be taking up my posts over the next few weeks. This shot was taken at a family shower this week-end. It was lovely.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Benches

Benches...for some reason a lonely bench appeals to me. Maybe as I get older it just gives me a restful feeling. Maybe because it seems to be waiting patiently for someone to sit and take a quiet moment to reflect. This bench can be found in a tranquil spot at the botanical garden in Clemson. Definitely a beautiful setting to contemplate life. Benches...just a place to sit..maybe. And for that my old body is grateful too.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Spilling Over

My husband I were driving down a country road near our home last fall. We spotted this dam down in the woods and pulled over and climbed down a hill to get a look. From what we could learn later, this creek was dammed to provide water for a mill. The mill is long gone but this was a lovely spot.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Pre-spring Blossoms


The Lenten Roses in my yard are bountiful right now. They spread each year and require little care. (That is always my favorite kind of flower.) They also make a pretty picture. Spring is just days away--hopefully some nicer weather. We desperately need this rain but I do prefer a few sunny days in between. Here is another shot.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

In Love

My daughter is getting married this spring (May 2) and so right now we are consumed with all the wedding plans. We did take a moment a few weeks ago to take some engagement pictures. I was trying for something that looked natural and not posed. It was hard with these two, but I think this one turned out rather nice.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Quietly Waiting


Can you tell I am ready for summer? I fished this one out of my Summer '08 folder. It was taken from the balcony of our condo at Gulf Shores, Alabama last July. I went out early one morning to relax with my cup of coffee and there were these floats serenely floating on the water. It seems they were patiently waiting for the kids who would be splashing and jumping in only a couple of hours. I really like how the light bounced off the plastic floats. This image didn't get a lot of raves on Flickr but it is one of my personal favorites. And I can't wait for swimming pool days to arrive!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Still Standing

I didn't make it to the photo shoot for my class on Sunday so I tried to get some images around my yard. I have shot image after image of this old fence post. It is just behind my husband's shop--must be left over from a pasture fence. At one time our property was part of a large farm. The texture of the wood and the rust appeals to my eye--especially in the soft late afternoon light. I have yet to capture it just as I want but this image turned out fairly well. Possibly if I put the post a bit more to the right. I was trying to get a view down the fence line, although there is very little fence left. I do like the DoF. I did use a high ISO because I didn't want to drag out my tripod so there is some noise. i"ll try for a better one on another day.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Standing Tall

I love hiking. This week-end my daughter and her fiance invited us to go along for a hike in the mountains about Pickens. They said it was a short hike. Well it was torture. It was straight up a mountain and my legs were burning like crazy. It was tough for two 50 year olds to keep up with a couple of twenty-somethings. But I did take my camera along. There was this glade of trees. Young ones--apparently this mountain had been clear cut not too many years ago. But the sun shining through the trees and the straight lines made a lovely image. This shot does not do it justice.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Celebrating Friendship

Saturday was a special day. We had a retirement drop in for a dear friend. She had been the school secretary at the school where I teach for 30 years and with Anderson District 5 for 35 years. Several of us who love her dearly had a drop-in and invited many of the teachers and adminstrators from years past. We had a glorious time renewing old friendships.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Catch of the Day


Technically this is not the best shot but it is one my favorites. This is my dad and he loves to fish. I was able to capture this shot from his dock as he fished in the cove. The fish wasn't so big and the picture isn't the best but I captured a moment that I will have forever. This is how I would like to remember my dad. Sometimes photos are about what it means to the photographer more than just being the greatest shot. At least that is my opinion.

Taken on Hartwell Lake (when there was water in it), Townville, SC May 25, 2007

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Ripples

Reflections appeal to me. When I took this shot, I loved the colors on the water. After uploading it, it wasn't as clear as I had hoped. The trees are a bit too distorted. I do especially like the ripples on the water and the blue in the bottom left corner. I'll keep looking for opportunities to get better reflection shots.

Taken at Clemson Botanical Garden, February 2009.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Glorious Color

Fall colors always amaze me. Each year God paints the landscape with glorious color. I took this shot in the Great Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. My husband and I travel there each fall for a get-away. This year I convinced him to take a few hikes. We actually completed 3 hikes for a total of 10 miles. It was both tiring and exhilarating.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Hanging Their Heads














You will probably get to see snow pictures for a few days. We don't get much snow in Anderson so I don't get many opportunities to take photos of snow. My daffodils didn't really like the snow so much. They were really droopy and hanging their heads. I had to get down low to get this shot and it was tough because this snow was really wet.

Taken with a 50 mm prime lens. ISO 800, Exposure 1/100 sec at f/3.2

Monday, March 2, 2009

Snow in March

We had snow. That is a big deal in Anderson, SC. We just don't see much snow anymore. It is also the first big snow since I really started trying to develop my photography skills. So I was outside with my camera, a rain coat and an umbrella (It was a very wet snow!) trying to use my "photographic eye" and capture a special shot. I like this one. I was trying for a shallow depth of field. I have lines like we discussed the week in class and I think the dead leaf adds texture to the shot. Today the snow is almost gone and by Saturday the weatherman says 70's. That is March in South Carolina.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Be Careful and take a tripod!


This is not one of the best shots I have ever taken. It could have been but I did not have a tripod. It does however, have a funny story. I saw this beautiful sunset one evening. I grabbed my camera, jumped in my jeep and headed down the road looking for a place to get a great shot. I saw this pasture a couple of miles from my home and pulled down a side road and overto the shoulder of the road. I took the shot at ISO 800, f/5.6, Shutter speed 1/15. Obviously, the shutter speed was too slow for hand held, but since I did not grab my tripod, I thought I would try it anyway. I tried to use a fence post to steady my hand. I was so engrossed in getting the shot, I failed to pay attention to my surroundings and I leaned right into an electric fence. OUCH! It really hurt. And I did get the shot. At small size it looks okay. I love the silhouette of the lone tree and the cows. The colors are amazing and this is straight from the camera. No Photo shop editing on this one. But next time I see a great sunset, I will grab my camera and MY TRIPOD! And I will watch out for electric fences.