These were growing over a doorway in a back street in a little village in Croatia. Green things like this seem to suggest the promise of something. Jelly? Wine? Or a meal for birds?
Nature
10-08-09 Seeing Green: Decadence
This variegated hosta plant was the subject of a photo posted on this blog back in the spring. The photo was called "Incipience," which means "about to happen." This hosta has grown up out of the earth, leafed out, lived its summer life and at some point became a feast for insects. Is this a metaphor for human life? That's too depressing to think about. . .
09-2509 Aspen Trees - Another View
in Black Hills, Nature, Seasons, South Dakota
This is the same grove as the previous photo of aspens but a different view and treatment.
09-22-09 Apen Grove - Near Deerfield, SD
in Nature, South Dakota
By Scott Shephard
For the last several years, Deb and I have taken a trip to the Black Hills in mid October. This photo was taken several years ago on an outing to Deerfield, which is 30 miles or so west of our cabin.
This photo is a little jumbled - what do you look at? Interestly, my eye is drawn to the one, dominant focal point, which is the triangle of grass that leads to the center of the photo. But then, when my eye follows the triangle to the center, there's nothing special to look at. I'm reading Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" right now and I'm thinking that there may be a hidden Masonic code in this picture. In fact, there may be hidden codes in all of my photos in "A Photo A Day."
09-04-09 Frozen In Time
in Nature
A single maple leaf frozen in thin ice. It had been floating in the pond the day before but it got caught in the first freeze of the season.
09-02-09 Amazing Art 02
in Nature
Here's another one from my trip several years ago to the Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. I wish I knew more about butterflies. Perhaps someone looking at this knows the name of this species?
One thing a remember about my trip to the Butterfly House is that the volunteer docent who followed me around was careful to point out butterflies that were fairly young, since older butterflies often have damaged wings. This is another example of the word "ephemeral," which I used in an earlier post to talk about sunlight. Canon 1D 1/800s f/3.5 ISO500 70mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
09-01-09 Amazing Art 01
in Nature
By Scott Shephard
What humans create often pales compared to what Nature creates. Consider the butterfly, for example. The threatening eye's on this butterfly's wing appear to have been painted there. But, of course, they weren't. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
This photo was taken at the Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. If you have a chance to visit, you should. It might be worth going at the time reserved for photographers. The day I visited, there was a 5th grade class there - it wasn't exactly relaxing for me or the butterflies.
Canon 1D 1/160s f/3.5 ISO500 200mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
08-30-09 Beer Lover's Delight
in Nature
You are looking at mature Cascade hops growing outside the Red Hook brewery near Seattle, Washington. Hops give beer a slightly bitter taste, which some beer connoisseurs crave. We are looking at flowers, too. As with many things that humans eat or drink, I'm left wondering who had the idea to put these brown buds in beer to see what it did to the taste?
08-24-09 Purple & Gold
in Nature
My wife tells me the purple flowers are called umbrella flowers, though when I do a search, I find that there are many types of flowers called the "umbrella flower." I would never challenge the authority of my wife. Nor would I challenge the authority of Nature - who provides such photo opportunities as this one.
Yes, there is a slight blur applied to this photo. Before digital, I could get the softening effect by putting cellophane over the lens or by just using a really dirty lens. Now I have photoshop. Yes, it's a manipulation of reality. But, if you ask me, all perception involves some kind of manipulation of reality. And photography is highly manipulative. The photographer picks what you see and how you see it. Can you get your eyes to blur the background like my 70-200mm lens does in this photo?
08-19-09 Reminder of Things To Come
in Nature
By Scott Shephard
I don't know where you live, but around here there are clear signs that the seasons are changing. Shorter days and school supply sections at stores like Target and Walmart suggest that fall is just around the corner.
This photo was taken in Olympia, Washington, at a nursery. My wife was looking around and I was bored. So, as usual, I took a few photos.
08-18-09 Ephemeral
in Nature, South Dakota
It must be the English teacher in me that makes me use words like this. Sorry. "Ephemeral" means "lasting for a short time." To humans, flowers are ephemeral, to South Dakotans summer is ephemeral and to my cat, Mac, his morning meal is ephemeral. But the Spring Creek Marina???!!!
In this photo, the subjects are here to stay for a while. But the light wasn't. I had arrived just after rain had passed through and as I was getting ready to unload my sailing gear, the sun poked out from behind a heavy cloud and lit up the marina. I reached for my camera, got out of the car and literally had 20 seconds before the sun went back under a cloud. I should have taken a photo when the area was bathed in shadow because then you could see what a difference a few seconds make.
08-15-09 Hidden World
in Nature
I took exactly 65 pictures of my wife's single blooming Star Lilly plant this morning and this was one of the last ones I captured. And I like it best. Is there a lesson for would be photographers in this? Perhaps. For me the lesson is to take photos from many angles and you might be surprised. Photography literally means "writing with light." But for me, photography sometimes offers the opportunity to learn the difference between "looking" at something and truly "seeing" it. Enough of the philosophy! If you want to see two of the other 65 photos I took, check these out:
Star Lilly 01 (click) Star Lilly 02 (click)
Canon 5DII 1/50s f/5.0 ISO400 100mm