These are tiny, dime-sized leaves rimmed with beads of frost. To photograph things like this was my mission yesterday, though I like yesterday's post a lot more.
Fall Fire
I was in the garden early this morning looking for frosty leaves and as I was heading back into the house, I saw these leaves, which were illuminated by the strong sunlight just making its way into our yard. I took a few shots, not knowing what I'd get.This photo is evidence that what I conceive of capturing with my camera and what strikes my eye are often two different things. I guess that's serendipity and I can live with that.
Do Corks Grow On Trees?
This post is less about interesting photos than it is about my compulsion to educate the reader about cork. So, if you are still with me, note that you are looking at a cork tree in a cork grove in Portugal (one of the world's largest producers of cork.) Then note that there are no corks hanging on this tree. Why? Well, because the cork comes from the bark - it doesn't grow like an apple or a pear.In fact the cork comes from the bark of the tree and each tree is stripped every few years and then left to build up a new layer of cork. This tree doesn't show evidence of a recent harvest but this tree does (click here.)Fascinating, isn't it?
Vortex
in Nature
As my photography has "matured," I would say that one of the biggest differences is that I spend considerably more time looking for lines, shapes and patterns when I look through the viewfinder. I guess I like symmetry and these fern leaves seem to have plenty of that. Plus, there are at least four layers of lines in this photo, each less distinct. Among other things, it gives the two dimensional digital file you are looking at the illusion of depth.Another thing I spend more time with is using the right lens, focus and aperture to manipulate what the viewer will see. In this case, I used a telephoto lens and a medium aperture to make the top right corner blurred and the bottom left quadrant fairly sharp. In the end, I like this blurry upper part of the photo because it looks a bit like a vortex from which the central leaf is rising.Do I really think this much when I take a photo? Not really. The kind of analysis you are reading today usually occurs much later - when I am "thinking" about what I was seeing when I took the photo.Canon 5DII 1/60s f/5.6 ISO400 102mmSubscribe to A Photo A Day by Email
Contrail & Crescent Moon At Dawn
I owe this shot to my son Brian - he looked up and saw it and I happened to have my camera. Is there some deep meaning in this photo? Maybe. Or is it that I have nothing better to post? Who knows. . .
Cheating the Minnesota Winter
in Architecture, Nature
This is one of the wings of the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was a cool October day outside, but inside it was warm enough to grow flowers, ferns, palms and cactus, which makes this place a perfect escape.Subscribe to A Photo A Day by Email
What Kind of Coffee Do They Serve Here?
Some of my readers will know right away that this "coffee house" sells more than coffee and that's why there is an age restriction. I was looking at the photos I took in Amsterdam a few years ago and decided to post this.What do they serve here besides coffee? They serve pot in a variety of forms. Not only can you buy joints (so I'm told) but marijuana infused brownies and cookies, too. Only a desperate person would smoke the last two but you can eat them and get more than I sugar high.For the record, I didn't go in to one of these coffee shops. Neither did my wife. Or my Lutheran pastor friend Billy. Honest!
What Is Reality?
This is a real trout and a real fisherman. But is the fish really as big as it appears? I think you know the answer - this fish was only about 13" long. The trick is an old fisherman's trick. You simply hold the fish as far away from your body as you can, and, if you are lucky, the photographer has a wide angle lens. Does this fisherman need to exaggerate when it comes to fish size? I don't think so. He's an accomplished fisherman who already has one "real" big fish posted in this blog.
The World Is Your Cupcake
One of the slogans of Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD, is "It's your world." These cupcakes were offered to spectators at the ground breaking of Phase 3 of the LATI improvement and growth program. I didn't make these delicacies but I did eat two shortly after I took the photo.
The Underside of Life
in Nature
I visited the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul this past weekend and enjoyed stepping from the cool, October air into tropical humidity. There are many photo opportunities, including a room filled with many types of ferns. I don't know what the name of this particular fern is but from the other side, it was one of the least interesting. But the backside was amazing, as I hope you agree.I always feel good when I see something that many others don't see because I think that this ability is what helps define a "photographer." And I keep working on becoming a better photographer.
Clinging To Life
This vine is at its best when it's green - when it is busy doing its photosynthetic thing. So there is an irony in the fact that it looks best when it is about to give up its efforts for the season. That's true of almost all leaves, I guess.
Moist Color
Sometimes when I am out taking photos in our garden, I carry a spray bottle to add a little "nature's mist" to the flowers. During the time I had to take photos in Olympia, Washington, a few years ago, mist was no problem - it drizzled almost non-stop. And there were many photo opportunities, though I had to work quickly because my camera isn't particularly water proof.I found this photo in the Japanese garden close to downtown Olympia. I would love to go back on a nicer day, though the rain did much to enhance my photos.