Frosted Glass

I took this photo while walking around our local botanical garden this past weekend.  It was just a discolored leaf on a gravel walkway but there was something about it that intrigued me.  I took the image and started to play with it a bit and got it close  enough that I went ahead and uploaded it to my Flickr page, but I still knew it wasn’t quite “there.”

Today at lunch I played with some Photoshop Actions and came across one called “Frosted Glass” and this was the final result.  I love the way it separates out every grain of sand in the walkway and love what it did to the veins of the leaf.  I probably wouldn’t have even tried it but nothing else was working to make the image stand out.  Now I think it makes a punch.  My only question is…is it too much?

Leftovers Tribute

My blogging friend, Bonnie, had a beautiful photo of last fall’s leaves titled ”Leftovers” on her photoblog the other day.  It reminded me of some images I shot this past weekend and so I dug one of them out and played around with it yesterday.  I ended up going with a sepia effect because I thought it brought out the grain of the leaves the best.  So here’s my tribute to Bonnie’s original post - c’mon everyone…show us your seasonal leftovers!

Saying Goodbye to Winter

I was cleaning up outside this evening and found a plastic tub that had fallen just beneath the deck.  I pulled it out and found a clump of ice with some dead leaves stuck to it.  Well, you know me - I had to run inside and get the camera because everyone who sees a clump of ice with a bunch of dead leaves stuck to it knows this is a prime photo opportunity, right?! 

(Okay, so I’m alone on this.)

But, considering it was the last sign of cold weather left in my yard, I grabbed the opportunity and shot off a few frames.  This was my favorite of the bunch…

The Beauty of Brown

It actually rose above freezing this afternoon so I grabbed my camera bag and headed over to a nearby lake.  Winter was overwhelming me…from the snow to the ice to the bare naked trees.  I tried to go with it…tried to find something good in the little bit of color that broke up the black and white landscape.  Finally, I found a touch of brown.  BROWN.  Dull, boring BROWN. 

I threw the photo in PS Elements (because I am not far enough along in my reading to even attempt CS3 yet) and I did a levels and saturation correction.  Then I pulled in a midnight glow action, increased the  contrast and did a quick sharpen.  Lastly, I went to the lighting effects and pulled in a flashlight look, sticking it right behind the middle of the leaf. 

Voila!  Brown became beautiful…

Come Sweet Spring

Last weekend, we finally had a short thaw.  The sun came out and everything.  The snow (mostly) melted and, for a brief day or two, water ran from the downspout of my home.  Silly me…I went and got my hopes up.

Three days into the new week and it’s already snowed and iced.  Today’s high will be somewhere between 3+ and 7- degrees F.  I am ever grateful that I have a home with heat and a bed with covers.  It is wicked cold outside and I am fully aware that many who live near me are not as lucky or as blessed as I am. 

And so I pray for spring…for weather that will be more forgiving and for plants that will turn this white layer of frost to a vibrant springtime green.  I pray for warmer weather, for shelter for those that have none, and for God’s hands upon this land of ours.  Bring spring, Father. 

Bring spring.

Going ‘Camo’

I came home at lunch today to let my pugs out and noticed a young bird sitting on the ground by the side of my deck.  Luckily, the dogs ran right by him.  I noticed him, however, and ran inside to retrieve my camera, lock the dogs safely away, and then returned to get a few images of this little feathered guy. 

I’m always shocked at how well these birds can blend in with their surroundings.  God truly gave them the ultimate camouflage…

Inlaid

It warmed up into the upper 30’s today so, out I went, looking for any excuse to get a few new images. 

Even with the warmup, I looked around and still saw plenty of signs of how brutal this winter has been for the Midwest.  I just don’t recall ever seeing the lakes this frozen over before. 

Luckily, spring is just a few weeks away and I can’t wait to turn my camera from all this snow and ice to the new growth of flowers, grass, and trees.  But, when in Rome…

New Life

Even though it’s only 14 degrees outside, winter can’t seem to stop my houseplants from doing their thing.  This is a new leaf bud on my philodendron plant, caught with that new macro lens I can’t seem to set down. 

El Numero Uno

Here it is…my first macro shot with the new camera and the new EF 100mm f/4L macro lens.  Want to know why I’m so excited?  Because I shot this indoors at night with no flash and just an overhead light for illumination.   And look at those colors!  Okay, must get back to practicing!

   

Soft Landing