“Raindrops on Hana Matoi Abstract”
Heatherwood Spring
Yesterday, my post was of individual raindrops on our Hana Matoi Japanese maple. Today’s image is what happened when I added a little motion blur to the image. A little playful creativity can make magic.
Note: the little white curves are individual raindrops.
“Lilac Abstract”
Heatherwood Spring
A Different Way of Seeing
A rainy day,
An open mind seeing,
Wonder appears
“Tree Abstract”
Yakima Arboretum, Washington
I have a habit of standing near the trunk of large trees and following the limbs up to the sky. I almost always find an interesting abstract if I twist around a bit to get just the right composition. One time back in Peace Valley Park near Doylestown, PA, I slipped standing on a log and fell into the crotch of the tree and got stuck. Luckily after several minutes, I was able to wriggle myself free. I am not quite as persistent to get the right angle these days!
“Japanese Garden Pond”
Yakima Arboretum, Washington
I must remember, “simplify, simplify, and simplify” when I use a wide angle lens. For this image, my subject was the Japanese lantern balanced by the rock jutting out into the pond. All the additional stuff to the right was not essential and just cluttered the image. I just needed to “foot zoom” a few steps closer to make it a better image.
“Foot Zoomed”
I must remember to get in close and intimate when working with a wide angle lens. On the positive side, working with infrared allowed me to achieve a reasonable dynamic range with the harsh highlights and shadows.
I am humbled with my progress, but still encouraged. As my website theme highlights, my photographic excursions are a “Never Ending Journey.”
“Japanese Garden”
Yakima Area Arboretum, Washington
Today’s post moves away from Heatherwood to the Yakima Area Arboretum. Almost all of my recent photography work has been in our Heatherwood garden. I feel like I need a little change. Reviewing this week’s “Nature TTL” web site, I noticed the weekly challenge to be wide-angle images. It has been over a year since I created my last infrared images in the Palouse. So I gave myself the assignment to go to our local arboretum and photograph wide-angle infrared scenes. I quickly noticed how “out of practice” I was. I had to focus much harder on managing contrasts between tones, highlights and shadows, as well as details. Critiquing my work, I feel it was about a 3 on a scale of 10. But that is OK … it just means that I need to practice more! More to follow on future posts …
“Daisies and Yarrow”
Heatherwood Meadow
White daisies and yellow yarrow complement each other in our Heatherwood garden. Since they complement so well, why not take two image and then combine them into one multiple exposure. The above abstract is the result.
“Yarrow Abstract”
Heatherwood Spring
Today is the last day of spring. It is time to say goodbye to most of the flowering trees and shrubs and to say hello to the flowering perennials. We still have several shrubs (viburnums and nine-bark) that are in their last stage of bloom plus several hydrangeas that will bloom later this summer. Our perennials are just starting to display their summer glory.
“Tri-color Sedum Abstract”
Heatherwood
Sometimes I see something that attracts my interest. What is it that attracts me? Is it the color, texture, shape or something else? Or is it something completely different that I imagine from a different perspective formed from my mind?
“Patio Rock Garden in Infrared”
Heatherwood Summer
I needed a little change, so I thought I would post an infrared image of our summer garden. This image is of our new rock garden planted during the spring of 2021. By early summer, the plants had taken hold and started blooming. It will take a couple of years for this area to catch up with our rock garden and meadow planting areas.
“Ornamental Grass Abstract”
Heatherwood Late Fall
How many ways can I look at something? They are infinite. This image is a 9-layer multiple-exposure, vertical pan of a clump of ornamental grasses in our garden. I enjoy looking at the world around us from multiple, sometimes abstract, perspectives. It helps me develop a balanced view of life that I would have never considered if I would have approached it from only one conventional angle. It also helps me come up with some creative images.