Breathing in Beauty

Spring in Winter

A Time to Dance

She danced and turned until summer set.

Using my 60 mm macro lens, f2.8 and 1/125, I shot this Lavatera bloom that was just about to open up. What drew me was the look of a ballroom dancer's skirt. The blur and softness goes to movement, maybe that of a waltz.

When what I see through my lens brings me to other places and times, allows me to hear the music and see beyond what is before me, I know I need to take the picture.

Gentle Pause

Wait. Stop. Breathe. Pause. Soak in the beauty, the stillness, the wonder.

To keep this image looking soft and almost fluid, I used a shallow depth of field - f2.8, blurring out all but the edges of most of the petals. I softened things up a little further in processing, with a preset as well as with some manual adjustments until I was happy with the outcome.

I wanted this image to be inviting, soft, pleasing so I intentionally avoided the fine detail of the petals' surface.

Pretty Petunia

The blurred petunias in the background seem fluid. Heavy from the night's storm, the petals droop and let the rain continue its decent to the earth.

Choosing a shallow depth of field blurred the close surroundings sufficiently, allowing for the sense of water all around, though pink. The morning light breaking through the clouds was bright enough to allow for adequate exposure without camera shake, giving the petunia's fibers a crisp sharp texture.

The contrast between sharp and soft, fluid and still makes for an interesting composition.

Gentle Gesture

Each year, the ladies in our church receive a flower on Mother's Day. It is a gentle gesture of gratitude for the nurturing and care of mothers.

Variegated Tulip

Blend

Intensify

I Captured the Hydrangea

The gentle colours in this hydrangea were not to be captured in full sun. The light was too harsh and the shadows too dark for romance and tenderness.

I moved my potted treasure to a room with a north window. The window coverings were a soft ecru fabric, allowing just the right amount of light in to blanket these blooms. Still too shadowed at the front, I pulled out my reflector and bounced the window's light to the shadowed petals. I mounted my camera on a tripod and used the shutter release cable in order to allow me some room to move to hold the reflector at a good distance from the plant. In processing I added a texture layer for the final touch.

I captured the Hydrangea.

Colour Dance

Belles of the Ball

Giggles erupted from the cluster of belles as they flirted and fancied the boys at the ball. Dreamy in their finest gowns, the girls were sure to be noticed. The boys, shy yet determined, gradually and with great and obvious effort to be nonchalant, made their way closer to the the cluster.

Spotlight - Breaking Free of Winter

Reaching for spring, these sprouts finally break free of winter's hold.

These tulip leaves have their bling on. Pops of pink are all the rage this spring. These leaves will not be outdone, not even while waiting for their beautiful blooms to appear.

Spotlight - Sugar and Spice (and don't forget to enter to win)

Sugar and Spice

Spotlight - Nothing says spring like...

1. Life

2. Living

Spotlight

Heart of the Matter

Forcing Bulbs

I don't have any tulip bulbs kicking around the house to force into bloom but maybe, just maybe, if I put a tulip photo up, might spring come a little sooner? ;)