Thursday, March 11, 2010

The changing light

The weather continues to remain mild here in Maryland and it’s so pleasant walking on the property and not having to wade through huge piles of snow. There are only a few small patches that remain from the historic storms that we experienced last month.

I took these photos yesterday evening using my macro lens. The light was changing and the sunset was behind my back as I suddenly spied these little dried flowers in a clump at the base of a tree. So I got down on the ground and moved around until I liked the background and the composition. For a few seconds, I thought about walking back to the house to get my Gorillapod but knew that by the time I got back, the light wouldn’t be the same at all. So I hand held the camera and held my breath while I shot. I dunno; holding my breath seems to help keep it still.

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I bring you macro shots of weeds. Aren’t you glad you came by today?

But really people, I just love the colors in these photos. In the picture above, the background is made up of the lawn at the bottom, then the row of trees, and finally the pale of the sky. But through the macro lens, when you’re hyper-focusing on a small area of detail, the background takes on another life, doesn’t it?

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The background here had much more sky in it. There are no textures on any of the photos in this post. I will tell you, though that I ran Pioneer Woman’s Lovely & Ethereal action (Set 1) on them, then removed it from the flower heads with the use of a layer mask. The action gave the background a slight Gaussian blur and the colors a richer hue.

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I’m not an authority on photography; I’m just here to share mine. And I’m glad you came by today. Even if it was just to see my weeds.

Thank you to everyone who visits this blog of mine and I’ll tell you something I noticed today. And you’re going to think I’m weird because I really just noticed it. I was surprised to see that I have nearly 500 followers. And while the number truly blows my mind just a bit, it also means that I’ll be having another giveaway to celebrate number 500. I have no idea what it will be yet but I always like a good excuse to host a giveaway.

But don’t worry. It won’t be weeds.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

All photos taken with a Nikon D80 camera.

48 comments:

Cheryl said...

Weeee...500 WTG I'm proud of my little 24 followers. lol

Only you can make weeds look great, good job!!

Julie Harward said...

I think weeds are just as pretty as flowers...some body just decided to call them weeds! I'm glad you do the worrying about the pictures...I just get to enjoy them and I do indeed! :D
(500)??? You better get the loaves and fishes ready! LOL

Low Tide High Style said...

Congratulations on nearing the 500 mark! And your photos are lovely as always. I hold my breath too, but they never look as good as yours!

Kat :)

Mental P Mama said...

Weeds are just beautiful plants without a price;)

Chrissykat said...

Congratulations on hitting the 500 mark. I am very happy to be one of those lucky 500.

I dig your weeds! ;)

"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." ~A.A. Milne~

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Those macros are exquisite!!

Char said...

the macro does make pretty creamy bokeh. nice weeds. it's good finding beauty even in the forgotten

Liz said...

Nothing wrong with weeds at all. A weed is just a flower no one has found a use for yet!! I love my macro lens, makes you concentrate on the here and now in front of your face, not the flotsam around you!
Lizzie
xxx

Marla said...

These are the prettiest weeds I've ever seen. You're blog is really like a breath of fresh air. Thank you. :)

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

One man's weeds are another man's flowers.

~Andrea~

Cloudia said...

Yes, I'm happy when I come here.

I hold my breath too...




Aloha from Hawaii my Friend!


Comfort Spiral

S. Etole said...

the creamy background colors are beautiful as is the weed itself ...

Caroline said...

I often hold my breath when using my macro lens...I really does work! Love these photos!!!

Anonymous said...

These make me think of two of my posts this week. One of a weed and the other of a gum ball. I was surprised I got the detail that I did without a macro lens. Come and see!

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Wildflowers, not weeds. Wildflowers. Just like the weeds here are considered a "riparian buffer."

500 followers does not surprise me in the least. The term gorilapod does, though.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

love the weeds... you make them fun and interesting.

Donna S. said...

You have a good eye....love your weeds.

beth said...

I love weeds !
and often those dried pods and leftovers are the only things left out at our cottage to photograph....kind of like the one I picked this past weekend....so I say HEY...give me weeds/dried up plants/pods.....ANYDAY

Sue said...

Hi Kate....only you could make weeds look so good...I also loved the flying geese shot and ofcourse George by the tree....And Amish country...very cool pictures...Daughter was there not too long ago and she too is a photographer..never leaves the house without her Nikon....Well she took a picture from the car window of two Amish farmers up on a roof fixing it....and in the picture....A DeWalt power tool...it was pretty funny...

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

You always manage to find beautiful lighting. Do you take your photos in the mornings or evenings?

Hilary said...

Offering weed as a giveaway is just fine with me. ;)

Lovely photos. :)

Dessa said...

I love your pictures--even when they are of weeds. Always gorgeous.

GailO said...

I don't see these as "only weeds" at all...the softness and the colors in these shots are yummy...they make a beautiful series....

500..wow!
xo

Kathy said...

I've been fascinated by weeds lately too. I've got something about four feet tall in one of my flower beds that has thorns on it and something akin to dandelion puffs that draws me daily to that spot!

Sweetpea said...

Just another weed lover chiming in to say thank you for the beauty you bring to the lowly weed kingdom...a pleasure to see, CG!

Annie said...

wow...500 followers. you are amazing, but your blog is worth coming to, Kate. I do enjoy you photos...and your words!

love the weeds, and the light and the background. I know that feeling when you have to get the photo NOW and not in a minute or so!

thanks for visiting my humble little offerings. so glad you enjoyed the mushrooms and the lorikeets!

Gayle said...

Weeds, schmeeds. :>, one woman's weeds is another's wildlfowers........I prefer to think they are all wildflowers. Yours are lovely.

Anonymous said...

One man's junk is another woman's treasure. Beautiful, as always.

Sharon said...

Hmm... maybe I should embrace the weeds rather than curse their existence as I rip them out of the ground. Then perhaps I may have more than 3 followers. ;)

Nurse Nancy said...

Just beautiful....I can feel the breeze traveling through dried petals...it feels peaceful!

abb said...

Nurse Nancy just became your 500th follower!

You have a wonderful way with words, my friend.

Anonymous said...

Just goes to show that beauty is sometimes (or often) overlooked!

I'm sure you have more than 500 followers since others like me may not have registered. I really need to take the time to get a google account but that would give me three email addresses to keep up with! ;) [I hate ending a sentence with a preposition]

GillLink

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Nice photos and holding one's breath does seem to help, except, the older I get the faster I have to press the shutter button. I'm getting a bit shaky and even holding my breath is a chore, these days -smile-.
Ah well. Better than the alternative.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Awesome, my friend, awesome. Love macros ;0)

The JR said...

Congrats on your huge following. You make weeds beautiful.

Kerri Farley said...

I LOVE the Weeds! Your Macros are so artistic. Fabulous shots!

Unknown said...

I love the macro shots! Especially the colors in the first one!

Skogkjerring said...

Your weed shots are beautiful Kate, I feel incredible serenity when I look at them...thanks for sharing! Have a super evening! :-))

noble pig said...

I love weeds, we have them everywhere:).

Bella Della said...

These shots are beautiful! I think weeds get a bad rap.

Unknown said...

ok please kate don't laugh...but i have no idea what macro is and i think i have taken a few of them! I have a beautiful camera and don't even know how to use it and all my shots are by accident! ARGH I wish I was more literate with the computer and learning how to play with my pics! and for heaven's sake make my header smaller! BTW I love your weeds! hehehe

Unknown said...

Weeds....
as kids we were told that we were growing like....
well, weeds...
smiles.

Audrey at Barking Mad said...

Weeds or not, the photos are great...as always!

Congrats on the 500 mark! That's awesome!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

thank you for the kind words about Buddy...

it means alot to me

kary
xxx

Gail said...

Why would you be surprised? Your photos are stunning and your words are eloquent and entertaining.

I love the weeds. Getting close to nature always yields some unseen beauty.

Congratulations, my friend, and may you have five hundred more.

SuzieQ said...

Tip about holding your breath when shooting. Breathe in and then EXHALE and THEN shoot. Your body is more relaxed and no there is no stress/tension in your hand/arm. This is what target shooters (firearms) do for accuracy.

Country Girl said...

Suzie Q,
Exactly! You nailed it. I actually shoot when I exhale. Thank you!

~ C.G.

GailO said...

Oh my life is so full of difficult decisions!...If choose I must then it must be mr cardinal...he is beautiful:)

Congrats to you for your ever rising number of followers...you deserve it for your simple honesty and storytelling, your willingness to share your life with us, and your georgeous photos!

xo