waterlily photoshoot
exploring pond life
on my way to the mall i always pass a small pond. last week i noticed the waterlilies and was mesmerized by their beauty.
i grabbed my camera and spent half an hour taking shots, then went home and processed a couple of them in Lightroom.

i love the stillness of the water, the crisp reflection of the flower and the thin line of light along the leaf.

the vertical orientation supports the vertical lines of the reeds and the stem of the waterlily.

i find the dark silhouettes of the reeds and the crumpled texture and curved outlines of the leaves fascinating.

a couple of days later i came across the pond again and spent some more time shooting waterlilies. here is a collage of the numerous shots i took 

after reviewing all the shots and post-processing some of them, here are the ones i was most drawn to.

here the green leaves are abundant and curling up at the sides, almost covering the flower bud reaching up to the sun.

the reflection of the opening flower bud is beautiful.

i love the diagonals of the thin reeds below the water surface and the brown smudges along the rim of the leaves curling up behind the waterlily.

what interests me most in this shot is the stroke of light leading up to (or away from) the leaves.

this one is my favorite, with the tiny part of flower bud visible above and reflected in the water, and the beautiful curve of the stem bending over the leaves in the back

why do i photograph ? pt3     
to get beneath the surface
photography lets me shed a different light on the world around me. 

my camera allows me to extract a subject from its background by creating depth.

photography helps me deconstruct reality by zooming in on the subtle details

with my camera i am able to perceive and capture my surroundings over time and from different angles

being a photographer teaches me to focus on the essence of life

why do i photograph? pt 2    

letting the image tell the story 

last week i met this swan family and spent some time getting to know them

there are no words to describe the awe and joy i felt watching them dive for food and share their 'catch' .... 

these two photographs speak for themselves.

today i was standing on the bridge gazing out over the river when i noticed a grebe mother paddling along the riverbank. i knew grebes carry their young on their back, between their wings, but had never seen it before, so i felt really privileged being able to witness it. 
again: no words can describe what i felt seeing these two together.... but who needs words with these images?

why do i photograph?   
a visual answer to a complex question
today i went exploring the peninsula behind my house with my sister-in-law
she is trying to make an inventory of the plants and flowers that grow there
i am (always) trying to capture the extra ordinary things i perceive in the world around me

a bee embracing a thistle flowerhead in the strong breeze

the soft pink petals of the dog rose against the pale blue sky

the luminescent green transparency of large butterbur leaves


but besides the beauty of nature there's more that catches my eye....

two pieces of worn and torn rope in contrasting colors, wound around a steel fence

the remains of a carefully constructed spiderweb in a corner of the same fence


today is the start of my new photography class at KatEye Studio: Find your Eye
this is my first contribution
to be continued....

Pixie    

photo heart connection may     

These shots are of Loan, who recently has become part of my extended family. They were taken at a housewarming party last weekend. I was able to capture her while she was totally unaware of me and my camera. (thank god for big crowds and tele zooms lol). This collage really speaks to my heart, because it so perfectly reflects her beauty, fragility, elegance, softness and whimsicality.