Category: Photography

We’re Off To See The Daffies

It’s my understanding the daffodils were planted in 1941 by a husband and wife from New York who’d bought a home in this countrified piece of the Northwest Hills.

A few years ago I got a tip from my friend (and competitor) Bob Maxon. He knew I was into photography. What he didn’t know was whether I knew about the amazing daffodils in Litchfield County?

Uh, no.

Since Bob’s original email I’ve been back each year. Last year it was with my friend and photo buddy Steve. Today it was with Helaine and my parents who are visiting from Floria.

It’s my understanding the daffodils were planted in 1941 by a husband and wife from New York who’d bought a home in this countrified piece of the Northwest Hills. As far as I know the daffies grow wild now with little help.

My parents and Helaine were impressed. I’ll be back next year.

Flowering Trees Are Beautiful And Painful!

I’m tearing, but these are not tears of joy! It’s tough to get angry at the trees when their blooms are so beautiful.

The past few days have been brutal on my eyes. They are raw and sore. By the end of the day all I want to do is close them.

On yesterday’s noon news Dr. Mel said the tree pollen count, which can go to 12, was at 11.5. Historic level!

I’m tearing, but these are not tears of joy!

It’s tough to get angry at the trees when their blooms are so beautiful. Pictured below is a macro shot which means the image produced is larger than the original.

Spring blooms like these don’t last long–thankfully.

Props to my friend Steve who suggested a smaller aperture for macro shots for a larger depth-of-field. There’s still a lot out-of-focus but a lot more that’s sharp.

This shot is at f/13, 1/500 second, ISO 800 using a Tamron 70-200mm lens at 151mm with a cheapie screw-on close-up adapter.

Very Close AKA Macro Photography

Most good macro photography is done on a tripod with an on-camera ring light. I’m a little short in that regard.

I’ve taken a few forays into macro photography. Macro photography produces an image larger than the object shot. Most lenses won’t natively produce macro shots. There are a few ways to go about this, but the cheapest way (my way) is with a screw-on close-up lens. It’s like putting reading glasses on your camera!

The net effect allows the camera to focus while closer to where you’re pointing. The depth-of-field, the range that’s in focus, shrinks. Focus and framing become critical. Most good macro photography is done on a tripod with an on-camera ring light. I’m a little short in that regard.

These shots were taken of a few flowering trees in our front yard. The flowers go in-and-out of season in a week or two! The bee should give you an idea of the size of the flowers–tiny.

Helaine asked if I was scared of the bee? No. He was a little too busy working.

Our Yard’s In Bloom

“You’d better get out there quickly,” Helaine reminded me. “The flowers only last a few days.”

Spring blooms come quickly in the front yard. Our first tree, which Helaine thought might be a weeping cherry… but maybe not, unfurled this weekend.

“You’d better get out there quickly,” Helaine reminded me. “The flowers only last a few days.”

The memo was received at “Bee Headquarters.” There was an army of fat bees flitting around finding pollen. Thankfully bees don’t have allergies!

Over the next week or two Connecticut will explode in spring colors before settling into the lush green that’s summer. I’ll keep “Clicky” at the ready.

Spring On Jepps Brook

I went across the street and behind my neighbors homes to walk the brook’s bank. It’s a little squishy still.

The real flooding is over, but Jepps Brook is still running strong and high. I went across the street and behind my neighbors homes to walk the brook’s bank. It’s a little squishy still.

With no leaves yet on the trees there’s enough light to take fast shutter shots I won’t be able to get in a few weeks.

More Boynton Beach Birds

They don’t seem to mind my obsession with photography. They don’t know me well enough yet.

I can’t begin to tell you how happy we are with my mother’s progress, even over this very short period. Yes, she’s got pain and she’s taking medication but she’s managing and the pain is bearable. So far so good. She spent most of the day in the living room as my cousins and a few friends came by to wish her well.

By late afternoon I was ready to get out for a while so I walked the 90 seconds to the pond to visit my friends the birds. They don’t seem to mind my obsession with photography. They don’t know me well enough yet.

As luck would have it two young men came by with a bag of bread. The birds were going to be closer today.

Clicking on the photos brings a larger version.

Good Morning Boynton Beach

We headed to the Boynton Beach municipal beach first, then after sunrise down A1A to Boynton Inlet where a fisherman cleaning his catch attracted some pelicans who were interested in a sharing.

My schedule’s so screwed up now there’s nothing I can do to make it worse! With that in mind I asked my former Connecticut buddy “Big John” Fowler if he wanted to head to the beach to catch the sunrise. Like so many inland Florida residents he never goes to the beach.

We headed to the Boynton Beach municipal beach first, then after sunrise down A1A to Boynton Inlet where a fisherman cleaning his catch attracted some pelicans who were interested in sharing.

Here’s a feel for what we saw on this coolish morning. Click on a photo for a much larger view.

I’m going back to bed!

More Boynton Beach Birds

My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying!

Two more photos from the birds of Boynton Beach.

True story–a group of birds were sitting near the bank of a small lake. My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying! He’s got the magic touch.

Roxie Is The Easter Puppy

Roxie and Stef–one with enhanced ears.

Roxie and Stef–one with enhanced ears.

WTNH Satellite Dish At Sunset – HDR Photo

Over-the-top HDR photo.

Heavily processed with QTPFSGUI and Photoshop. Some folks will find this a bit over-the-top and I can’t necessarily disagree.