Geoff Fox: My Permanent Record
Back when I was in school teachers would always scare me with stories of how my exploits would end up in my permanent record. I believe this is it! – Geoff Fox
On our way home from Dr. Mel’s birthday party Helaine suggested I stop for a few foliage shots. It’s tough to go wrong with those!
Saturday was a beautiful October day in Connecticut. If the fall colors haven’t peaked we’re getting awfully close.
On our way home from Dr. Mel’s birthday party Helaine suggested I stop for a few foliage shots. It’s tough to go wrong with those!
We got off I-91 and cut across to the ballfields at Wilbur Cross High School to shoot East Rock then on to Lake Whitney. I took a walk around my neighborhood to get a few more.
You’ve got to catch it while you can because most spring flowers are short lived.
The spring color in our yard changes from day-to-day as different plants come into bloom. This weekend the flowers on our rhododendrons began to open. It doesn’t take long for word to get out in the bee community. Our yard buzzes with bees this time of year.
You’ve got to catch it while you can because most spring flowers are short lived.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
