Birches

Lovely Lily

Friends

Parakeets are so funny. I think Lily really thought she had made a friend when I introduced her(him) to her relflection. They danced and chatted there for awhile.

Pleasing Peony

Today is cloudy almost hazy with mist. I picked this peony from just outside my bedroom window where they have recently come into full bloom despite the cloudy weather of the past few days. I placed it on my dresser where I can inhale it whenever I pass by. Seems kind of silly, but it's on of the best fragrances, right up there with lilacs and clean baby. And like lilacs and babies there is such a small window of time to indulge that you really need to take every opportunity or you miss out. As we were putting our kids to bed I picked up this little crystal vase with flower and carried it upstairs to share. I had them each take a deep inhale before I kissed them goodnight. Even my moody 13 year old son, who had just gotten an ultimatum on a homework assignment he had put marginal effort into raised his head off his pillow and took a reluctant whiff. Not long after I caught my husband smelling the flower in the kitchen where I had set the vase down. I had to giggle, he wasn't going to miss out either.

"I'll be chewing on a honeysuckle vine"

When I took this photo I knew there was a little bug on the flower, but I couldn't see him well. It wasn't until I took this picture in macro and uploaded it that I could really see the little guy. He's kind of cute. If you double click on him you can really check him out.

Sunflower

This is one from the archives. Not far from my home there is flat land, big sky and open fields bordered with sunflowers. Landscape like that is a rarity around here, enough to make you breathe a little deeper. In later Summer the sunflowers begin to bloom. On this day the sky was a vivid blue with the wispy white clouds drifting by. It was really stunning, but the pictures were taken at high noon as I was returning from a doctor appointment with one of the kids. I quickly pulled over and snapped these. I decided to try them black and white and loved the contrast. Can't wait for sunflower season this year.

White Dogwood

I was using my SLR camera for this shot, trying to use the manual mode and practice what I learned in photography class last year. It's just so darn easy to leave your camera in auto mode! I am trying to practice what technical skills I have. This was the result. Something was off and it came out darker than it should of for the time of day. I decided to solarize and warm it up a little. I think I like it; a little edgy and contemporary and almost a silhouette off the black. Relevant.

My Purple Iris

I didn't think this little guy would be as photogenic as my last picture, but he sure is pretty. Sorry Meme. I didn't have to do too much to this picture. I did minor contrast adjustment and maybe warmed up the color a little? He's perfect.

Emily

This sweet picture is of my god-daughter Emily. She was the best little model for me today. I did the sumi-e action in photoshop elements and then contrasted the picture to make the colors pop. The daisy was the only part truly in focus which adds to the dreamy feel of this picture.

Meme's Purple Iris

My mother-in-law is so proud of these beautiful flowers that are taking over her front flower bed. Each day a few new beauties come into bloom.

Glorious

Aubrie Now

On this picture I probably adjusted the contrast, since I usually always check the contrast; I then posterized it, but softened the edge intensity. I love it; and her.

Suburban Fun

This photo I cropped, did a high contrast and then solarized I believe. I think it has a pop-art 7o's feel to it.

The Eyes Have It II

Eyedolization

The title for this photo is appropriate since this 8 year old would drink his oldest brother's bath water if he thought it would truly make them more alike. When I suggested he do an "eye" pose for me like P. had done earlier last week he was all game. I didn't have the heart to crop it down anymore as I had done with the original crazy eye picture. His impish grin just tells the story.
My daughter did a comparison crop that I will post too.

Purple Belles

अफ्रीकन Violets

Pansy

the eyes have it

Aubrie then

Vivid Tulips

Bleeding Heart

yellow tulip macro

Purple Tulip on Fire