305: A Little Rain

Purple Iris In The Rain.

In the past I have captured many images that I thought were nice and at a much later date took on a special meaning.. This is just such an image taken in 2008 now in 2012 it has gained a very special meaning and message.

 We have all heard the expression that into each life a little rain must fall.  Over the years I have met several people that within the last year have become very special people to me.  The sad part is some of the closest are currently in the midst of a sever storms.  The storms may be sudden and violent,  long term, seemingly without end or a flash flood following a previous storm: but a storm never the less.

Likewise we have also heard the expression April showers bring May flowers.  These people are beautiful flowers already (one is more of a thistle, but beautiful in its own right); so why the storm?.  This image offers an answer.

This Iris was located close to a road.. The storm came and washed away the grime and tarnish of life, restoring it to its original splendor.. The rain also provided rejuvenating nourishment filling it with new life, and also added additional sparkle to its natural grandeur.

And then, as this image indicates the storm dissipates and the sunshine returns and what beauty abounds.

260: Blossom and Buds

Well Pay day was Monday so today was shopping and bill paying. After that there was no money to go find an image so it was back to the apple tree in the back yard. I am almost about to get the hang of the new lighting set up.

Blossom and Buds

258: Apple Blossom Revisited

Apple Blossom
An Intimate Look

257: Dandelion

Had to break down and start mowing today. This was down in the grass and the mower missed it.

Dandelion Boom

252-4: Legend of the Dogwood

As the Easter Season approaches the Dogwoods bloom.

There Is A Legend

At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this.
In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree:
" Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

The pink dogwood is said to be blushing
for shame because of the cruel purpose
which it served in the Crucifixion.

The red dogwood, called the Cherokee, bears
the color to remind us of the blood shed by our Savior.

AS I see it..
There is no Biblical basis for this legend but it does tell a beautiful story about a sad but wonderful event. As this legend may not be true it becomes even more amazing that God, during his creation of the world, foretold and illustrated this life saving event.
And now you know the rest of the story..

251:Tulip

I was "forced" to get out today so I decided to get a shot. Anyone tried to photograph a tulip in a hurricane? As a naturalist I prefer to shoot thing where they are.

Tulip among the Pansies

250: Delicate II

Delicate II

This representation is actually larger on the screen than it is in real life. When ever I see thing like this and recall rough mountains, I am overwhelmed by the range of GOD' creation.

249: Delicate

Delicate

Photographers Woe

I had a new experience today while making this image. Yesterday I gave my daughter a hint on a possible shot involving the full moon. The more I thought about it I began to envision a similar shot that could be taken in my area. I left well before moonrise to find a suitable location. I found a suitable location several hours before moonrise and got everything set up for this fantastic shot.

As I sat patiently (yea right), I noticed some wild flowers. I have been working on an improved method for lighting macros. This seem like a good time to experiment. I got thing set up with my backup body and started making a few exposures. After a short time I heard sirens. In a minute a rescue truck turned up the lane where I was. A fire truck followed, then a ambulance. They all came to a screeching halt at my truck. Seem a passer by saw me laying down on the ground taking picture and reported it to 911 as a possible dead person.

Before it was over there was a rescue truck, two fire trucks, An ambulance and ambulance support supervisor, a gaggle of Volunteer firemen, not to mention a couple of deputy sheriffs. One of the deputies, who has "harassed" me several times in the past walked up and said: "Oh, its you. Is there some way you can take pictures without causing a commotion."

The question is how does one explain to a bunch of rednecks, why one would want to lay down in the middle of a field and take a pictures of a weed!!

But there is more. By the time of moon rise, a total cloud cover had moved in and I got no full moon image. Now you know the rest of the story.

Disclaimer:: None of this was my fault, If anyone is to blame it is my daughter, even though she is 2000 miles away.

233: Is Spring Comming

After a hard winter (at least for me) the days at the first of this week were a treat and then cool again. Maybe Spring will get here sometime soon.

A sign of Spring in the winter.

Tribute: this image is sort of a tribute to a friend of mine who has an obsession for photographing orange circles, especially parts of them in the lower left corner. Well this ain't yellow. It ain't perfect circle. It ain't just part of the bright color. But, it is the best I could do in a pinch.

177: Natural Christmas Decorations

Snow Berries

44: Close Focus -- Flowers

My luck held again today, Another cloudy-bright day with moderate temps, so I headed out for a walk. As I started out I noticed the Crepe Myrtle in my ward was in bloom, so I took a quick capture. My walk was cut short by a rain shower, so the only thing I had for the day is this.

Crepe Myrtle Bloom on a Cloudy Day

I did try a little PhotoShop magic in an effort to add some glow, The image is not all that bad, but the PS work came up a little short

29: Closeups -- Prayer Time

After missing yesterday due to a slight immobility issue, I was also wondering about my mobility today. But, as I opened the door to let the puppies in early this morning, I noticed a good image. By the time I doodled around and got the camera ready the light was gone. I was not all that worried as most on my images have popped up in the late afternoon. Then I noticed this little one.

Prayer Time
Thanks for our daily bread, a suitable place to live, and all other blessings of the day.
No matter what position you are in.

In the early days close ups were difficult to say the least. Now days they are still trouble but much easier than in the past. I suspect you will see more close-ups as it is my second favorite type of photography and suitable subjects are easier to find than “street”.

Note: Macro photography is technically an image where the image on the sensor is the same size as the subject. This is not therefore it is technically a closeup, although the displayed image is about life size