I’m (finally) almost finished another post on Paris–the one I promised in my Seattle restaurants post. I should get the new post up by Friday, but meanwhile, it’s Wordless Wednesday, and I’ve been practising my new DSLR camera skills. At this point, that mainly consists of setting the White Balance, the ISO, and the Aperture opening, then focusing in/on a composition I think will work.
I have to get to campus and make some serious headway on clearing out my office. There are probably some pretty obvious reasons why I’ve been stalling on this, but I need to get it done, and the weather’s cooled off just enough today to make the task more tolerable (we’re crossing our fingers the promised showers will materialize although they’re not going to be enough to do anything about the fire risk, currently at Red levels).
So without further chat, here are a few photographs I was pleased with . . .
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| Acanthus mollis, growing in the shade, hit by sunlight |
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| California tree poppy, Romney coulterii, also in some afternoon shade |
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| Volunteer nasturiums, volunteer fern growing in a sunny corner |
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| Freighter in evening sun |
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| Canada geese, evening sun, high tide, freighter |
And then a few more from this morning, Sun just barely up, cloudy skies, peace enough to settle a soul. . .
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| I love the colour of the seaweed on these rocks. . . |
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| Really hoping those clouds will get go of some wet stuff today… |
So there you are: my first attempts at playing around with my camera without relying on its Automatic settings. Could you pick a favourite or three? If so, please leave a comment below and let me know which ones work. . .
Oh my, I love them all but each for different reasons. I'll have to come back for a second look before any kind of discernment kicks in.
The nasturtiums for me. Looking forward to seeing more of your photos in due course.
Funny, that was just a one-off, that shot, and yet I really love it as well!
The nasturtiums! Beautiful! And can I just say that acanthus is the BANE of my existence and I can't believe I ever planted it on purpose?
Tell me why, Lisa. I know I read warnings, when I planned for the acanthus, that I'd better be sure of where I put it because there would be no easy removal. . . It's fine now, though, in a spot that it seems to love and that not much else would work in. I love them in other's landscaping as well, the structure of the "bear's breeches" against the leaves, and ours has finally, in the last 3 or 4 years, begun putting up enough flowers to make me happy. Only took about 18 years! But your comment makes me wonder if I should be very worried. . .
I just inherited a yard full of acanthus here in southern Ontario. So far (one year) the seem to stand up to the wind and though they seed about I can tow them on the compost. Lisa, wondering what they do to arouse your ire?
Oh oops, I answered below.
The Romneya, the rocky outcropping along the shoreline and the gaggle of geese…nice work!
Thanks! Might have known you'd pick the Romneya — you've taken some gorgeous photos of your own. . .
The fern and nasturtiums for the light/dark contrast. I also really like the white poppy for the shapes and angle.
Hope the office clean out goes well.
I love that contrast in the fern/nasturtiums photo as well — thanks! And the poppy. It's so good to see Why others like certain photos and your analysis gets me back for a second look.
As for the office clean out, it's a lot of physical work (boxes of books and boxes of books!) but there's some emotional work getting done as well. It's time!
The fern and nasturtiums for the glow of the and the contrast, also the white poppy in its glorious detail, and the seaweed on the rocks with the way the view fades in the distance, showing the rough and tumble texture and color up front and present but surrounded by the bigger picture.
Such a great analysis, especially of the seaweed photo, thank you! And there is a glow from those nasturtiums, isn't there? I think the contrasting/complementary green makes a difference, perhaps.
California tree poppy. Geese and cloudy bay. Soothing.
Soothing is good, right? 😉
I love the acanthus, the stair railing and the mossy rocks best. Each is very different than the other, but they all evoke a similar reflective mood.
My favourite might be the acanthus. . . I wonder if Reflective will be my default mood. Hmmmm.
All of the photos work, in my opinion – they are beautiful. I am a fool for nasturtiums, so that's my favorite, followed by the morning geese, but these are just subjective, emotional responses. The quality of all is excellent. And again, you have identified a flower I have long admired but not known the name of (sorry about the preposition, but I hope I'm among friends) – we call the California tree poppy a Mexican wedding flower, and it's nice to know its proper name!
Thanks, Marsha. I still have much to learn, but the kind feedback is so encouraging. (as for the preposition, I do think it's ridiculous to bend one self into semantic pretzels trying to avoid having it at the end of a sentence — sometimes that's just where it needs to be, no?)
I've never heard the Romneya called a Mexican wedding flower — another demonstration of the value of good old Latin names in the fight against confusion 😉
All are very beautiful,but maybe first,third,fourth (because of the play with light) and tenth,soothing and reflective. And they all have captured some emotions
Dottoressa
Thanks! Soothing and reflective seems to be my specialty!
These photographs are beautiful! Man, you've got endless photographable things around you.
Oh, and my fave is the poppy.
Thanks! and you're right, I'll never want for subjects.
I love the nasturtiums too, plus all the water photos – always love your photos taken at the shore.
There's something about a shoreline, isn't there?
I planted acanthus about 20 years ago. In one spot, in the backyard. It now shows up everywhere, I can't dig it out without more sprouting, and has spread to the front yard:(.
Luckily, mine's in a fairly small bed bordered by the house foundation, and a concrete-paver patio, so the root spread hasn't been a problem. After reading your comment I did a bit more research and I see the plant is invasive, but not, apparently, in the Pacific Northwest (you're too far south, I guess). They shoot the flower seeds many feet, so I'm nervously wondering if I should cut back the stems before letting it go to seed, but really, it's stayed where it is for 18+ years, so I guess I have climate on my side. At least it's very statuesque, no?
Ooooh, you're going to be addicted to this camera – I can feel it. California tree poppy, that's my fave, but each of your photos has its merits.
I wonder. . . I have to get used to carrying it, so much larger than my nifty little Canon automatic or the iPhone. But yeah, it's fun to have more control over the image. . .
All your photographs are beautiful, but if I have to name some favourites, here they are :
1. The seaweed, for the contrast between the dark rough foreground (with its subtle colouring) and the light, tranparent background.
2. the penultimate photo for catching so well that moment before the sun comes up: still dark, but at the same time everything is already clearly visible. In fact, there is more light on the water than in the sky.
3. The staircase, for the variety of shades and clear contrasts, all within one fairly close colour range.
Good luck with the office clearout. BTW: can't you send some heat our way? Summer hasn't even started on this side of the (other) ocean.
Thanks for this thoughtful analysis — it's so fun to see the images again through perceptive readers' eyes.
As for the heat, I'd gladly part with some of it. My daughter's in Rome now, and it's been even hotter, since the beginning of May — that would be closer for you to borrow heat from, no? 😉
Freighter in evening sun for the composition and light.
Please do not submit me to further bannister photos 😉
Oh dear! I've offended you with the bannister. So sorry. . . 😉
I like them all, but love four: the first one, the nasturtiums, the stair railing, the moss on rocks.
Thanks Marie, they're all obviously amateur efforts, but what fun it is to take them and then to be able to share them! This would have been an expensive hobby, back in the day, with the cost of printing, but now I can play as much as I want for the (already depreciated) cost of the camera. . .
Beautiful photos. Love them all, particularly the one with seaweed.
Thanks, Givi. I always love your photos!
I love the contrast of shadows and light. Several of these photos highlight that concept beautifully. I am a little envious of your work with your SLR. We bought one several years ago and even with classes, I am a little intimidated. I continue to fall back on my Nikon Coolpix and phone cause both fit in my pocket and go with me everywhere.
It's taken me 8 years, it turns out, to begin using the camera properly. And I stress that I'm just beginning. I suspect I'll still use my little Canon and my iPhone for convenience, just as you do.
I love the contrast of shadows and light. Several of these photos highlight that concept beautifully. I am a little envious of your work with your SLR. We bought one several years ago and even with classes, I am a little intimidated. I continue to fall back on my Nikon Coolpix and phone cause both fit in my pocket and go with me everywhere.