Blog Archives
Capturing the Light
The act of photographing reminds me of the constantly changing world and the preciousness of each moment.
Andy had set this artichoke on the kitchen windowsill. The artichoke was past its prime, but I liked the way it looked with the sun hitting it this morning, so I ran and grabbed my camera.
The light had changed in the 30 seconds it took me to get my camera, and even during the taking of several shots, the light kept changing. While seeing how the light kept changing, and how quickly I was losing the light that had originally caught my eye, I was reminded of the constant changes going on in the world around me (and in myself as well, I suppose), and the preciousness of each moment. As a photographer, I am "delineating light" (photos meaning light and -graphy meaning delineation, see etymology of ‘photography’). Since natural light is constantly changing, we as photographers capture fleeting moments of light.
But, as people, what do we miss that we don’t capture? Are there moments in our lives, in relationships with people, when the moment is right to be silent or speak up, to be still or to make a move, to look or to listen? Photography is a highly technical hobby as well as an art, and I find that I must remember, as a human being, that there is much to capture other than light.
In the Heart of the Hibiscus
My husband, Andy, is getting more and more involved in my photography. When he’s not my muse, he’s my assistant. 
He helps me by pointing out to me things that I should photograph. It was he who made me aware of our first hibiscus blossom of the year. I started taking macro shots and just got closer and closer. I never knew the tiny structures at the end (stamen?) were so fuzzy. What I love about this image — if I may say so myself — is the soft, velvetiness of the red hibiscus petals that are out of focus, while the focus is on the pistil and stamen. It reminds me of billowy red velvet.
Yellow Flower with Fly Upon It
When Andy and I went to the dog park this morning with Buxley and J.J. to meet Robert & Robbie and Napoleon, I decided not to bring my camera. I knew there would be things I’d want to shoot, but I was tired of taking photos– and especially tired of postprocessing them on the computer.
When I saw Robert, whom I’d photographed with his dog, Napoleon, a few weeks ago, he told me I had inspired him to go buy a new camera, and he showed me his new Canon SD630. I couldn’t resist; I asked him if I could borrow it just to take a picture of one of the many pretty little yellow flowers that had blossomed on the sage bushes since the last time we were there.
These flowers are only about 1.5″ in diameter, and they grow on what look to me like sage bushes. I just happened to shoot one with a fly on it. I’m pretty happy with how it came out.
Translucent Yellow Flower
I never realized until I got this macro lens (Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM) how translucent some things are; just check out those flower petals! (You can click on the photo above to see it in my Flickr photostream and then click “All Sizes” above the image to view it large.) I’m enjoying my hobby of photography and — I’d like to think — getting better at it. Now that I’ve seen how translucent these petals are, I’m looking forward to taking an even closer photo. I will post the results when I do.
Blossoming Pink Vinca
I got a new camera, my first SLR (single lens reflex — the kind of full-featured camera that uses interchangeable lenses), and I’ve been taking loads of pictures with it. Click on the picture of the flower above if you’d like to see more of my photos.
