Coneflower Ranch

Odds and Ends

2013-04-08T22:30:00.001-04:00

Enjoying experimenting and playing with natural light. It's amazing what you can bring out of simple objects with just window light and a reflector. These are a few vintage sewing odds.

My Niche

2013-04-01T13:39:00.000-04:00

I had a fellow photographer ask me a question the other day that stumped me for a moment. He asked, "What do you like to photograph?"

I've been asked this before and at that time my answer was everything, because really, it was true. As I was learning photography basics and then bending the rules and getting creative I would shoot just about everything. That's how I learned about photography and what inspires me to keep shooting.

I think for many of the photographer friends in my camera club they have developed a style, or niche that inspires them. We always try new things don't get me wrong, but we definitely develop a style that is often recognizable within our group. Some are skilled nature and landscape photographers, some portrait and others are always trying something new.

I was recently asked to submit a collection of my work to be exhibited on a 14 x 20 foot screen in Center City Philadelphia. It required me to choose 90 images from my portfolio. It was interesting to see which images I felt were the best representation of my work and I have to say that the majority of them were flowers/insects or close up photography as well as things with a lot of natural textures. Although I love to shoot everything, including portraits or people and pets, I really do gravitate toward florals and especially the ones that are past their prime of life as well as the details of things.

So although I do find photographing florals more inspiring to me and my "niche" I definitely love getting out there and finding gems like these to shoot.

I'm definitely loving the journey!

Linking up with Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos

Two day break from winter

2013-03-10T21:45:00.000-04:00

It was a glorious weekend in southeast Pennsylvania and we enjoyed it down to the last rays of sunshine. One more day of mild weather and then we are back to our regularly scheduled winter...

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2013-02-12T17:44:00.003-05:00

More winter coneflowers. Yes, it's become an obsession.

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2013-02-12T17:42:00.001-05:00

Raindrops on roses...

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2013-02-11T18:46:00.000-05:00

It's amazing what you can find in the City of Brotherly Love. Just one block off such shopping names such as Burberry, Coach and Juicy Couture and the finest dining establishments in the city you come upon these buildings. One block of urban decay, in the center of fine living. The story behind the buildings and sad, they've been abandoned since the early 90's, but as a photographer it was my Burberry, Coach, Gucci and Prada.

Then, just one block later, we were back in the land of fine living for an amazing brunch at Tintos.

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2013-02-11T18:34:00.001-05:00

Like a kid in a candy store.

My husband and I went on a little getaway weekend in Philadelphia. He loves going into the city, me, I'm more of a country mouse but I went with it anyway. I'm glad I did. It was nice to have nothing to do but eat, drink and be merry, away from all the cleaning and weekend responsibilities that most weekends require. I took this photo of him looking out onto 17th Street as we sat in the tavern enjoying happy hour, perfectly named.

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2013-02-08T15:25:00.005-05:00

Beauties and the Beast.

I love my flea market finds!

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2013-02-07T22:30:00.003-05:00

Daisy, daisy...

A bit of beauty before the winter storm arrives.

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2013-02-07T11:49:00.000-05:00

Another day, another dusting...

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2013-02-05T23:14:00.002-05:00

We've had a bit of snow for six straight days. Nothing major just a dusting or so but it's so unusual. It was just beginning to snow when Jackie and I took a walk around a local park before our camera club meeting. I snapped this of the frozen pond.

I always love the look of cattails, especially this time of year.

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2013-02-04T16:41:00.003-05:00

I finally had the strap of my (now vintage) 1984 Gucci handbag repaired. Thank goodness for the local Amish and the fact that it cost me only five dollars to fix.

It's the first luxury item I purchased for myself after graduating from college and starting my first full-time job. Other than the strap it's in perfect condition. Amazing how a classic like this never really goes out of style.

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2013-02-04T16:37:00.002-05:00

Hungry birds. We have been getting an inch or two of snow each day just to cause a nuisance and the birds have been very, very hungry.

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2013-02-02T16:06:00.002-05:00

Phil didn't see his shadow which means spring could be just around the corner!

Maybe we'll soon be in the pink!

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2013-02-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

Four out of five horses surveyed prefer Canon lenses of horses that chew them.

As my friend Jackie was attempting to take a photo of an adorable short fat Shetland pony the pasture mate, a quarter horse, began nibbling on her hair, nudging her lens and then biting it. A great funny moment I was thrilled to capture.

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2013-01-31T22:37:00.002-05:00

Car shopping isn't quite as fun for me as it was in my younger years. It was hard to narrow down the choices but I managed to get it done and it was the only car I test drove, ha! Presenting....my new ride:

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2013-01-31T22:33:00.001-05:00

I like to see before and after images by other photographers. It's one of the things that helps me learn. Although we always try to make an effort to get it right in the camera, many times editing can't be avoided or I like to create a more artistic photo. Here is a before and after that I thought I would share of the same coneflowers I posted photos of last week. I took this today, no flash, natural window light with a reflector. I was happy with the straight out of the camera (SOOC) image, but in the edit I sharpened slightly and added a fractalius effect, shaggy, taken down many notches. The difference is subtle, but I'm happy with the results.

The stats for this image: camera Nikon d700, Tokina 100mm 2.8 lens, Manual, f/32, 20 second exposure. I should probably add that I used a tripod with a remote shutter release.

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2013-01-31T22:27:00.003-05:00

I'm shocked that it's been several weeks and not only have I not killed the orchids I purchased, but the one of the buds has bloomed!

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2013-01-28T16:45:00.004-05:00

Flat Stanley has been visiting us from California. Today he got the opportunity to play in the little snow that fell this morning. He even made a new friend, literally!

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2013-01-27T22:12:00.003-05:00

Today was a beautiful day in southeastern Pennsylvania. It was a balmy 32 degrees. The prediction is sixty degrees by Wednesday with thunderstorms, but of course there is snow in the forecast by Friday, sigh. I will take today's sunset, bottle it, and remember when I need it.

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2013-01-27T22:06:00.004-05:00

Fun and productive time at our camera club's lighting workshop Saturday afternoon.

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2013-01-25T14:55:00.005-05:00

Have we met?

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2013-01-24T18:34:00.003-05:00

You never know where your next muse will come from. I found these tiny one inch warriors in the grocery store parking lot today. They tickled me so...

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2013-01-23T20:22:00.000-05:00

Death Becomes Her

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2013-01-22T20:48:00.001-05:00

If you happen to be in West Chester, PA stop by the Starbucks at High and Gay Streets and see some beautiful artwork by members of the Chester County Camera Club, including me on the right, on display until March 9.

I should mention they are also for sale. :-)