The spring is such a rich time in Northern California.  We never know what the weather may bring.  Last week, we were almost in 3-digits and today, back in the 70’s and windy.

During my spring break, had a chance to really enjoy my Lensbaby and the lovely flowers I found in Marin County.  Names are more than welcome and credit will be given!!  These images were taken with my Composer and Double-Glass Optic with a macro filter of +4.

Wild and Wooly

Lensbaby View

Sunshine

 

In the Center

Pt. Reyes Lighthouse Grounds

 

Make a Wish

 

Center in Focus

 

 

Leaf in the Center

These next two images, are certainly not wildflowers, but were taken with my Lensbaby and are in Marin County!

 

Drops and Blur

 

The final image is actually one of my favorites–a bit creepy…and very quiet!

Tree Branch Tunnel

 

 

 

Had the pleasure to spend the day shooting with Twitter friends @BirdGalAlcatraz and @RachidH in Marin County. 

The weather was a bit dreary–but we didn’t let that stop us for one minute.

This is National Parks Week which allowed visitors free entry into Muir Woods.  We got their early and had most of the park to ourselves and cameras.

With the overcast sky and Majestic Redwood trees over 100 feet in height, it was a bit dark as well as drizzly, but still revelled in the beauty all around us.

                                                                                                   Redwoods Standing Tall

                                                                                Tree trunks with a story…

                                                                   Splash of Spring Green

And of course, what would a trip anywhere be without a little view from the Lensbaby perspective?

                                                                             A bit of Lensbaby Blur

 

It was such a pleasure to meet @RachidH in person–so continue to be amazed by the connectivity of our Twitter world and thankful to have made such incredible friends. 

 

When are you visiting No. Cal?  Will be ready to play:)

I thank and blame Doug and Roxanne for my latest purchase…once I saw what this optic could do, I had to have it!  View their amazing images at http://www.dougplusrox.com 

There is nothing better than the first real voyage with a new lens or optic–unless of course, a new camera!!

University of California at Davis has a small Arboretum that runs along a little creek–there were flowers just waiting to be photographed.

These images were with the aperture at 5.6.

Field of Poppies

One of the advantages of the Composer is the ability to have part of your image in focus–The “Sweet Spot” and other areas with a bit or a lot of blur.

Sweet Spot in the Middle

Did find this to be a favorite with Poppies.  They are so rich this time of year in California…here are a few views…

No Flowers were picked!

Love the Blur!

Also fun to celebrate the abstract nature of the blur…

Abstract Pine

Couldnt resist--they were eye level!

A majestic Oak Tree..

A bit of Oak Blur

Looking forward to more shooting with this optic!

Should  probably warn you…am on the list for the new Composer Pro–so, yes more Lensbaby Joy to come!!

Happy Spring to you and yours:)

This year, Spring took a long time getting here!  Had plans to shoot outdoors with a friend, but the weather did not allow for that.

Instead, we decided to shoot fire indoors…

What you need for a successful shoot:

Isopropal Rubbing Alcohol–not for human consumption

Cheap glass–perhaps from your local “Dollar Store”

Lighter–with long tip

Tripod

Wool Blankets (2)

Stool or removable Table

Remote cable–or shoot in timer mode to avoid shaking.

Fire Plan!

Best to shoot with another person:)

First of all, set one of the blankets on the floor–if carpet or wood a good plan to have something under the table.  Wool blankets tend to be fire retardent…

Next place glass on the table

Set up tripod and camera and take a few test shots to determine settings and lock them in.

Practice shot to check your settings and lock them in

We shot with our 70-200 2.8 lenses–which were a treat to use indoors!  “Fast Glass” really does rock!

Poor Isopropal Alcohol into the glass–about 1-2 inches from the top.

Light liquid on fire with a “long” lighter–this is very combustible and the longer the distance from your hand and fire–the better!

Must have LONG Lighter!

Fire away–the flames will dance as you take numerous images.

If you have a Live View on your camera–preview glass and fire via your LCD Monitor

Use your remote cable or timer and just keep shooting!

Reminds me of a Tulip

Including the set up and aftermath of our explosion, I shot 100 frames–gave me so many designs to choose from –really looking at what the flame created:)  Here are a few examples…all are out of camera images.  Did crop a few–but no change to lighting or anything else.

See a man on fire

Think half the joy is looking at the flames and really interpreting what image is created…in my eyes and brain…

Devil on fire...

With this, I see tears…

Tears of Fire

As you continue to shoot–the flames will come and go…just like the waves on a beach…

A little flame

So, the most amazing image of the day was this…

Too Hot!

Since this was my first time “shooting fire” and being the Lifetime Girl Scout I am–asked my friend if we had a “fire plan”…yes–he would open the sliding glass door and take the stool outside–plus a Wool Blanket is Fire Retardent…

Smoking Wool Blanket

Confessions are good for the soul–the shot I captured of the glass breaking was totally lucky and related to using a remote cable.

As soon as the glass exploded–I got the dogs–so they wouldn’t be near and @aceebro took the stool outside with the balnket on top.  It was not until I reviewed my images–that I realized I caught the moment of explosion!

So–could you do it?  Absolutely…we used cheap glass from the local “Dollar Store” Andrew brooks shot first…50 frames, or so.   For his blog post…  http://www.blueturban.net/BlueTurban_Photography/BT_Blog/Entries/2011/3/27_Fire_In_A_Glass.html  He then doused the flames with a plate over them and showed me his work process–am so new to Photoshop–have much to learn.  So, the glass was taken away from fire for probably 20 minutes before we reignited and I shot…

Recent rains and flooding have brought an extraordinary amount of water to the Yolo Causeway.  While the birds have vanished for the time being, does make for a lovely sunrise!

Distant Downtown

 Have not seen another sunrise opportunity like this since then-these were taken on March 30th.  Cloud conditions were perfect for reflections and quite a show.  Hope you enjoy!

Swirl of Orange

Awakening Clouds

Bright Horizons

Back in November, I visited this location and enjoyed the bird refuge that runs along the side of Interstate 80 between Sacramento and Davis.  While Spring is appearing in the grass and trees, it will take a bit of time before the birds are able to return.  Look forward to visiting in the future.

Open when the waters recede!

Full and proud!

Growing up in Southern California, I had the pleasure to be near The Arboretum in Arcadia.  It is not unusual to see Peacocks strutting through the neighborhoods surrounding the Arboretum.  It was a treat on a recent visit to catch a male showing off for a nearby hen.  For the record, she did not seem to be impressed…although it could have been the audience–maybe she was shy.

Here are a view shots of him showing off!

Colors are so vivid

Eye to eye

Side view

Is that the best you can do?

 Another part of his show is the rattling of his feathers…do not remember hearing that before…was quite loud!

Rear view...

Posing

A Train of feathers

One last view…

Full view!

Bunch of river rocks

One of the most amazing things about enjoying time with my camera– for me, it doesn’t have to be a significant amount of time spent.  Can happily visit one location and shoot some photos even justfor 20 minutes.  Feel connected and happy.

Have been spending time with my Lensbaby Composer–viewing the world in a more abstract way and loving it!

Some shots from an alley…

Partial cover

Different focus point

Brick View

Rusty River

USPS delivery spot

Pull here to open

Rusty Pipe

Solitude

Little bits of nature–citified

Abandoned Home

Also have learned–when you see something you’d like to shoot–DO IT!

That is going to be one of my goals–not missing opportunities:)

Ridges

Finally found them!

 After four attempts to find and photograph the lovely Sandhill Cranes –I did find them!  Although this is late in their migration season–there were still a few to be seen and enjoyed!

In Flight

Lift off

 Some of you may remember that I went to a workshop recently on my Nikon D300s…it was fabulous.  Learned much about using my camera more effectively. Part of the changes I made were to set Auto ISO and give a range–at the instructors urging.  Seemed good to me.  Really wish I would have thought about the consequences of this action–setting the ISO range from 200-3200.  Realized late in this shoot that my ISO was shooting up to ISO 32o0. Was I checking pics for focus–yes.  Did I look at histograms–yes!  Am I shooting in RAW and jpg–yes!

The good news–is I now have my camera ISO under my control and not in Auto anything!  Some lessons only take one time to learn:)

Amazing Grace

What a wingspan!

Not sure who is watching whom

 This was a crazy weather weekend–and I was able to enjoy amazing natural shows of beauty while waiting for dusk and hoping more Sandhill Cranes would arrive.

Into the field of Gold

Slice of the field of gold

Wispy Clouds

Into the Light

The visit ended as soon as the raindrops started to fall!  Will go earlier next year. Was still just a wonderful time to appreciate being near such lovely birds.