In a few days, I'll share my foggy excursions with you.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Dreamy, Spring Day
It was a dreamy, spring day in March, and I felt as if my camera and I had a personal invitation to come out and watch the buds grow into their own. The little pond in the park is always a good place to enjoy life in progress.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't have have posted this photo. It's not in sharp focus. The mallard is not really in view, though he is striking an interesting pose on one foot. I snapped it through the twigs of a newly-budding bush and you can see its out-of-focus lines in foreground while still viewing the duck, rock and tree in the background. For some reason, I like how it all turned out. To me, it has something of a dreamy effect.
This leaf is about to unfurl. You can see the tiny, downy fluff protecting the tender shoots.
Poplar trees are beautiful in spring. Before they sprout their leaves, catkins emerge. At first they look a bit like pussy willows - all grey and fluffy, but that soon falls away and lovely, pink, miniature flower appear. They'll elongate and lighten in colour before they drop off to make room for the leaf.
This isn't new growth, but last year's rose hips. They looked so pretty in the golden sunlight and I couldn't resist snapping a shot.
Maple buds look something like a sea creature at this stage. Or maybe a koosh ball.
This is my climbing rose bush about to put out leaves. You can see the thorns which are out of focus. The plant was a gift from my son and is doing nicely for the third season.
A sunny, side view of a crocus. I took so many shots from this angle and that. And then Frank thought I should take some more. And I did. I couldn't quite get enough of it but I'll spare you by showing just the one.
In a few days, I'll share my foggy excursions with you.
In a few days, I'll share my foggy excursions with you.
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64 comments:
Your wonderful photos show that nature is about to burst into Spring. It will be fun to see how much further along the blossoms will be in a week or two.
CROCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Warm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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What gorgeous photos--you have light in them that makes me envious (too many dreary days here of late). I particularly like the photo of the rose bush--love that dark background. Oh, and if I ever decide to finally start up my alt girl band, I'm totally calling it Last Year's Rose Hips.
Spring has definitively sprung where you are Hilary and it's such a pleasure to witness it through your lens :-)
Mmmm. That final picture is spectacular. I'm still trying to figure out how to take good flower pics. And when I see yours I know there is hope!
Your photos are mesmerizing. Love them all.
Hugs
SueAnn
What a nice walk. I am always so glad that you remember to ask me along!
Lovely pictures. Terrific lighting in the last pic.
Beautiful shots!
And it's funny how leaf buds always look like something out of sci-fi movie before they turn into their familiar form ;)
You have an eye for detail! Thanks for sharing.
Well, there's something sort of soft focus about spring in general isn't there?
So the first photo is perfect, I think.
that crocus pic is amazing...its like almost a spiritual experience....ha...between the sun and the petals reaching for it...
Hello =) I found your blog, during a visit to a friend's blog, and i decicded to come here to vistit you, i like what i saw, always good photos with very wise and kind words =) i will come back soon!
Amazing photos, the las one its fantastic, amazinf zoom and focus, georgeous!
Big kiss from Portugal =)
I see why you like that first one. It's definitely got a mood to it. But all of your pictures, always, make me smile and fill me with wonderful feelings. Happy Spring!
It's so lovely to watch a leaf being born and your photos show that well. :-))
Beautiful shots, all of them.....but it's too early!!!!! Isn't it????
all wonderful. the macros are gorgeous, but i do really like the wispy-ness of the mallard shot. :)
Oh WoW! Each of these is spectacular. I love that new spring growth,and the out of focus shot is perfect. I can feel the warmth of a spring day in that picture.
Very spiffy collection. I'm going to have to pry that macro out of your hands, aren't I? ;)
LOVE your duck shot - very artsy!
The New Growth always makes my heart sing :)
And the Crocus .....make my heart flutter!
I would say a visit to your blog is always GOOD for my heart :)
Hilary, your up close photos are so good. You make me see things that I would miss if left to my own devises. Thanks!
I'm glad Frank encouraged you to keep on trying different angles on that crocus. That last shot is really great.
I like all these!
I just love spring. I love seeing the buds on the trees and bushes and tiny specks of green stuff poking through the dirt. I love all these photos, too. That mallard picture is very cool. I love the rose hips from last year. I'm heading outside this very minute to see if I've got rose hips from last year!!
Ahhh. Happy spring, Hilary! I like them all...
Hi, Hilary: I like Frank's suggestion about focusing more on the flower. It speaks to me with so much life and opportunity for the months ahead! A great post as always. Have a wonderful weekend!
Hilary,
how wonderful that spring has also sprung on your side of the big pond!
I actually quite like the picture with only the duck in sharp focus! He adds so much focus and serenity to an already very serene scene. One of my teachers encouraged us to shoot out of focus on purpose, as a way to "paint with light" in a unique way.
That first picture is like looking through the veil of early spring, and I love how you captured the downy covering of the furled leaf. Beautiful nature, captured. :)
The leaves unfurling are wonderful. Thanks for this burst of Spring.
Beautiful photos.
The top one makes me feel like I'm looking out the window of my house.
(I'm here, and I haven't forgotten you. Sometimes it takes me 3+ times to get the note block to show up. Mea Culpa.)
Just lovely. Look at that guy his head turned and his foot tucked up. I like the leaf that's just thinking about coming out too. :)
Wonderful pictures. Loved the mallard. I need to get out and get some pics of the geese on the river.
Luscious. Thank you.
You have shown that the season is progressing. Awesome photos. I can almost smell the buds.
The first shot makes me feel like I was walking with you when you spotted this bird! I think it came out great. I love seeing all the small changes that Spring brings, then when it all comes out in full bloom it's a miracle reborn again. Thanks for sharing the lovely shots!
Ah, budding color. I love it! The one-footed mallard makes a nice shot!
I like your dream Hilary-nice capture.
Funny how that works--something you don't think is worthy instead has great appeal.
One of the most famous American photographs, that of the US Marines planting an American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during WWII by Joe Rosenthal, involved the photographer focused on where he would position himself for the shot and he had to swing his camera and click hastily when he realized that the action was starting without him.
He was sure he had missed it completely or that it would be blurry.
Instead he captured the scene perfectly.
Nice photography, where can I learn these type of photography ?
car lease
I like how spring envelops us all.
Hilary, how delightful that your camera captures spring so it can always be remembered...and you do it so well, my friend!
Sandi
I knew things were budding, but it's so fun to see what's happening right up close!
Well of course you'd know that I'd love that "out of focus" (ha! not in my books...or camera) dreamy duck picture. Full of atmosphere. And that budding rose looks like a tiny space creature reaching out to the universe and longing to return to its birth planet. All the budding beauties bring brilliant bits of the burgeoning spring bounty of beauty. [(:-)] How is it that crocuses are soooo irresistible to photograph? I have a whole slew of deliberately out of focus (well,accidentally deliberate) that I intend to inflict...er...treat my blog pals to sometime soon. Don't hold back, Hilary!
i rather like the duck shot. the lack of focus in the foreground highlights the sharp focus of the duck. and the crocus is just glorious!
Lucky you to have a climbing rose bush. I would love to have roses here. Your view of spring through your camera lens is lovely. I am not an expert but the photo with the mallard did not seem out of focus to me, it is very pleasant and magical.
You find such nice colors in small unexpected places. Lovely.
The fuzzy buds are my favorite. And the purple bloom is breathtaking. Yeah, spring!
what a lovely day ...
Lovely flowers, but, the last is the best.
Wow! that perspective on that crocus is amazing! What a shot... and oh yes, spring beckons, in so many, many wonderful ways.
ah, the tender beginnings of life
so lovely
thank you~
I love how you always see all the beauty that surrounds you. We've had mist and fog (the locals call it the cloak of Mahnon, he's the giant who shapes our mountain)for most of last week, interspersed with sunshine.. it sure beats the rain!
I love the one of the duck... like viewing through a gauzy curtain! Love the crocus, too. I envy you your ability to choose just one (you know from my blog I can never decide which it should be!)
So love those crocus colors and looking forward to your foggy pics!
xo
So much beauty in Nature and you captured it all right from the start to the end of this one. Loved each photo and I dont have a fav.
Gorgeous.
Croci really are little cups of magic! I can relate with taking far too many shots!
All your spring photos are lovely!
Spring surely does bring with it hope and just an all around good mood. Love it!
I really like the duck shot. The out of focus bits frame it very well. They lead the eye in without being intrusive or greedy.
Well done.
I had to laugh: the next photo after the duck, at first observation, looked like a fish in mid-leap. As always, your photo eye is superb, even when you don't think it is.
The crocuses are really beautiful, I always think. Pity the flowers are over all too quickly!
BTW....... concerning your comment over on mine...... you could be on to something. The shrubs were on her adjoining wall! Son is putting up high trellis & bamboo screening this week!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
A also like how the first one turned out. I often take a lot of crocus shots too but may not his year. They're out but closed up tightly in the cold. So, they may be done before I can get a shot.
what glorious images hilary!!
your photos are lie a visual poetry-that's for sure!
and thank you so much for your kind get well wishes for my sister jenny.
just wanted you to know how much i really appreciate them.
big hugs!
You and your camera create magic; Spring is the best of the year.
Rita
Thanks so much for your kind comments, everyone. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing spring through my camera lens. Your visits are always appreciated. :)
Dreamy, to be sure!
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