Abstract: Galaxy

This image began life as a photo of heavy snow falling on oak trees that still held brown leaves. I don't recall exactly how I got from there to here, but I liked the effect.

Posted for NF Abstract on Wednesday

Shadow Shots: Sugaring Season

My husband's family makes maple syrup every year, and these are some of the shadowier shots from our visit two weeks ago.

They collect sap from about 300 taps and the boiler runs night and day. Family and friends gather in the sugar shack to visit, to enjoy the sweet scented steam, and to down the occasional "maple shot" - a blend of Crown Royal and thin, hot syrup fresh from the pan.

See More Shadowy Goodnesss at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday2: Rays

A recent morning, in the space between falling snow and a brilliant winter sun, taken from the far side of the pond.

Winter has been relatively kind to us this year. Snowfall has been manageable, and temps have stayed above zero. I so enjoy the world blanketed in white, all still and clear.

See More Shadowy Goodness at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Kate's Garden

Hey, everyone! Hope you're all having happy holidays.

So here I am, playing with my photos when I have a million things to do for Christmas. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The rest of us work on perfecting our skills of procrastination.




I haven't been around much lately because I haven't taken a decent picture in weeks. These are salvaged from a recent trip to a little park with a sculpture I've been wanting to shoot. I didn't realize until I got there how many lamp posts and assorted ugly stuff it has to muck things up.And winter probably isn't its best season.

On the plus side, I got some practice at converting to greyscale, and I learned how to clone out background distractions like light poles on this one:




I'll go back and try the sculpture again when there's snow.  Maybe I'll have better luck. For now, its shadow will have to do.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Shadow Shots: Warm

December 1 already. Time to haul out the big old basket that holds cozy, warm afghans in the TV room. Because pretty soon, it is gonna be cold.

I always loved the texture of this, and the way it catches the morning light. And I like it better when we just toss the afghans in, rather that folding them neatly. I don't know why.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Shadow Shots: Made in the Shade

In celebration of my upcoming retirement, I just bought a fixed 50mm lens and a macroscopic lens adapter to play with. (The combo was less than half the price of a real macro lens, and offers more uses than just a macro.)

I tried it out this morning on the frost on my tubular bird feeder, which offered two layers of fern-like crystals. They only last while the shadow of the house protects them, which isn't long past dawn.

I should have had a tripod. But for a hand-held macro shot I was pretty happy.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Shadow Shots: Making Tracks

A young deer romps in the long, evening shadows cast by wind-sculpted snow.

It's been a while since we've seen deer, so it was a treat when the herd came to call. This little guy was quite the trouble maker, chasing and pawing at his elders.

Check out other entries at Heyharriet:

Shadow Shots: Frost Flower

A feathery pattern of frost on a window, made of ice and shadow. It reminds me of the bearded irises sleeping under the snow.

Check out more shadow shots at Hey Harriet's place. Just click the logo:

Macro Monday: Queen Anne's Ice

Hello there! This is my first entry in this meme. I don't know what took me so long - I love shooting macro, and I've been admiring all of your entries for some time now. Thought I'd jump in this time.

For more macro photography, zoom in to Lisa's Chaos: Macro Monday.

Monochrome Weekly: Woods in Winter

See the world in black and white: The Monochrome Weekly.

Monday Photo Shoot: Black and White

Carly at the blog Ellipsis hosts the Monday Photo Shoot, and her challenge this time is black and white photography. I haven't done too much with that yet, but this is one of my favorites so far.

It sums up this year's winter for me. Black and white were the only colors in the landscape that day, so it seemed natural just to shoot it that way. It was appropriate for the season, too; black for the darkness and killing cold, white for the clarity and stillness that snow brings.

Check out Carly's post at Ellipsis to see more entries: Black & White Photography.