macro, my love

This afternoon was the perfect time to try out my new macro lens. For any tech geeks out there its a 100mm 2.8f. The sky was completely covered in a thin cloud and I could really open her up and try some nature shots. There is something slightly intangible about nature shots. Its as though there is more depth to the subject than what you see in the picture and you can often see something in a completely different way. With the macro it is even more amplified. So here are some shots of plants in my garden. Its hard to pick a favourite but i think the parsley seeds or the magnolia might be in top place. I love the imperfection of this magnolia. The petals are brown and just about to fall off and but it still has a beauty to it. Its a contrast to the usual prettiness magnolias have.

old school

I have been pretty busy since my last post. The ball has definitely started rolling and I am happily rolling with it. Something I have wanted to do for a few weeks now is take some shots of the landscape around where I live. Every day on my way to pick up the kids from school I drive past a national park and then a pine plantation on our way home. I tend to look at all places now as possible sets or locations for a photo shoot. The amount of time I spend looking at the bush lately instead of the road while driving is a little worrying :) Anyway, there are all of these big, beautiful trees with orange and yellow flowers just popping against the otherwise barren and dull landscape and the contrasting blue sky. Grant has since told me that they are always by themselves without any other trees around them because they have a root system that strangles anything around it. Trees, power cables, you name it. Its a harsh environment sometimes and I guess each animal and plant builds up its own defences to survive. This morning I decided that it was high time I just got out there and took the pictures. On the way home I stopped at the pines and took a couple of images and played around with a little lens flaring. There is something about a pine forest that is ethereal and captivating. I kept waiting for wood nymphs to jump out of the trees as I clicked away. I can't wait to do a shoot in there. I hope you like them. Stay tuned for a couple more posts this week. I have been a busy girl and there is lots to catch up on. I went and got all professional on y'all didn't I :)