210/365 How's it "bean"?

This year I've decided to plant my very first veggie garden. I'm usually a black thumb and kill just about any plant. So far, my plants are thriving. I planted some beans from seed and they are coming up rather quickly due to all the rain, sun, rain, sun we've been getting. Here is a bean that just came out of the dirt a day ago.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO500, F11, 1/800

209/365 Crowded like I've never seen

If you read yesterday's blog, you know that I visited NYC over Memorial Weekend. This picture was taken Sunday night, just to show how crazy Time Square was (this is a block or so away from Time Square). After this pic, we walked over a couple streets where it ended up being much more reasonable to walk down the street.


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No Metadata

205-208/365 NYC Trip

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with my sister, her BFF and her daughter over Memorial Day weekend in "The Big Apple". I had never been there, but had a great time seeing NYC and many of its tourist attractions. Here are just a few. 1st (Freedom Tower), 2nd (9/11 Memorial), 3rd (City at night) and lastly, the Memorial weekend lit Empire State building.

None of these have metadata, as I opted not to carry my heavy "good" camera on the trip. These were from point and shoot as well as my phone.

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204/365 Bunny Update

If you have been following my blog/pictures, you would know that my neighbor has been protecting a bunny nest/den from their dogs. (click here for post) The bunnies are growing and the dogs have left them alone so far. However, they will be leaving their mama soon. Today I managed to get pics of the little cuties. A couple took off as soon as I lifted the box.

Top pic shows how camouflaged they are in their nest of mama fur and vegetation.
2nd is a closer shot of the terrified little bunnies huddled and hoping I don't hurt them
3rd is the first bunny that ran from the nest when I took the box cover off of them.

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Metdata: 105mm, ISO1250 (cloudy day), F9, 1/125

203/365 Texture and color

Had to add another texture and color piece from The Weed Lady - Click for previous blog post

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Metadata: 25mm, ISO160, 1/320, F5

202/365 A bit of fluff

I had to take another picture of dandelion seeds. This time I focused on the outer fluff instead of the inner seed.
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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, 1/400, f13

201/365 Challenging Rule of Thirds

Last night I went to a photography seminar by Sandy Puc' - a co-founder and photographer of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. It was really a great seminar and I learned a few things. Please check out www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org and click on Tour to see if she will be coming to a city near you. This was one of my "HOMEWORK assignments". She asked us to take 30 pictures in a row that were using the rule of thirds point (where the lines meet). No two points can be used in a row and all the points have to be used.

Here is one of my rule of thirds pics and tried to use the lines of my garden as well.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO80, 1/320, f4.5

200/365 Paint project?

Here's just another look at how one might make a collage for a photo - take a photo and pick colors out of it to use for colors for a painting project.

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Metadata:50mm, ISO400, 1/2500, f2.5

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199/365 Berry season

I decided to give food photography a try after reading Clickin' Mom's page. I had strawberries in the house so those became my subject. My set up was similar to hers, only I had a reflector instead of a white mat board.

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198/365 Dandelion Seeds

I love doing MACRO photography. I wish I could get even closer than this.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, 1/400, f/13

197/365 The stages of a dandelion

Walking to the bus stop to pick up my girls, I noticed in a yard, the many stages of a dandelion. I picked each one for this photo collage.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, F16, 1/125

196/365 Along the way

I try to walk my dog daily. However, we've been getting pummeled by rain, so today was the first day I've been able to take her out. I love everything in bloom. I don't know what most of the trees and flowers are named, but I can enjoy their beauty anyway.

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No metadata - phone camera

195/365 Protecting the bunnies

Was outside chatting with my neighbor while doing yardwork today. Turns out his dogs found a rabbit nest full of baby bunnies. This is the nest and how he is protecting it from his dogs (small dogs). The momma rabbit did come back even with the makeshift box/home on top. I'm planting a garden this week...sure hope those bunnies don't eat what I plant.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, 1/125, F9 (both pics)

194/365 No Buzz

My youngest was playing on the swingset and found a couple dead bumblebees. I saw this as an opportunity to take some posed MACRO pics and put them in a cup for later.

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Metadata: 105mm, f13, ISO640, 1/250

193/365 The Process of Blooms

I don't know about you, but I'm a Michigander and we are finally getting consistent sun. Sun + Rain = more blooming flowers. My yard is coming alive. I've been following my crab apple tree since last month and FINALLY it has flowers! It has been a fun process.

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Metadata: 105mm, 1/125, F13 ISO (Varies)

192/365 Every size, shape & color

Today is a running around day. The girls and I took my mother-in-law to Bronner's Christmas Store in Frankenmuth, MI. It's a bit overwhelming, but very well organized with courteous employees that know where everything is. If you're in the area...I highly recommend it. This is a picture of their "organized by color" section (one portion of it anyway)

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NO METADATA -phone

191/365 Prom Hair

Today I was a part of an event my church held for young ladies heading to prom this evening. I took a before and after shot and this girl blew me away!

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Metadata: 2 umbrellas w/speed lights, 50mm, ISO640, f41/125

190/365 Old Chair

This is the last one from the greenhouse. Something about texture, lines and peeling paint that make me happy. Edited with free action I found online for vintage photos.

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Metadata:19mm, ISO160, 1/200, f3.5

Day 189/365 Latch

A latch I found at the greenhouse. I like the chipped paint with rusty screen textures as well.

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Metadata: 35mm, ISO160, 1/200, f3.5

Day 188/365 Signs of Spring

Ahhhh, spring. FINALLY! The grass is greener, the flowers are starting to sprout and the birds have flown back from their vacation in the southern states. Over the past week or two, I've been paying attention to the evergreen right outside my living room window and the birds flying in and out of it. Today, I looked for the nest and this is what I found. I find it amazing that birds can build something so amazing with no hands. SOOC

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Metadata: 35mm, ISO1600, 1/250, f5.6

Day 187/365 Unidentified

I know you're probably getting sick of plants, but this little one's colors struck me as beautiful. Again, I'm not a plant person and have no idea what it is, except pretty.

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Metadata:105mm, ISO320, 1/800, f3.5

Day 186/365 In like a Lion

The saying for spring is "In like a lion, out like a lamb" (or vice versa). In this case we have had snow & rain so I'm guessing this is in "like a lion". I sat at the table with one of my girls and watched the rain pelt the back window then got my camera out. As soon as the rain stopped, the sun appeared, thus, the blue background.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, 1/1250, f13

Day 185/365 The tree itself

Yesterday I posted what was apparently from a sweet gum tree. SO, I tried to remember which route through my neighborhood I took and went to find the tree itself. SUCCESS! I only had my phone with me, but thought this came out nicely.

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no metadata

Day 184/365 What seed?

Yesterday, I was on a walk with my pooch and noticed these on the street. I do NOT know my trees or seeds, but loved the texture so I picked them up. Does anyone know what these are? I like the color, but like B&W with these too. Which do you prefer?

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Metadata:105mm, ISO3200, 1/160, f10

183/365 What a difference

Lately, we have been having AMAZING weather. Last night, however, we had a doozy of a storm. House shaking thunder and flashes of lightning all around. I have never attempted lightning, but grabbed my tripod and camera and headed out to the front porch to watch the show.

Today, bright sun and puffy clouds. What a difference a night makes.

I hope we get another storm so I can practice again.

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Metadata: 50mm (cropped), f/8, ISO500, Exposure 8 sec.
Sunny day - phone camera/none