“Life is not so much about beginnings and endings as it is about going on and on and on. It is about muddling through the middle.” ~ Anna Quindlen
Are you in a place of a new beginning, muddling through the middle, or at the end of something good, something bad, or something you’ve already muddled through?
Please check out my Thursday post on Monochromia. I posted a photograph of another Star Magnolia, but from a completely different perspective.
ss 1/125 f 7.1 ISO 400
ss 1/200 f 7.1 ISO 400
To view an image of the dragonfly in black and white please visit Monochromia.
The Bud
The Bloom
The Garden
Another Bud
The Center of the Flower
Dancing in the Evening Breeze
Settings: ss 1/125 f 4.5 ISO 800
Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm 2.8
Natural, diffused, soft light.
Last week on Monochromia I posted a photograph of a pond with geese swimming in the rain. You can view the post HERE. The photographs of the poppy flowers and buds above were taken the same evening after the rain shower passed.
I have always been mesmerized by the Poppy. The detail of its creation; the incredible bud from which the flower blooms, the intricate detail of the center of the bloom, the delicate, flowing petals, and the passionate color. Unique and beautiful.
Today is Thursday so you get two posts for one, so to speak! Be sure to visit Monochromia for my Thursday black and white photography post.
Dead, decaying flowers. Really? What is the allure? I cannot explain it, but I love to photograph dead or decaying flowers. I find them intriguing. So much detail comes through the petals. The colors mold into unknown shades. Decaying, or dead flowers speak to me saying, “Even in death, there is life and more to come.”
The flower in the photograph below is a white tulip. I saved the tulips a bit too long as mold was beginning to grow on the stems. Time was not permitting me to tend to them until yesterday. I finally thought “enough is enough” and decided not to let the opportunity to photograph the bouquet pass by. I noticed this particular flower was hanging in the shape of a heart. It is almost as though it is traveling through the air.
You’ll notice that there are three images for you to view. I thought the original was a bit drab despite the detail. I used backlighting and could have exposed it more, but when I did it seemed blown out and some of the details were lost.
The second version is edited in Photoshop using a curves level and then adding a texture layer. Have you used Adobe Paper Texture Pro? I love it. There are so many options and once you have applied a texture layer you can adjust the opacity in the layers panel.
Loving black and white photography the way I do, I of course had to include a third version in black and white. I left the texture layer on when converting to black and white.
Which version of the tulip speaks to you the most? What does it say?
Original “Goodness of Heart”
ss 1/60 f 4.5 ISO 400
Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm f2.8
Curve adjustment and Adobe Paper Texture Pro Layer – Brushed Rose
Version II converted to Black and White
Last week I posted a photograph of a wilted flower on Monochromia. Sue was curious what the photograph looked like in color. Last week I was preparing for my daughter’s first communion and the celebration and had family in from out of town thus preventing me from getting extra time to create a second post. With that being said, I thought I would post the lily in color in addition to posting a color version of the image I posted on Monochromia today. Which do you like best? Do you find the black and white versions more appealing, or the color versions? When you visit Monochromia, you will also find fabulous quotes that accompany the images. I would love to hear your thoughts as to which version of each image is best accompanied by each quote.
Never Stop Fighting
SS 1/60 F 3.5 ISO 400
Every Day…
SS 1/250 F 5.6 ISO 400
“Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart.” ~ Thomas Fuller
To view this photograph in black and white, please visit Monochromia.
“The sun shines,
When I’m with you,
Your smile makes me want to dance.
Tonight, I’ll put on my favorite gown,
Place a diamond comb in my hair,
Dazzle you with my beauty,
And sway in your arms,
Until the morning light appears.”
copyright Robyn Graham
This photograph is the side of a Daffodil turned upside down. As I was photographing Daffodils from my garden I played with them to find unique angles to shoot. This reminded me of a woman’s ball gown. The first line of the poem is one of the meanings of the Daffodil in The Language of Flowers. The poem, was an inspiration from the Daffodils outside my window dancing in the afternoon sun.
Life is so busy right now. I once again have to apologize for my inactivity in the world of blogging. I cherish all of my followers and I appreciate those who stop by, browse through my blog, like my work, and leave comments. Please forgive me for not always returning that kind gesture. With three children, each in multiple activities, I find myself having a bit too much to juggle and very little time to browse blog posts and admire the work of my virtual friends.
With work I have been busy with product shoots, head shots, first communion portraits, senior portraits and more. I hope to blog about a couple of the unique projects in the near future. I have also been doing some behind the scenes work for future “big” projects with my photography….keep your fingers crossed for me! Hopefully they will come to fruition in the next 12 to 18 months.
“Unrequited love has Winter for Spring ~
Spring presents herself, but Winter does not want to take leave.
He delivers an unwelcome snow that covers the blooms Spring has brought forth.
The blooms pout as the weight of the snow bears down on them
and prevents them from sharing their glory.”
copyright Robyn Graham
In the “History and Language of Flowers”, one of the meanings of the daffodil is unrequited love. The above poem was inspired by this meaning of the Daffodil.
To see another black and white photograph of a Daffodil covered with snow visit Monochromia for my Thursday post.
“Dazzled by your Charm”
“Study of a Tulip I”
I am excited to announce that both photographs above were selected for the Philadelphia Sketch Club Annual Juried Flower Exhibit. If you live in the Philadelphia area, I encourage to stop by the exhibit – so many beautiful paintings, photographs, sketches and more.
Please note, today is Thursday, which means I posted on Monochromia today. If you enjoy street photography and faces, be sure and check out my post.
ss 1/60 f 4.5 ISO 800
Natural light, back-lit with light from door.
Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm, 2.8
To view this image in black and white, please visit Monochromia for my Thursday post.
Robyn Graham Photography 