Strong, Powerful, Beautiful

“A horse is the projection of people’s dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” – Pam Brown

Strong, Powerful, Beautiful

Reversed Cheer

Reversed Cheer

SS 1/160, F16, ISO 200

“Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.” – Edward Weston

For those who may not have visiting my blog before, or those who have, but might have forgotten, the Gerber Daisy represents cheer in the Victorian Language of Flowers – thus the title.

Summer Goodness – in the Fall

Summer Goodness

 

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.”- Lewis Grizzard

 

2013 Lily Series – 11

“Fascination”

The charm of desire,

The happiness of pleasure,

The enthusiasm of fascination,

The determination of passion,

The stimulation of encouragement,

All of which fashion attraction

And foster the inclination to take action. 

copyright Robyn Graham

Fascination

The poem for “Fascination” is written with words that either the color orange, or the orange lily represent.

With this post I conclude the 2013 Lily Series….but only until new blooms ensue.

I hope you have enjoyed the different perspectives of the lily presented in this series, and that you have found them inspiring.

Blessings to all.

Robyn

2013 Sunflower Series – 06

I originally thought I would include 5 images in the series, but there are a couple more than I feel compelled to share so the series continues for another couple of days.  I do hope you continue to enjoy the sunflowers.

“The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth….The trite subjects of human efforts – possessions, outward success, luxury – have always seemed to me contemptible.”

– Albert Einstein

A Soulful Light

2013 Sunflower Series – 05

“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou

Who gazest ever true and tender

On the sun’s revolving splendour.”

– Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Light-enchanted

2013 Sunflower Series – 02

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa

The Echoes of Kind Words

 

Serendipity

“Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked.”

– Elizabeth Berg

With light, all things can be beautiful.  It’s just a matter of seeing the beauty that remains. – Robyn Graham

Photographing Steam

 

The thought of photographing steam is sometimes much easier than actually accomplishing it.  The environment has to be just right.  After several attempts I was able to capture a slight show of steam only to then learn that to photograph steam you really need cooler temperatures.  It was 100 degrees the day I set out to accomplish my mission.  To prevent you from working backwards like I did, attempting, being less than successful, and then going on-line to research, I am going to tell you what you’ll need to be successful the very first time you attempt to photograph steam.

What you need to photograph steam:

Steam – of course.

Light – back lighting, or side lighting.

Temperature – cooler temperatures are better.

Background – dark background.

Air movement control – the slightest shift in air can result in the steam moving in a different direction or taking a different shape.  Sometimes this is beneficial.  Sometimes an aggravation depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

A few websites/blogs I found helpful:

Food Photography Blog -http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog/food_photography/steam.html

Photo.net – http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00NWhD

Photoink – http://photoink.org/how-to-photograph-steam

A few of my attempts, better images to come when cooler weather arrives.  Live and learn.  You have to start somewhere, right?

Afternoon tea with a cinnamon butterscotch scone.

Less steam than the first image. There was an air conditioning vent near the placement of the first subject.

Again, less steam, but I like the image.

Thoughtless Thursday

Thoughtless Thursday with an adorable little girl.