It's just another Macro Monday! 25/26

Cathy K December 30, 2013

Come take a walk with me through the websites of four photographers who are sharing their love of macro photography every other Monday throughout the year. We shoot what we love, what makes us happy, to hone our skills, to stretch our minds and our imaginations, and because it's who we are!

Our final week for 2013.

We started a week late and skipped last week due to our busy schedules.

We have plans to continue our circle into next year but with a twist on our theme.

Stay tuned!

I thought it only fitting to finish out the year sharing a bit of my Christmas.

An original Elf on the Shelf...it belongs to my husband and was given to him as a child! He sits in our tree...

An ornament from our tree...

Sprinkles for the Cream Cheese cookies no one can seem to live without..

A snowman that greets me at the sink each morning...

The leaves of a pointsettia...

A keychain camera that sounds like a camera when you click the shutter and yes, that's my tree in the lens...

The next three are from a quick trip to Longwood ..

Thank you all for sharing in this journey with me this year. I appreciate your comments and that so many of you have told me how much you look forward to seeing my work.

I hope you continue to follow my blog next year and to check out the blogs of my friends who are joining in this project with me!

To see the final posts of the other three photographers start here with

Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click the links in each post until you come full circle!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, photography filled New Year!

It's just another Macro Monday! 24/26

Cathy K December 9, 2013

WOW! Week 24, almost finished!

This past weekend I took a brief walk through Longwood Gardens. I was hoping to share some of those images, but alas, I've been banned from giving a "spoiler alert!"

It seems that my preview of Longwood bothered some of fellow photographer friends up in

Berks County.

You see, we had planned to go as a group tomorrow. Unfortunately, there is a significant snowstorm predicted so it's been postponed until next week.

Instead of flowers from Longwood, I'll share a couple of pictures I took for my Macro Madness Study Group. The first is a first try at using something besides bugs or flowers.

A common household object.

My initial image is with correct settings and white balance.

This image was created playing with the settings on my camera and my external flash! What a difference a couple of clicks on a dial can make!

I bought this poinsettia just because it was blue, and had sparkles, and I thought it would make an interesting subject. My expectations didn't quite live up my execution, but you can be the judge.

To continue around the circle, start here with Stacy Vitallo Heap and continue around the circle until you're back here at my blog!

It's Just Another Macro Monday! 23/26

Cathy K November 25, 2013

This week's images come from a Macro Study I'm doing on my favorite photography forum.

One of my many favorite photographers is sharing his love of macro photography and the how-to's with a small group of us.

This week's challenge was to use a different lighting source than you normally do...an off-camera flash, a reflector, a flashlight...whatever you could find.

Since I have an off-camera flash, but little experience with it, I decided to try that.

These two pictures couldn't be more different in color and tone, but

I like them anyway.

To see what the other three photographers, particpating in the challenge, posted this week

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click the link in each post until you end up back here.

The circle will, then, be complete.

It's Just Another Macro Monday-Week 22/26

Cathy K November 11, 2013

This week's post if from my favorite place to shoot macro.

Longwood Gardens

I spent the afternoon there last week with another group of friends who keep me inspired,

push me to further my knowledge base, and enjoy my hobby as much as I do!

I'm looking forward to my next visit already. Their Christmas display is amazing. If you get a chance, if you live within driving distance, you should go, at least once in your lifetime, but I can almost guarantee that you'll want to back!

Here are a few of my favorite.

To continue around the circle and see what the rest of my friends found to share this week,

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

It's Just Another Macro Monday-Week 21/26

Cathy K October 28, 2013

The weeks are flying by quickly and life is busy. Changes are taking place. Changes that I've been anticipating for a very long time.

Dreams are coming true.

The addition we've began planning in our heads, decades ago, is finally starting to look like a room!

While I was away this past weekend, Paul was busy with this stuff!

fiberglass insulation

Drywall

And of course the screws to hang the drywall!

to continue around the circle and see what the other photographers have come up with start here with

Stacy Heap Vitallo

And then click the link in her post to check out the next photographer!

It's just another Macro Monday! 19/26

Cathy K September 30, 2013

One of the first things I learned when I took my first online photography course and the single most important thing that made a difference in my photos was to move my feet. To climb on top of things. To lay on the ground. To look around. To see things from different vantage points.

Most of the time when I shoot, it's morning. I just love morning light. This week I chose to wait until the evening to challenge myself. And challenge myself, I did.

I waited until the sun was almost down.

My camera was literally in the grass.

Why?

Well, that's where this week's subjects came from!

A buttercup and some type of weed hiding in our "well" manicured lawn!

To continue around the circle and see what the other photographers found this week,

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click the link in her post that takes you to next photographer, and so on!

It's just another Macro Monday! 18/26

Cathy K September 16, 2013

Ready or not, it's coming!

Shorter days. Cooler nights. Falling leaves and these!

To continue around the circle, start here with photographer

Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click on the link in each Macro Monday post until you get back here to mine.

It's just another Macro Monday! 17/26

Cathy K September 2, 2013

My apologies to the arachnophobics out there!

No bigger than a half inch and yet they creep out so many people, myself included. I can't even stand the though of walking through a cobweb and getting the spider's silk on me. Ewww!

What I had never noticed before was how much thicker and stronger the silk is that holds the spider's next meal.

To see what the other talented ladies found to shoot this week, start here with

Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click on the link in each Macro Monday post until you come back here!

It's just another Macro Monday! (16 of 26!)

Cathy K August 12, 2013

"Can't see the forest for the trees."

I was outside a few days ago looking for a subject for this week's Macro Monday post. I was also looking for the elusive humming bird my husband swears is there or maybe even the hummingbird moth he's seen near my butterfly bushes. Since the hummingbird feeder and the bushes are in close proximity, I camped out there with my camera. I did see a few monarch butterflies, but I shot them a couple of weeks ago. The only other flying creatures I saw were two whites moths, that is until this little guy showed up. I didn't really think he or she was very pretty and it was definitely NOT was I was hoping for. So I waited and waited and waited. Then I thought, why not? Take a picture. What can it hurt? I had no idea of the details that would illuminate themselves once I put the image on my computer.

Look at his furry little head and furry little body. Then notice his striped antennae and huge eyes.

Come in a little closer and take a look!

I was so glad that he decided to stick around and that I finally noticed his beauty even though originally, I'd passed him by.

To see what the the other photographers have found for us this week,

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

and her MM:16 post,

then click on the link in each post until you've viewed all of our images.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K July 29, 2013

Can. Not. Wait.

If I'm shooting macros of my tomato plants at this point in the summer, I'm thinking I won't be seeing any edible tomatoes for quite a while. Good thing my neighbors let me poach from their plants!

Don't get too excited for me with this last one. It's smaller than a golf ball!

To continue around the circle and see what the other three talented ladies shot this week,

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

and click the link in each post to see the next photographers images.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K July 15, 2013

Note:One of our photographers is unable to participate at the present time

Just hanging around...

I've been waiting for weeks to see a butterfly on my butterfly bushes. The blooms seemed delayed this year, but with all the rain we've had I couldn't understand why. I was ready to give up and think that the butterflies had gone the way of the hummingbirds, whose feeders I still even though I have only seen one or two in years. Finally, this week, I found hope.

And a happy missed shot!

Check out the other awesome gals by started withe

Faye Kingston of Miramichi, NB

Baby "C" and his Baptism

Cathy K July 13, 2013

I had the privilege of witnessing this little guy's baptism a couple of week's ago. It was a wonderful day, filled with family, friends, and a supportive church community.

He'll be a blessed child of God!

Don't you just love how his little fingers are already folded?

Sleeping peacefully before the service begins..

Mom and Dad with Pastor John Inghram

The Godparents!

He barely made a peep!

Baby "C's" mom has the most incredible voice.

I have no idea how she was able to keep herself together and sing "Find Your Wings".

I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the sanctuary.

One of his grandmothers..

One of his grandfathers.

One of his great-grandmothers!

Two more great-grandparents!

Two of his aunts and uncles!

At the reception after the service...

Two more grandparents!

This connection was melting my heart!

This is one of baby "C's" second cousins or something like that! Their mothers are, each, one of three granddaughters to one of the great-grandmothers. The three cousins were all pregnant at the same time and due within a few weeks of each, two on the same day. One was born a few weeks early and these two came along a little bit later.

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K July 1, 2013

While outside last weekend I found a few critters to keep my company. I was weeding and replanting some flowers that had reseeded themselves in places I didn't want them to grow! There was also the yearly task of removing the leaves and debris from the river rock that surrounds our house. Many of these critters made their home in the moist, muddy environment.

I just loved this baby worm!

We are halfway through our challenge for this year. To see what the other talented ladies found,

start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

and from there you can check out Denean and Faye's images!

Project Life 365-day 178

Cathy K June 28, 2013

"#some_day"

I have know this "some day" would come for years. My baby is out of college and on his own in New York City.

I am so proud of the man he has become, what he's made of his life, and how he has accomplished his goals.

I hope his "some_day" brings him joy and the realization of his dreams!

Project Life 365-day 177 (yes, I've missed a few, quite a few!)

Cathy K June 27, 2013

"edible"

This little guy found the grass in my yard quite edible today!

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K June 17, 2013

It's week 12 and hard to believe that we're almost half way through this challenge. I have, only, two images to share this week. Neither was planned, not exactly anyway. I started to go for the new flowers that were blooming in my yard when the buds I was focusing on, got a visitor.

Those visitors became the focus of my images!

To see what Denean, Faye and Stacy found this week, start here with Stacy's post!

We are not all linked, yet today. So if you don't see someone's post, be sure to check back!

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K June 3, 2013

Rain drops keep falling on my head....

that's been the song in the back of my mind all spring long, so when I woke up to rain, again, this morning, I knew exactly what I wanted my post today to be.

I just love how the view in droplets is upside down.

I almost missed this little drop!

To see what the other ladies found this week, start here with Stacy Heap Vitallo

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K May 19, 2013

This Monday project sneaks up on me. I have two weeks to think about shooting, but the procrastinator in me has the upper hand.

The flowers are beginning to bloom in my yard, but unfortunately for me, this morning, the rain clouds had decided to make an appearance.

I really did hope it would come out later in the day but took the break in the downpours to grab a few of the flowers that are currently blooming in my gardens.

So, while the light is not pretty, the flowers and the buds are.

There's no such thing as an ugly flower.

I read this quote earlier this week.

I think the meaning behind it is much deeper than the words seem to be, especially when you take a minute to consider the possibilites.

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” -Buddha

To see what the talented Faye, Denean, and Stacy have chosen to share with us this week, start here with Stacy's blog and click the link in each post to go the next one.

One flower, five ways...

Cathy K April 25, 2013

On a recent trip to Longwood I met up with a fellow photographer from my Photoshop group.

To say he's a talented artist is an understatement.

His work hangs in the halls of Longwood Gardens and in the Bradywine River Museum, which also hosts the works of Andrew Wyeth.

He's a quiet, unassuming man.

He doesn't have the best camera or the most expensive lenses.

He does have a passion for art.

He's self taught.

I would love to just follow him around and watch him work.

To see just how he shoots.

To figure out what he sees.

I was fortunate this day.

He shared with me, some of the things he does.

The things he looks for, like the way shapes flow or bend.

Some of his techniques for creating an image.

That he likes to watch how people create an image too!

That he shoots, truly, for himself.

Yes, there are rules, but he looks for the beauty.

The interesting.

Regardless of the rule,

He looks for the light.

He pointed me towards a basket of flowers that was high on a pedestal. "Look." he said. "Walk around. What do you see?" he asked.

This is what I saw:

I owe this man a debt of gratitude!

It's just another Macro Monday!

Cathy K April 22, 2013

__________________________________________________________________________________

"The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching one by one,

The little one stops to suck his thumb

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

One day last week my son told me that there ants in the candy bowl in my family and in my dining room, which is on the other side of the house.

No where in between, though.

I found one ant in the candy bowl, dumped the candy in the trash, and washed out the bowl. My son took care of the ants in my dining room.

Problem solved, or so I thought.

A few days later I threw a bag of Tootsie Rolls in the bowl in the family room.

Over the next couple of days I ate a Tootsie Roll or two, until Thursday. On Thursday, I ate a Tootsie Roll and thought it tasted kinda funny. I grabbed another Tootsie Roll, unwrapped it, popped it in my mouth, started chewing, and screamed when I realized it wasn't just a Tootsie Roll.

Yep, you guessed it...the ants were back.

I get ants every spring. No big deal.

A few on the kitchen counters. Maybe a couple around the dogs bowl.

We treat the perimeter of the house.

The ants disappear.

Now, that I'm positive, or at least fairly certain, I may have ingested some of these little creatures ( I still have this funny feeling in the back of my throat when I look at these pictures) I am on an all out mission to rid my house of their presence.

I realized after I calmed down that an opportunity had just presented itself to me and I grabbed my camera.

This is the last I hope to see of these things!