ABC Wednesday - I is for Iris

I is for Iris............







I didn't expect to find this little beauty while on a hike in the middle of the woods.

I always thought of the Iris as being a cultivated plant that was spread by it's roots.

There was only this one set, with three flowers on it.

It was growing alongside a beautiful spray of ferns, and the purple really stood out against all that green.

I am thinking it must be a wild variety of iris, but I am still not sure how it got to be where it was.

It was the only one around, and I am glad we were there at the right time to catch it in all it's glory!.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Beautiful Daisies

Beautiful Daisies









While on a walk one afternoon I noticed a spray of these beautiful white daisies in a garden beside the road.

They made me smile with their bright smiling faces, and I just couldn't resist grabbing a shot.

So many of them, all gathered together - sure wish I had the green thumb that this gardener does.

Hope they brighten your day as they did mine!

Friday's Photo Tip - Redirect Light

Friday's Photo Tip - Redirect Light









Shooting stock photographs that are set against a white background can be very tricky at times.

It took me a lot of experimenting to get it just right.

Shadows were always plaguing me, and most times my subjects always looked so dark and drab to me.

Using studio lighting isn't my favorite, but I was determined to make it work.

I found that by using a reflector or two I was able to bounce the light around.

That certainly brightened things up a lot, and it helped with those dark shadows too.

And another thing I have found to be helpful - make sure I wear a white shirt when doing these shoots.

Even that small detail can help to "add" or "direct" more light towards my subject when I am standing in front of it.

Some of the props I use are far from professional, but I have some darn good ones that work pretty well.

And looking at the final result, nobody would ever suspect how crazy some of them are.

What a good feeling it is when it all works!

ABC Wednesday - H is for Historical House

H is for Historical House............







I have done several posts about the Strawbery Banke historical houses in the past, and this photo shows the full structure that is known as the Sherburne House.

These houses are all gathered around an open grassy center that is known as the Puddle Dock.

The Puddle Dock used to be a tidal pool along the Piscataqua River that dried up years ago into this flat grassy area.

Shipping was an important part of the original community in this area as the river lead inland into the Great Bay and it's estuary and many smaller rivers.

Growing up in this area was a treat and I never tire of visiting it when I get back to the seacoast.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Flock of Wild Turkeys

Flock of Wild Turkeys









We have seen more and more of these wild turkeys over the last few years.

They used to be on the endangered list in our region, but that is the case no longer.

There has been a spring and a fall hunting season for these birds as they have become so prolific.

But there are very specific rules that must be followed in each season.

They can only be hunted during a certain time of the day, and only males, or bearded females can be taken at a certain time.

The only birds in this flock are females though - no red beards to be seen.

I am hoping to get some closer shots of these birds this fall.

They are a quirky lot, these turkeys, and they easily spook if anything doesn't look just right to them.

And me being too close to them is certainly not right.

But I am anxious to give it a try!

Friday's Photo Tip - Time of Day Matters

Friday's Photo Tip - Time of Day Matters









Outdoors in the natural light is my favorite way to take photographs.

I am not a big fan of flash or studio light photography in a controlled environment, although I have seen beautiful work done with both.

Since photography is all about capturing the light, I like the way Mother Nature paints with it, and if I am lucky enough to see it, capture it with my camera.

And most times, it's just the way the light is hitting a leaf or flower that really makes the whole photo - and it usually only lasts for a moment or two.

I find that the best times to take outdoor photos is in the morning or the afternoon and evening.

The very early morning and early evening photos can sometimes have the best light as the sun is slanting across the sky and making unique, long, softer shadows.

I have found that between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, the light is very harsh and bright, and unless I am in the woods, and need this kind of light, then it doesn't produce very pleasing images.

This works for most of the year - except for the winter in my area. The sun is so far away with limited daylight hours, that the best time for taking photos is during those four hours.

Of course this time is probably a bit different around the world, depending on your location, but I think it would be safe to say that the noon hour is not the most prime time no matter where you are on our beautiful planet.

ABC Wednesday - G is for Geese

G is for Geese............







The larger zoom lens would have come in real handy for this shot, but alas, I had to make due with the only one I had with me.

There was a family of these wild Canadian Geese living beside a pond on a golf course.

From all the grumbling of the golfers - there was not one person happy to see them there.

Not only were they chasing the players and the carts, they were leaving big messy droppings all over the green.

And when it comes to golfers - you don't mess with their green.

It all needs to be maintained just so in order to keep everyone happy, and the geese had no respect at all for that green.

I rather enjoyed the whole scene myself and had to hide my chuckles as I tried to snap a few photos from a distance.

I didn't want those geese to mistake me for one of those angry golfers and come after me too with a vengeance!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.