Tag Archives: leaf

Togetherness

These two little oak galls seem to be leaning in to each other, as though to share secrets or offer comfort. Yes, anthropomorphism at its finest!

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Nikon D5100 f/5.6 ISO 800 1/250sec 195mm – Summer 2012

I was out at sunrise the other morning, watering the little fruit trees. These bright orange-yellow galls caught my eye. Their color is certainly enhanced by the glow of sunrise, and that is part of what caught my eye, but what I like the most is their attitude of leaning in toward each other, and the appearance of being cradled by the leaf.

Surrender!

Uncle! What do we trees and bushes need to say for the rain to come?

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Nikon D5100 f/8.0 1/250sec 55-300@300mm – Summer 2012

Despite the pathos of a single dead leaf on bare twigs, the light through this leaf is beautiful. I am out searching for beauty to photograph. If I wanted to show desperation or decline, I guess I would need different lighting.

What do you think?

The Flag of the Underbrush

Soft focus, blurred background, woodland colors…

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Nikon D5100 f/6.7 ISO 100 1/180s Nikkor 55-300mm lens 185mm – Summer 2012

I love these leaves displayed on their twig like the flag of the underbrush!

Recently we did some mowing and weedeating along the trail to the pond and on the bank of the pond. The idea was to facilitate access to the pond for fishing. While I have to admit that in some respects it is nice to have a clear trail, I also think we went overboard. The trail is too wide, too clear. Many of the areas where I took photos of insects, flowers, and seeds last year are now brown stubble. The underbrush has been cleared back, but now there is no buffer between the woods and the path. The underbrush needs someone to stand up for it, waving a flag, proudly declaring love of the weeds, bugs, and small critters who are the underbrush and its residents! I have nothing against neat, manicured lawns and pathways, but that is not where I want to live and take my photos. I leave those areas to others.

Behind the veil

Virginia Creeper veils many a tree. When we step out our front door on a sunny, summer morning, we are greeted by the beautiful sight of sunlight glowing through the veil of Virginia Creeper leaves, and are also able to see the shady, rough bark of the oak tree behind the veil.

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Nikon D5100 f/5.6 ISO 100 1/180sec Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012

Desiccated Beauty

Between the recent triple digit heat and near drought conditions, plants have had it kind of rough this month of July, 2012.

This photo, like yesterday’s photo, has less contrast, softer colors, less intense light, than the photos I usually prefer. It has a soft, almost painterly quality. I quite like it, though not so much as my bright and sunny photos. What is your opinion?

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Nikon D5100 f/5.6 1/180 ISO 100 Nikkor 55-300mm lens – Summer 2012

 

Just because they are dried out doesn’t mean these leaves have no beauty. The early morning sun can reveal beauty in many otherwise unnoticeable things.