This morning the sky is mottled with clouds and the light is soft. Bright red flowers seem even brighter than ever.
I keep meaning to find out the name of these – never seem to find their label in the garden. Time to set about on a hunt, like I do annually for the daffodils and narcissus.
This is a panorama shot with a very narrow DOF. The focal point could have been better, but it is the row of daffs in front of the trees. The third clump in the very front from the left is best in focus, but I probably could have focused on the blooms in the second clump. Oh well.
I probably took 60 or so images here, and got a really well-covered area. The point is to see the different layers of in and out of focus areas. The foreground is sort of in focus, then the daffodils, and then moving back, the trees become increasingly more blurred. Sometimes doing these big panoramas can produce exciting pictures – other times, rather meh to downright worthless. If you enlarge the picture, you will be able to see the levels of focus more clearly.
The beauty of digital! So much can be thrown away, so much can be play, so much can be a learning experience that is cheap – film does not make this an economic adventure at all.
Where-oh-where does time go? I have been busy – so busy – that I have not sat down with a brush or piece of paper in ages it seems. Sewing socializing, health, family, photography, hiking, knitting – just some of the things taking up my time. I can’t use cold weather as an excuse. I’ve been more busy than I am used to – and enjoying all of it.
And yesterday? The weather was lovely, so out into the dog free zone I went, travel palette, cup of water, a paper towel, water brushes. The 6×8 Bee paper is perfect for just playing – it’s a decent paper, 100% cotton, and heavy enough to mush a lot of water around on both sides. I just played, using the daffodils in a vase inside – brought outside – plants on the patio, fruit and vegetables from the kitchen. I could tell I was rusty – but had fun anyway!
I need to remember my promise to myself when I retired: paint or draw every day! Like a vitamin or a prayer – good for the soul.
I did this one as a pano, focusing on the leaves in the center of the image. I wanted to make them the clearest part of the image, trying to catch their sparkle. I am always fascinated by the dappling of light through leaves.
This little girl was in the local garden with her family – skipping along. This other one had definite plans and was just trucking along, leaving everyone else far behind.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 