Tag: botanical garden

Lichens on Tree Branches

I have finally gotten out to the local botanic garden after a month long hiatus.  I went a couple of days ago on a bright sunny day.  Today, in the foggy gloom, I went again.  Both times, camera in hand.  The sunny day I was accompanied by a friend while this morning one of my dogs came along.

In today’s gloom, the bright green lichens on this tree caught my eye.  I’ve photographed it a number of times, in different seasons, under different lighting conditions.  There are spots of green, white, and dark grey.  Textures range from smooth to rough.  In the textures of the garden – leaves, flowers, critters, stems, branches, – it is easy to overlook the subtle beauty of a couple of branches.

Tree & Path

I’ve been doing a “silent 365” in black and white this year, but I want to make a comment here.  The camera which I used to take this picture is a 1935 box camera, a pseudo-TLR, the Voigtlander Brillant.  It’s an interesting camera – has a few quirks – but I was really pleased with the results.  This is an image taken on Ektar 100, 120mm, and converted to black and white for th is project.

 

Ssshh!

Now, For a Bit of Spring Color!!

I am doing a 365 wordless black and white project this year, but every now and again the need for color rears its head!  With nothing demanding my time – being retired is so cool! – I am doing a lot of film photography and using some of my vintage cameras.  And, now, I guess vintage film as Agfa Vista 200 is no longer with us . . .

This image was done using Agfa Vista, as stated, and a really interesting camera that I got from the same gentleman who refurbished the Agfa Silette I wrote about earlier.  This is a twin lens reflex (TLR) 35mm camera called the Flexilette, produced from 1960-1961.  The first roll of film I put through it bombed because I pulled the rewind knob out too far and disengaged the canister.  This time I didn’t, and got some really amazing shots.  (Not that I am a great photographer, but the film and camera did a great job!)

I plan to write a review of the Flexilette, but if you want to read about it, do so here.  Meanwhile, a wonderful and colorful spring to you!

In the Garden: Daffodils

With clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70s, spring has arrived!  I packed up a watercolor book, pens, a couple of cameras, and myself – off to the local botanical garden to finally get a look after weeks of rains and closure.  I was not disappointed.  Flowers in bloom, hordes of butterflies as I haven’t seen in years (lots of flowers = lots of butterflies), people.  The air was fragrant from the new growth everywhere, but in particular was a clump of daffodils beneath an old olive tree.

I sat down on a rock, and did this sketch, saving the colors until I got home.  I also took a lot of pictures – digital and film – for reference.  People stopped by and made conversation, a dog or two came to sniff.  Nature, while beautiful, is also capable of irritation – the baby flies were a bit annoying and I wonder if I should put on some DEET to keep them away.

For months I have been thinking about drawing in the garden.  It changes daily, and with the seasons.  This is the first drawing of this project, which will be ongoing.  I’ll be adding it to the page My Other Lives page above.  (For now – WordPress seems to be having issues adding pages!)

Happy Spring everyone!

A Sunny Day in the Garden

A few miles up the road from me is the local botanical garden.  It’s located on a series of hills that cover several acres.  Trails wander through oak groves and chaparral.  Specific areas are planted for butterflies and birds, sage plants, California natives, rare fruit, cacti.  It’s always a pleasure to meander around in it as it changes with seasons.  Different times of day bring out different animals; as well, the light shifts and changes.  Early morning, sunset, high noon.  Benches  line the paths throughout the garden.  For a wilder walk, there are the trails along the creek.  I’ve seen squirrels, road runners, coyotes and hawks.  Critters like it as much as I do.  It’s even better when you are the only one there except the wildlife!

I went out to take pictures and to draw – it’s been several weeks since I was last there.  Rain and cold as well as being ill kept me home for a bit.  With today’s 70 F, it was hard to stay indoors.  I took a couple of cameras – one film, one digital – some paper and a pen.  I wanted to see the flowers in particular, especially the spring bulbs which come up at this time of year.  I wasn’t disappointed.The outing was soul-satisfying on a personal and artistic level. I’ll be back sooner rather than later!  There is little more satisfying than time spent in solitary and quiet appreciation of nature.