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Week 1 of 52 Weeks/52 Words - Book

Copyright© 2012
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Trying to really learn how to use my editing program - just followed along with the book's camera RAW processing and it was a revelation!! Suddenly I know what all these terms mean. Luminance? Vibrance?? Certainly NOT what I would have guessed!! :-)

I am making an emergency trip - along with my newly-retired hubby, of course!! - to Tallahasse for a couple weeks to help out my daughter and son-in-law while they undergo some major life changes in just a short time. Of course, I offered to watch my grand-daughter during this time even tho I knew it would be reaaaally hard. Psych!! I am not sure when we will be back as hubby is returning to Tallahassee at the end of that time and we are going to spend a few days exploring the Big Bend Scenic Byway. Not even time for commenting today - sorry. Just trying to not get tooo far behind in this project.

Happy Week-end to all!!

Copyright© 2012
This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Yesterday, I said to myself enough with the housework - time for a photo-stroll!! :-)

It is camellia blossom time here in Central Florida, so I decided to revisit Leu Gardens in Orlando. Even tho we have had a few chilly nites, most of the blooms are intact and as lush and lovely as can be. While the perfect flowers are heavenly, I find a special beauty in the fading stages of their lives. This one had fallen onto a bed of pine needles and I was especially intrigued by the little bits of green still remaining. Such delicate colors and textures...

Happy Thursday all, y'all!!

Copyright© 2012
This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Week 4 0f 52 Words/52 Weeks - Friends

Found this metal sculpture at Leu Gardens yesterday. This is what it means to be a grandparent and friend!!

This piece, considered Mixed Media, is entitled "Grandpa and Grandson" and was created by the American artist Peter Oftinoski.

Copyright© 2012
This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

On Saturday, I was sitting at the computer desk, which has a window over-looking our back yard, when a sense of motion attracted my attention. I looked out to find this bird busily searching for food right below the window. As one of my bird books describes, "It bobs its head and long beak in and out of the ground like a sewing machine." Perfect. I shot some thru both the window and the screen, then slowly tried raising the window to just shoot thru the screen. A few minutes prior to this, the bird had pulled a big worm out of the ground - a good 6" or more - and finally managed to choke it all down. Now it was moving in slow motion, or not much at all, seemingly stuffed and satisfied from its big breakfast!! The sun had just risen and that is a real reflection in its eye. Another one of those ya just get lucky moments!

Thanks to Leapfrog for this ID, a Wilson's Snipe - perhaps even more obscure than a dowitcher!!

No luck with the bird and worm shots as there was just waaaay too much motion blur. :-( Too bad. But this was fun to watch, that's for sure!!

Copyright© 2012
This image is protected under the United States and International Copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without written permission.

Last week, my hubby and I celebrated his retirement with a bike ride thru Emeralda Marsh here in Lake County. While there was not much in the way of wildlife activity, it was a splendid day for a bike ride and just to be outdoors.

Historically, the original habitat in the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area was sawgrass marsh, wet prairie and upland hammock. As with much of the state, in the 1940's, the marshes were diked, drained and converted to agricultural fields and cattle pastures. In 1994, after acquiring 7 different parcels, the St. John's Water Management District began restoration. As part of this program, a wetland treatment marsh was built on more than 1500 acres of former farm lands bordering Lake Griffin and Haynes Creek. The purpose of the "flow-ways" is to remove solid material suspended in the water and "particle-bound" nutrients from lake waters that are circulated thru the marsh. Right now, due to our on-going period of extreme dryness, water levels are fairly low.

I am playing with textures in the process of really trying to learn more about my editing program. It amazes me how these things can totally change and/or improve an image. Just tons of fun!!