Bloom Where You're Planted

Texture: KK_canvasmagic by Kim Klassen; Screen at 50% opacity.

Tulips are one of my favourite flowers.  Unfortunately, the climate is not cold enough where I live for growing tulips.

I don't normally buy flowers but I was fortunate to find a bunch while grocery shopping the other day, so I thought I'd treat myself.

Plus, it's a great excuse to take more photos.

ps     Speaking of flowers, my garden is looking a little worse for wear at the moment.  Not a flower in sight in the backyard. There is a very good explanation for this:   puppies.   That's right, puppies (as in more than one - what was I thinking?).   Our two new additions to the family arrived a couple of months ago.   Pictures are coming soon.

Marigold - but not as we know it

The theme for today's CY365 is 'White'.

My intention for this prompt was to go into the garden and photograph a white flower, but there were none around today.

So I photographed a bright orange Marigold from my vegetable garden and with the help of Photoshop, created a white flower.

I love Photoshop!

Dew Drops

The prompt for today's CY365 is 'On The Edge'.

Thankfully, Mother Nature was happy to oblige and provided these delicate dew drops on the edge of a rose leaf.

A Touch Of Yellow

Isn't it great when something unexpected (in a good way) happens with your photography?

The prompt for CY365 was 'A Touch Of Yellow'.   I went out into the garden and couldn't find any yellow flowers.   Then I couldn't help but notice the ever growing weeds in the back garden, and saw the yellow centres of the Cobbler's Peg flowers.   Perfect for the prompt I thought.

Then just as I started to press the shutter, this little bee flew into the frame.  Now this was perfect.

Beginnings

This weeks Texture Tuesday theme is "Wise Words".

I thought about adding a quote, but decided to keep it simple.

Sometimes one word is enough.

Sharing with Texture Tuesday.

The Swamp Bloodwood trees are flowering beautifully at the moment.

This photo was taken just before the flowers began to open.

Texture: KK Take Heart by Kim Klassen, soft light at 83% opacity. Font: Papyrus.

More Swamp Bloodwood images can be seen here.

Rainbow Lorikeet

A welcome visitor to my garden.

Fungi

It's amazing what pops up after rain.

The garden was full of different kinds of fungi. Some of which I haven't seen before.





























These little pink umbrellas are my absolute favourite.

Do you think there are fairies nearby?

Capture Your 365 - February Favourites

I must admit I am falling a little behind in my project but I'm not giving up just yet.

Here are a few of my favourites for February:









I figure it doesn't matter if I miss a day (or 10) here or there, as long as I keep taking pictures.

You can join in at any time.  Come visit Capture Your 365 and join in the fun.

Portrait - Before and After

It's lovely to do some portraits for a change.

I have been wanting to take some pictures in the late afternoon with some backlighting, but lately the weather hasn't been very co-operative.

Whilst playing in the backyard a couple of days ago, I saw the perfect patch of light appear through the trees in the front yard. There wasn't much time as the sun was setting quickly and we also had to contend with a few clouds. But we managed to get the shot that I wanted.

Below is the image straight out of the camera.

I love this image of my Son, but I felt it needed to be a bit warmer.






And here is the image after editing.

Canon 7D, Canon EF 50mm 1.4, 1/125sec, f2.8, ISO 200

 

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Spot Healing Brush Tool -  to remove some minor blemishes.

2. Colour Balance Adjustment  Layer -  to add warmth to the image.

3. Dodge/Burn Tools -  to lighten and darken areas on the face.

4. Crop Tool.

Flowers in the Grass

Texture: KK Violet by Kim Klassen; Divide at 85% opacity.

When I was walking out in the backyard yesterday, I came across these beautiful flowers growing in the grass.

They were about 5mm in size and in various shades of purple.

I have no idea what sort of flowers they are but they are so pretty (and a good excuse to put off the mowing for a couple of days).





Texture: KK Violet by Kim Klassen; Soft Light at 75% opacity.

Murraya paniculata

Sharing with Texture Tuesday

Texture:   KK Edith by Kim Klassen, Colour Burn at 65% opacity.

Murraya paniculata, also known as Orange Jessamine, is one of my favourite plants in the garden.

These fragrant, white flowers appear several times a year.

They make great hedges and seem to thrive when you give them a trim.

When I took the above photo a couple of weeks ago, there were more flowers than ever before.

I'm so glad I did because two days later, all the flowers were gone and a lovely white flower carpet lay below.

Fruit Is On The Way

After recent rain, the citrus trees are starting to flower.






The fruit is beginning to appear.






When you walk amongst the trees, you smell the most amazing perfume.






When you look underneath the flowers, you can see tiny spots on the petals.


                                                                                               Sharing with Macro Monday