Friday, May 31, 2013

Rose Garden





I stepped into the Crane Courtyard Wednesday to see the roses.  They were just past their prime and still covered in water droplets from all our rain.  I found a beautiful mixture of decay, robust beauty, and new buds waiting for their turn to bloom.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Spider's Webs






I often stop by this spot on Crumb Creek looking for ducks but without my long lens I've given up camera birding for a while.  Now I have the opportunity to notice those up close details I've been overlooking. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Struggles





I have been struggling with stork images for a long time now.  For whatever reason it has been very difficult to make a good painting of a stork.  This, of course, has launched me into a bit of an obsession.  The psychology of rejection, you know.  The first and last images are charcoal on canvas and I'm pretty sure that's where the future of this project lies.  But I do have a few I'm still pursuing in oils just in case.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Hydrangeas




I love hydrangeas.  There's something sensual and kind of awesome about their huge balls of flowers.  My early childhood was spent in Illinois where the winter freezes discourage plants like these from growing out of control.  (ie. keeps them very small and tidy if they grow at all.)  Azaleas and rhododendron are small shrubs not the towering, sprawling monsters they are in Virginia and even here in Philadelphia.  So these abundant blooms give me a joy that is part fascination and part obsession. 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Brilliant Flames


Yesterday I spent a beautiful afternoon walking around Chanticleer in Wayne, PA.   The gardens were amazing.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Trees in Bloom



After returning my brand new 300mm lens TWICE I've decided that the powers-that-be are trying to tell me to buy the 400mm lens.  But that is going to take some saving.  In the mean time I'll be walking around with the 18-200mm lens.  Which probably means more plants and rocks and fewer birds.  Luckily it's a great time of year for plants!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Chomp Chomp



This little muskrat was not concerned about our presence.  He continued happily eating away while we took his picture.