Reflections of a Sunrise + Hydrangea Centerpiece / Project 52 ~ Week 18

Happy Thursday {it's almost Friday!!}.

  I'm so excited to share Week 18 for a couple reasons:

1. It's about the beach...and the beach is one of my most favorite places to be for relaxation, rejuvenation and fun!

2. It means I'm {finally} caught up with past Project 52 weeks!!

  I'll set the scene first.  It was a stressful day at work, at home, and with life in general.  We all have those days, I know this, and most days I can cope quite well.  This day was different, I'm not sure how to describe it, but I was literally stressed beyond my normal coping point.  I called my younger sis for our normal daily talk - but I had a {BIG} question to ask.  We exchanged the normal "how was your day" question...then I dropped the request.  I {politely} asked if she would take a day or two off work to come down to NC for a beach weekend with me and the little ones.  And, being the most awesome sister as usual, she agreed to put in for some last minute vacation days.  My kids and I have been on such a routine lately with work, school and activity schedules that "fun" was not something we'd had in awhile.   

  A few days later we arrived at Myrtle Beach, SC and checked-in to our favorite hotel for a long overdue mini-vacation.  I woke up early on Saturday morning {I rarely sleep past 5am, even though I'd love to sometimes} and strolled to the beach with my youngest to watch the sunrise.  It was magical and refreshing.  I get to watch the sunrise almost everyday, it's awe inspiring to witness those beautiful colors and to know that a brand new day has been granted.  I photographed a few different times during the sunrise and loved every image...having to choose only one for Week 18 was a bit difficult!

"Beach Sunrise n.7" / Project 52 - Week 18
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 100, 1/320, F5.6}

  The other images from this morning are uploaded on Facebook in the album titled "Coming Soon", if you get a chance, please stop by to visit and view!

  I also wanted to share within this post some fun and fresh garden details!  Recently I purchased a vintage collection of aqua Ball mason jars with a metal carrier from a wonderful Etsy shop called SpringHillFarm.  I must admit, when I opened this packaging this week, I was even more surprised at how neat this collection looked together.  Last evening my daughters and I spent a few minutes in the garden clipping just the 'right' bunches of pink hydrangeas to fill each of the 7 jars.  Below are a few Instagram photos of how the vintage collection + fresh blooms = a simply beautiful centerpiece!

{love the look of aqua+pink}

{love the contrast of new + old}

{hydrangea love!}

...hope everyone has a wonderful day...

--Jennifer

Macro Fun / Project 52 ~ Week 16

  Hello, again!  I'm so thrilled to be posting another week so soon ... it means I'm that much closer to getting back on track with weekly posts.
  Week 16 was photographed in Saxapahaw, NC (a most gorgeous rural area).  I was out of town to attend a great portrait photography workshop.  I was presented with an opportunity to test out another photographer's macro lens...and was beyond excited!  I arrived before the class began on that Saturday, just to get a chance to try the lens on a few wild flowers around the parking area.  I fell in love instantly!  I have always adored nature photography and magnifying those tiny wildflowers was like magic.   I cannot wait to purchase my first macro lens, I'm currently researching which one will be the "best" one for my cameras (more to come on choosing the right lenses in future posts).

  I chose the image below for Week 16:

"Macro Yellow n.1" / Project 52 - Week 16
{Captured:  ISO 320, 1/1000, F3.5}


  

  It's really amazing that this small flower was only the size of my thumbnail.  I was able to magnify the otherwise missed small details of the petite bloom...and it was one of my favorite flower colors, yellow!

  Just a few more weeks to review and post...can't wait to share the recent ocean images!!

Have a wonderful Monday :)

-Jennifer

Going Home / Project 52 ~ Week 15

  Hello.  It's been awhile!! I've got lots of weeks to catch-up...and hopefully can get back on-track this week {fingers crossed}.

  During Week 15, I traveled back home to St. Louis with my little ones.  We enjoyed a much overdue visit with our families.  We planned activities for each day, including the zoo, butterfly house, Botanical Gardens and a few more.  Going home provided a much needed change of pace and a fresh perspective that was very necessary.  I believe it's very important to kick-start your creativity each year with a new environment and/or new scenes.

  I chose the image below for Week 15:

"Tropical Orange n.1"
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 400, 1/500, F3.2}

  This image contains some of my favorite colors, combined: oranges, yellows and pinks!  We were indoors in a tropical plant exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Gardens {enjoying some warmth on a cool spring morning}.  This bloom seemed to 'scream' compared to the lush greens in the other displays.  I photographed a few more plants and blooms in this area, but this one was by far one of my favorites.

  All images from the trip have been added in the "Coming Soon" folder on the Facebook page, stop by if you get a chance.

  [Hopefully] coming soon...weeks 16, 17, 18 and more!  Have a lovely week!
--Jennifer

Fluffy & Furry / Project 52 ~ Week 14

  Hello, again!

...I'm playing catch-up, and may be doing this for a few days.  Last weekend we embarked upon a 14 hour car trip back to visit family {and have a much overdue vacation} in St. Louis, MO.  We've survived our return trip, and still have tons to put away and clean-up.   After reviewing the images I've captured since April 1st, I realized, I have a few hundred to edit!  I always dread falling behind in editing....hopefully I'll survive today's partial review...maybe 3 days worth??

  This post was meant for last week, Week 14.  I couldn't help but catch a quick {but adorable} image of this SWEET baby wild rabbit.  She was rescued a few days prior and was quite timid, but as of last check was warming up and eating well.  Her dark, rich and multi-colored fur was simply beautiful against the bright green leaves and dull silver metal bucket.

Project 52 - Week 14 / "Spring Bunny n.1"
{Captured:  50mm, ISO 100, 1/200, F3.2}

  It was late afternoon, so there was spotted setting sunshine.  I kept the ISO at 100 and lowered the shutter speed - enjoying the result of deep shadowed areas surrounding the fluffy model.  I did set the aperture at 3.2 for capturing good details in the lovely patterns of her fur.

  Fingers crossed for an easy week back from vacation...and that I get caught up with a seemingly amount of editing.  Hope everyone has a super week!
-Jennifer

Walking About / Project 52 - Week 13

Good Evening!

  Quick {and late} post this week...for a few reasons.
1. I worked over 2 weeks straight...and by last week was incredibly exhausted.
2. Celebrating a wonderful 3rd Birthday for my youngest this weekend.
3. Preparing for an upcoming trip back to St. Louis...and am no where near ready.
...Did I mention that I'm exhausted? ;)

  That being said, I've found that being rushed, tired, distracted and busy have resulted not feeling very focused on performing my normal routine to capture a new image.   Instead, I've chosen a photo this week captured with my iPhone.  Normally I will never do this...mainly because I'm not a fan of not having control over my images...but I just did not get out this week with my camera.

  This week's image was captured during a {very quick} walk about on the nearby streets with my daughters.  It was warm, quiet and nearly dark.  This scene of the tall trees reflecting in the standing water  was very serene, with only a hint of the sunset remaining.

Project 52 ~ Week 13
{Captured: iPhone photo}

  Sometimes, I find it a bit easier to carry a phone,  rather than the bulky camera on these evening walks ... it sure makes it easier to keep up with the little ones!  But, I know that if I had taken this same image with my 50mm and camera, I could have brought in quite a bit more of the remaining sunset and even some greater detail of the reflection.
 
  There are a few new blooms appearing in the local gardens and I really hope the weather stays fair this week...fingers crossed!

  Hope everyone is enjoying some spring-time weather!
--Jennifer

Sunshine and Webs / Project 52 ~ Week 12

  Well...today's post is very late.  I've been trying to edit lots of images when time permitted and am just now finishing.  This week has been up and down.  Lots of rain, lots of sunshine, some more rain, warm temperatures, even more rain, some hail...and I think it's raining again!  The plants are growing everyday - it's a beautiful sight to see.  The azaleas are in full bloom, dazzling local gardens with a variety of pinks, purples and white.  The wisteria is fully bloomed in lovely shades of lilac purples, draping the treetops of wooded areas.  In less words, it's gorgeous around here again.  Fall and Winter look to be seasons of the past and Spring is here to stay!

  On Friday morning, in early sunlight, I walked my yard to check on plant growth.  It had rained fairly heavily the evening before, and the lawn, plants and trees were still covered in heavy dew drops.  I noticed a lot of "sparkling" areas dotting my back gardens and low branches.  When I got closer I discovered these were spider webs.  Now, I'm not too fond of spiders {at all}, but I couldn't walk away without capturing this lovely image.  Each piece of the web was covered in very tiny dew drops, each reflecting the early sunlight in a spectacular display.  I chose this image for Week 12:

{Project 52 / Week 12 - "Glittered Web n.4"}
{Captured: 50mm - ISO 250 - F5.0 - 1/125}

  I chose to apply a black and white finish to this image as I found the bright green and light browns of the background to be a bit distracting.  I wanted lots of detail, so the aperture was set to 5.0.  I loved the final look of several images from this web.  If you get a chance this week, stop by on Facebook in the Coming Soon folder to see other images captured from this morning walk.

Hope everyone has a beautiful week!
--Jennifer

Garden Days / Project 52 - Week 11

  Good Afternoon!!
  There's been a change in recent weather this week.  Instead of rainy, windy and chilly days...there's been sunshine and warm weather!  We've been spending lots of time tidying up the yard.  It's been a chore, but has been so nice at the same time.  Our gardens are beginning to show lots of new growth and even some blooms!
  Yesterday, my youngest and I were continuing to clean-up our back garden.  {insert a LOUD shriek!}  She was so surprised to find a small friend...and we chased him for quite some time {so we could see him hop, of course}.  This week's image is a memory of this fun discovery:

"In The Garden n.3" / Project 52 - Week 11
{Captured:  50mm - ISO 100 - F3.5 - 1/1000}

  I wanted to make sure that the subject was very detailed, so I set my aperture at 3.5 and a faster shutter speed since there was frequent movement.  The light pastels of the pebbles, provided a nice contrast to the dark and rich browns.  My favorite part, was the "frown".
  It's a bit different for me to move from landscape and flower shots, but we sure had fun chasing this little guy around the garden!

Hope everyone has an amazing week!
--Jennifer

Unique Beauty / Project 52 ~ Week 9

 Happy Weekend!!

  I was so excited to receive a wonderful surprise this week...two lovely bouquets of ranunculus flowers!!  I've {really, really} wanted to photograph these intriguing flowers for some time.  These blooms were the miniature type and each bouquet was full of incredible color {reds, pinks, oranges, yellows and purples}.  

  

  On Friday, I separated some of the pinks, purples and oranges and set to work on capturing some long overdue images.  I love how the stems wind and curve, each petal with light textures, each bloom unique and at a different stage.  I decided to group my images by flower color to obtain a more uniform view.  This week's image:

Project 52 - Week 9 / "Purple Ranunculus n.1"
{Captured:  ISO160 - F2.0 - 1/80}

  The richly deep purple petals, with a light texture and haze definitely made this image the right choice for Week 9.   It was a hard choice though, because the orange and pink ranunculus images were equally beautiful.  If you get a chance this week, stop by the Facebook page to see additional images in the Coming Soon folder.

  I'm looking at this rainbow of flowers this morning and they are continuing to change daily.  I'm hoping to get a few more images of the other blooms this week.   I really would love to add a space in our back gardens this year to grow some of these amazing plants, their bright blooming flowers would look great next to the roses and peonies.  

  On a sidenote:  Spring is nearing everyday, I've noticed our tulips are growing and I can't wait to capture some images of these, hopefully soon!

Hope your week is amazing!!

-Jennifer

  

Rainy Days / Project 52 - Week 6

  After a long week stuck inside, I was hoping for some outside time and some warm sunshine this weekend.  But instead, I was greeted with dreary storm clouds, rain and much colder temps that dropped steadily yesterday.  Staying inside was the best {and warmest} option!

  This week's photograph really reflects my "stormy" and "cloudy" mood.  I worked indoors to capture this small and fierce bloom with natural light during yesterday's storms.

Project 52 / Week 6:  "Sunny Inside n.4"
{Captured:  ISO 200 - F1.6 - 1/60}

  I loved this final image for a few reasons:
   *This bloom is different - almost like fireworks exploding - each petal seemed to have a different shape and shade.
   *Using a rich black and white was the best choice - this allowed the different shaded petals to be showcased and gave some depth to the small shadow.
   *The minimal empty space.  I sometimes like to offset my main focal points.  Normally I leave an equal empty space for balance.  When I reviewed the image, I decided that this flower was bursting with originality and leaving a smaller empty space really showcased it's features.

  Do you ever struggle with weather limitations or notice that weather affects your art's output and mood?

Because I won't be posting until next weekend - I wanted to wish everyone a very

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
-Jennifer

Rain, Rain & STILL more Rain / Project 52 - Week 3

  Oh, the rain...it's still here this morning.  I'm hearing reports at work of other areas in the West, Central and North East receiving snow and/or ice...and I must admit I'm a little jealous.  Not about the dangerous roads..but missing out of the sparkle of a fresh snow!  Being originally from MO - our winters were always promised at least one snow and several days with sleet.  Here in NC...rain.  I still remember my very first winter here - it rained for a week straight.  There's nothing more frustrating to me than being cooped up indoors with so much overcast from rain clouds.  It proves to be a bit of a challenge for Project 52 as well, since I'd much prefer to step outside at first dawn or a late afternoon sunset to photograph some gorgeous flowers.  I chose to shoot indoors again - but still ended up loving the finished result.
   I was more than excited to see the fresh-cut tulips return to the store this week!  It may be a sign that Spring is nearing...and that means some gorgeous blooms will be here soon as well.  This week, I chose purple and red tulips.  I kept them separated in different vases and checked them daily.  When I first purchased them, the really weren't where I needed them to be for the image I had in my head.  They were tightly closed and hidden in their tall leaves.  A few days later and they were opening up quite magnificently.
 I was on target - I set my space up when the afternoon lighting was spilling through the room's windows.  I chose a vintage mason jar - with a small bit of water to photograph 2 tulips of each color.   I did not like the purple tulips - the petals had opened up a bit too much and the stems were a bit droopy.  For this image,  it just didn't work.  I feel much more comfortable with red/orange/pink tones - so I was in love with this week's final image:

Project 52/2012: Week 3
"Red Tulips n.3"
{Captured: ISO 160 / F3.5 / 1/125}

    This image had every bit of "spring" that I could create myself:  a hint of blue in the glass, the fresh green stems and leaves and the glowing shine on the bright red petals.   This image was taken using natural light from a nearby window which created a small light shadow - I chose not to remove this shadow from the final image because I liked the way it provided depth on the bottom left side.   

    Hoping that over the next week, the weather will clear-up a bit so that I can head outside for some shots of the surrounding area.  As a photographer or artist, do you ever find yourself drawn to one or similar color palettes?  I seem to choose pinks, red, oranges a lot, and am hoping over the course of Project 52 to feel more comfortable photographing other gorgeous colors in nature.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

-Jennifer

Artistic Moods / Project 52-Week2

  I've had a busy week (as normal), and I almost forgot to capture a photograph for Week 2!  This year, I'm committed to staying on task with Project 52. 
  Every week, I purchase a new bouquet of flowers for my fireplace mantel.  I have this lovely white teapot, that displays these bouquets quite beautifully.  This week, I picked a very bright and bold bouquet - I know my mood had a lot to do with this choice.  It was Thursday night, I was near exhausted, but had just received some great news and felt a bit rejuventated, the flowers definitely reflected this mood!  I rarely photograph an entire bouquet, I love to find one or two blooms that stand out and separate these from the group.  When I looked at the bouquet yesterday evening, the flowers that really stood apart were the Alstroemerias.  I knew at that point that these were in the running for Week 2.  In a separate vase I had a small bouquet of petite soft pink cluster roses.  Being undecided, I just HAD to photograph both. 
  While I was processing the final images, my daughter (our resident artist) was overseeing the edits.  I asked for her artistic opinion, the bright and bold Alstroemerias or the soft and light roses.  She quickly decided that Week 2 should be the Alstroemerias....and I value her opinion greatly.  Below is the final image selected for Week 2:



Project 52/ 2012:  Week 2:  {"Alstroemeria Blooms n.1"}
 Photographed: 1.14.12
{Captured:  ISO 100 / F2.0 / 1/30}

    I took one stem of these spotted blooms and photographed them within a vintage bottle I found last year.  I loved the final image for a number of reasons.   I've noticed that I'm drawn to creating very bright images.  The deep rich red petals and long pointed bright green leaves stand apart against a neutral background.  The leaves are really what 'made' this image for me, I love how each one is going in a different direction, curved in their own way. Very similar to how I felt this week - pulled in a million different directions. 

  Do you ever notice how your art will mimic your moods?

 (I'm also in love with the rose images captured yesterday - these will be added to the Facebook page this morning). 

Have a great week!
-Jennifer