Spring Break

I don't know about you, but I seriously need some sunshine and spring flowers! So I did the next best thing, I bought a mixed bouquet of flowers and then I got my camera out so I can share some color. Besides I LOVE "playing" with my camera.

Hope you enjoy this mini "Spring Break".

The roses were from my daughter a few weeks ago, aren't they beautiful.

Round Robin ~ Purple

Once again it's time for the Round Robin Photo Challenge and this time we were looking for the color of purple.  This past two weeks slipped right past me and I never had the opportunity to go play and find purple items.

The other day when I was at the craft store I found this purple silk water lily, I thought it was perfect for the challenge so I bought it!

The three above were all taken when Chihuly had a display at our beautiful Victorian style conservatory here in Tacoma.  The last photo of the group also has blue frog feet!  

Three bridesmaids in shades of purple caught goofing off while the groomsmen were getting their formals taken.

Taken sometime last year.  I can't remember where or when! ::sigh::   Does it count?  It's more of a periwinkle isn't it!

This last photo is an old photo - about two years old.  It's a favorite of mine, all I did as add a wee bit of saturation.  This was taken one winter evening at the beach during one of our weekend escapes.

If you would like to see more purple go check out what the other photographers found - Round Robin. 

** I was early with this and didn't even realize it! I was a day ahead of myself.  Since I was early, I've come back to add this new photo.  I stopped to take some flowers to a friend and fellow blogger in the hospital.  I found PURPLE carnations so I HAD to take a photo of them to share. :-)

Round Robin - Light Moves

Originally I was going to post these photos in the entry below with the other photographs taken at the Seymour Conservatory in Tacoma. The conservatory is celebrating it's 100 th anniversary. In honor of the milestone, Dale Chihuly (a Tacoma native) created an impressive display for the celebration.

Luckily, I remembered to check out the Round Robin Challenge before I posted the previous entry. Once I read the current challenge, I KNEW I had to share some of the photos taken at the conservatory for this particular entry! :-)

I love how the light moves with and through the glass.

The other photo I would've used for this challenge I used as my new header. :-)

Please take a moment or two ;-) to check out all the participants. There are some wonderful photographers in the group. Also, if you enjoy photography please come join the fun, new photographers are always welcome!

Check out the Round Robin Photo Challenge!

Chihuly at Seymour Conservatory

Today I headed over to the Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park in Tacoma. This happens to be my personal favorite time of the year at the conservatory as it's full of beautiful tulips, daffodils and fragrant hyacinths that impact your senses as soon as you walk in the door. This year it's even more impressive because of the Chihuly glass display among the foliage.

This weekend is the last for the Chihuly glass exhibit. So, this was a great time to get back to the conservatory for some photographs. If you haven't been, I highly recommend making the trek over to the conservatory. It's worth a visit with or without the glass!

We had photographed a wedding at the conservatory on Valentine's Day and it was afterwards that I had an idea of HOW I wanted to take a photo to remember the beauty. I'll share that photo first. The other photos are from this current visit and from my visit in December.

I hope you enjoy visiting the conservatory via my photographs!

This is from the wedding, you can see the rest at my wedding blog: Wedding. The wedding was in the evening and the lights inside provided a dramatic effect on the glass.

Anyone care for some blue frog legs?

What Makes Your Heart Happy

What a joyous challenge we have going on at the Round Robin Photo Challenge this week. "What Makes Your Heart Happy?"

Naturally there are many things that make my heart happy and I could fill the page with my fur babies, grand-babies, my children and last but certainly not least my husband.

However, I felt I should keep the entry down and decided on two photographs that simply warm my heart and makes me smile every time I look at them.

I apologize in advance for this first photo as it's a scanned copy. It was taken on a tripod with the timer and an old early digital camera.

This was taken about 5 years ago, I had my entire family home for Christmas. That in itself was a treat as my two son's are in the US Navy. We went outside for a family portrait which was supposed to include our dog Toby, he obviously had other plans!

The second photograph are my two beautiful granddaughters. Who are simply precious and bring much joy to this grandma.

I'm long overdue for a visit. This economy better pick up so I can go visit them before they graduate high school!

Please take a moment to check out all the other photographers who took the time to participate. You can find the linking list here -> Round Robin.

Tookie Tookie

This is our new cockatiel, Tookie Tookie. We used the name from George of the Jungle. I wasn't sure of the spelling and looked it up, Wikipedia had it listed as I have it spelled above and the other spelling they offered was Tooky Tooky. I preferred the first and ran with that!

Anyway, isn't he handsome? He's a real character too. He loves to be held and will fly over and want to cuddle in the crook of your arm ... especially if you have a fleece jacket like I've been wearing a lot lately due to being cold.

When I first met Sonny he had a cockatiel who he had for many years. Since I loved Sonny, I knew I had to accept that he came with a bird. I didn't think they would be fun or have any personality. I soon learned otherwise and quickly became attached to Boi, the first cockatiel who has since passed away of old age.

Blogger's Community Photo Challenge

The current challenge is "food". I figured I could play along and post a couple of photographs.

This first photo is my dog, Toby, waiting for the okay to have his treat. He was a very good patient dog even if he looks like he was getting a bit annoyed with me for making him wait so I could get a photograph. Some of you may have seen this photo before on one of my blogs.

Last summer at one of the weddings we photographed, they had a chocolate fountain at the reception. Don't you just want a chocolate covered strawberry now?

One last photo - since I photograph weddings I figured I should show at least one wedding cake!

Now it's time to go check out all the yummy images from other photographers who have participated in the challenge. Just click HERE.

Not of This Season ~ Round Robin

The current Round Robin Photo Challenge is to post a photo of something you wouldn't see, or which would be very difficult to find during winter. A sunny day at the beach, an amazing sunset, summer fruits, a beautiful flower in bloom, someone wearing shorts or summer clothes, a tree filled with beautiful leaves, a pumpkin on a porch, you get the idea.

Here in the Tacoma, WA area we have been dealing all week with heavy fog and bitter cold weather. I was on the look out for the person who might be crazy enough to wear shorts but found none. I also knew I could easily use a photo on file for this challenge but, I truly wanted something taken within the past few weeks.

I decided to share the following two photos filled with beautiful spring flowers, tropical plants and Chihuly glass. All are unusual and not of this season ... YET.

***** I almost forgot! PLEASE be sure to check out the other photographers who have taken the time and effort to participate! You can find the linking list here -> ROUND ROBIN.

Camera Resolutions ~ Round Robin

I must confess, I thought today was Friday and wasn't prepared to post my Round Robin Photo Challenge photo today. The current challenge is to think of three themes for the new year and then photograph one of the themes.

First my three (actually 4) suggestions for upcoming themes:

"Childhood Memories" an example would be something that evokes a childhood memory.

"Dirty, Grungy" such as something considered ugly, run-down, dilapidated. Sometimes they can make some beautiful images!

"Silence" - again this is a photo that is going to evoke a feeling. No, I haven't really thought this one out! It was an idea that came to me this morning as I looked out the window.

And the one I'll use today is "Expressive Moments"

Yes, I'm cheating and using a wedding photograph! It's a time of MANY expressions.

This particular photograph needs no explanation!

Early last year I volunteered to be a photographer with Op: Love Reunited. It's a free service for our military who are deploying, deployed and returning home from deployment.

The photograph above was taken during a homecoming which is an emotionally charged event. I often find myself taking photos hoping that the auto setting is working because my own eyes are to misty to see clearly. The above photograph was actually published in our local newspaper!

Whoever says pets aren't expressive, obviously doesn't have a fur baby in their life! Below is Toby who isn't happy that I made him wear a silly looking hat. He's giving me an expression, the "I can't BELIEVE you are making me do this!". Which is the same expression my three children gave me on many occasions!

I hope you liked the suggestions and photographs! I'm looking forward to participating in as many Round Robin Photo Challenges as possible this year.

Please take a moment to check out all the other Round Robin Participants here -> ROUND ROBIN

Still Life

I've never been a big fan of still life photography, I rather photograph people, landscapes, and subjects that evoke feelings. Many of the still life photos that I've seen left me cold.

I find that still life photography is more demanding as you must form and create a scene that is visually pleasing, we are essentially MAKING the photo, not documenting a moment of time. And believe it not, still life is also a part of wedding photography.

This first photograph is an older photo that I have shared in my blog before. However, I want to share it again for any new viewers.

The ring was placed in the bible to create the heart shape. I especially like what we found inside the heart.

Occasionally we will use the brides bouquet to show off the rings. Not all flowers will hold the rings in a way that will best show off their beauty. This bouquet worked beautifully.

This last photo (above) was my attempt at something new and not work related - it's the photo taken especially with this current challenge in mind. Music and photography are stables of my life.

While still life photography isn't my favorite form of photography it's a type of photography that I need and want to challenge myself.

Please check out the others who have participated in the Blogger's Community Photo Challenge, just click on the photo above.