It has been a Hard Life

Haven't seen many butterflies just yet. I did see one that kept fluttering and then resting on the rocks in the driveway. He stayed still long enough for me to get a picture. That is when I noticed that the poor thing's wings were all torn up. Yet still it presevered. That is a good lesson for us. Life may hand us some bad circumstances but we still have to presevere.

Litterbug

I see one of these birds at my bird feeder every morning. Every time I try to take its picture it flies away. It made me think of this bird from last year. The ground was littered with flowers, as if a big wind had blown them all down. It wasn't a big wind. It was a little bird. This little bird and its partner would grab a bloom and drop it to the ground. I guess there was something tasty in all of those blossoms. I was lucking enough to catch the bird in the act here.

Majestic Blue Heron

I like to go to the Burlington-Mackintosh park to take pictures. There is a nice lake and lot's of wildlife. One of my favorite subject is the Blue Heron that lives there. I hadn't seen him this year but happened to see him flying on the other side of the lake. Since I had my 100-300 lens, I was able to snap a couple of quick photo's. I can't wait to get some more pictures of him. I wish these were tack sharp, but I just caught a quick glimpse of him. Here are three of those pictures.

Make Beautiful Pictures

I had an instructor tell me once to "Go out and make beautiful pictures". I'm pretty sure he was talking about people pictures but I love nature and wildlife photography. So I try to see the beauty in this world and take pictures of that beauty. Once again, I was fortunate enough to go to my neighbor's flower garden and enjoy her bounty. Here is an Asiatic Lily that has started blooming.

Those Brazen Squirrels

I've got a couple of squirrels who manage to chow down on my bird seed even though the feeder is "squirrel proof". I wasn't sure how they were getting up to it. Now I know that they are scrambling up the pole and around the hook and down to the feeder. They have got so brazen that they don't even jump down when I open the screen to take pictures through the window. The squirrel here seems to say, here is my best side, photograph away. I heard some chattering and hissing and looked and two of them were on the feeder fighting over it. I just wasn't fast enough with the camera and the smaller one jumped down. Here are a couple.

The Dragon that Flies

I finally did get a dragonfly picture. I've never seen one like this before. I've seen green ones and blue ones by the water but this guy was hanging out on some rocks closer to the woods. He was kinda cool looking.

A Gourd of Course

I enjoyed a day at the park before the rain moved in. Tried to get some good dragonfly pictures but there weren't that many out. I happened to look up and see these birds (Purple Martins?) busily flying out to get food and then back to go into the nest. This one was just about to climb inside.

This is the Passionflower

I found out that the previous flower that I featured the other day was in fact a flower from a Tulip Poplar tree. This is what a passionflower looks like. I think it resembles some spaceshipping alien thing but it is pretty. I took this picture on a cloudy overcast day. It is from the green thumb of my neighbor.

Swan Lake

So there is a big pond, a  lake over at one of the local universities. Anyone can come and watch the ducks and the geese and a pair of swans. Apparently they get fed by the visitors because when I walked close to shore to take pictures, the swans swam right up to me. Once they realized I didn't have any food, they swam away but I was able to get a couple of good pictures. Here is one of them.

My Photography at Zazzle and Wallhogs

I really want to get the word out that some of my photography is on Zazzle.com and Wallhogs.com. I would love for you to check it out and think about purchasing from either of these when you need a gift. They handle the billing and mailing and I get a percentage of the sales. Check it out. http://www.zazzle.com/daylily_dreams_photo and http://www.wallhogs.com/in_stock/category/228?page=4. On Wallhogs the link will take you to page 4 of my photographer's gallery, so check out pages 1, 2, 3. The newest photos are on page 3 & 4.  I hope you will go check out these sites.

So what kind of flower is it anyway?

I'm walking my dog and I look down and see this flower laying on the ground. It looks like it might be a passionflower that got knocked off of my neighbor's plant during the winds of a storm that passed through. Naturally I picked it up and took it home to photograph. It was going to die anyway so I might as well preserve it before it wilts. Here is one of the pictures that I took. If anyone knows what it is, please comment below and let me know!

Super Moon

It was cloudy last night so I missed the supermoon, where the moon is at the perigee, or closest part of its orbit around the earth. It also was a full moon, hence, supermoon. I did get some nice pictures last time around and I'm going to post one of those today.

The Bees Have It

Decided to go out and photograph the bumblebee that was buzzing around a tree out in the front yard. I'm sure they can sting but the bumblebees seem pretty docile and don't mind me getting a litttle close. I just followed the bee around as it did it's thing. This is one of the images that I cropped and saved. I shot it at F-4, 1/500th of a second at 105mm using my 24-105L lens on a Canon T1I a DSLR that is my little carry around.

I love Spring!

I love Spring. There are so many beautiful things to photograph. The flowers are out, the birds are building and sitting on nests. Those cold drab days are for the most part gone. (Of course I remember April snows). The weather just invites me to come outside and enjoy all the beauty that God has put on this earth. Let's be good stewards of the planet. Here is a picture of my neighbor's Iris. She has the absolute best green thumb and is gracious enough to let me come take pictures.

Sweet little dog

I haven't been taking many pictures lately.  Yes, I know shame on me. I believe I need to beging a 365 photo mission. I am going to take and post a picture each day. I just took some pictures of my sweet little eleven year old dog Gizmo yesterday. Here she is.

Win a chance for a free background

I just found out about Denny's Manufactoring and Mom's With Cameras hosting a contest for a silver bokeh background. Like them on facebook and twitter to enter. Hurry it ends tonight. My status on face book is "Denny Manufacturing is giving away an 8×8 Silver Bokeh Backdrop at www.moms-with-cameras.com".

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that 2012 will be a happy and prosperous year for you and yours.

Merry Christmas

I live with my little dog, Gizmo. She is very patient and puts up with my little bit of dressing up. So, in honor of Christmas, as in Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays, she and I have donned the reindeer antlers. So Merry Christmas from Gizmo and I. May you have peace and the unconditional love. May your New Year bring prosperity and happiness.

It is time to get that holiday gift shopping started. Why not do it from the comfort of your home. Do you like hand made beaded jewely, photography gifts, fine art photography? If so, than click on the word etsy or zazzle and find the perfect gift.

Now featuring Etsy

In addition to the photographic gifts that I sell, I've also started making beaded jewelry to sell and give for Christmas presents. Here is a sneak preview of my Etsy shop and the first few things I have listed for sale.

Learning the software

Of course, until I can get back to RCC, I have to do self-tutorials to learn how to use most of the photo-editing software. Between youtube and the NPB digital photography club, I've found some great tutorials. I hope to keep up with my peers and prepare myself to be ahead of the learning curb when I get back to school so that I can concentrate on the artistic side of photography. I use photoshop when I want to do something complicated, photoshop elements when I want a quick edit and portrait professional 10 for portraiture.

New Portraits: Head and Shoulder Shots

I did a self-portrait and a portrait of my son. My son was enjoying Linkin Park with his headsets at a local park. I was using my point & shoot to take the self portrait. It makes focusing a bit easier. Here they are.

sneak peeks

I'll be postings some sneak peeks of my fireworks photos and photo's from the church picnic. The full catalog can be found at my website: www.daylilydreamsphoto.com. You'll see a few here.

Make a free picture slideshow

Beautiful People

It doesn't matter if the beauty is on the inside or the outside, we love the people who are part of our lives. Each gives us a gift just by being who they are. I hope that this video will give you a glimpse of some of the folks I have had the pleasure of photographing over the last three years. Enjoy and email if you have any questions.

Dragonflies Anyone?

Here is an Animoto Video from my day at High Point City Lake Park photographing dragonflies. Enjoy.

Portrait Study and Practice

 I hate that I missed getting to study under Mr. Ashley Fetner this year at Randolph Community College because he is retiring and I had to wait an extra year to come back. However, his encouragement allowed me to step out of my own comfort zone and take more than just nature and landscape pictures. I've started an exploration of portraiture. I'm starting with natural lighting and outdoor but will eventually start using studio lights. I am also enjoying using digital backgrounds to enhance and create fun memories for my clients. Here are a couple of examples of the natural or neutral background followed by the digital. It is a lot of fun.

Another free slideshow by Smilebox

It's a Party!

Let's get excited about summertime! The kids are going to be out of school. Moms and Dads are looking for something to do! How about hosting a Childrens Portrait Party. Mom or Dad can invite 5 other parents, each with one child and I'll bring the studio in a box, my camera and ME!  We take pictures of each child, no sitting fee for the first child, $9.95 sitting fee for each additional child. Each person attending will get proofs of their child's best pose and the host or hostess will get one 8 x 10 and two 5 x 7s of their child. Everyone will have the opportunity to purchase portrait packages for a reasonable price. I've set up a special email address just for the portrait parties, so email me at daylilydreamsphoto@gmail.com for questions and to book your portrait party today!

Make Mine Music

I had the pleasure of shooting a birthday party for a friend of a friend. I had several pictures that turned out pretty good but these are some of my favorites. The first is the birthday boy picking up a bow and trying it out on a Cello for the first time. It was a beautiful sight. The second is a picture of his grandmother walking out for a turn at the badminton game. Everyone had a lot of fun, including me.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Canvas On Demand

I don't normally use my blog to advertise business but there are two business here in North Carolina that I really have to share. The first is Canvas on Demand and the second is Bullock Pro. I really like Canvas on Demand. They put out great work and are fast and courteous.  Now they are donating $5 bucks to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for each order and giving everyone a 20% discount. The are also a North Carolina company and I like supporting local businesses.

Dancing Flames



The flames of the campfire seem to dance
to the symphony of night sounds.



Gizmo watches the flames from a safe
distance, while snuggled in a blanket.



I just spent four lovely days (with the exception of a nasty thunderstorm one night) at a very picturesque and peaceful place called Morrow Mountain State Park. It is quiet, clean and a great place to relax and of course take some pictures. I had my little dog, Gizmo with me and she is a lot like a clingy two-year old even though she is an eleven year old Rat Terrier. She managed to break her leash but didn't get far. I sat on the picnic bench and she got the comfy chair with a warm blanket to snuggle up in. We both seemed to be mesmerized by the campfire. The flames danced and crackled and it sounded like a symphony with the crickets and the peeper frogs in the background. It was a nice evening. Next time I'll bring marshmallows.

The Eyes Have It Part 2



I know I'm unique. Thank you. My
fans adore me.



Here are the other cat pictures in my quest to learn to "brighten" eyes in my photographs without making them look too obvious. The first cat belongs to one friend and already has an almost neon green colored eyes. The second cat belongs to another friend and has pretty regular colored, but striking eyes against her grey coat.



If you stinkin' paparrazi don't get out of my face,
I'm gonna use you as a scratch pad!



The Eyes Have It Part 1






This cat is certainly Queen of the Rooste



This cute little guy has soulful eyes that just
look up as if to say pet me.

Sooo, I'm going back to photo school during the summer session. I can't wait but meanwhile, the internet is a treasure trove of tutorials and "how to" videos. Some are quite educational and some are not so much. Lately, I have been trying our some photoshop/photoshop elements tutorials and came across one for "brightening" eyes. I practice on a bunch of animal photo's and even "graduated" to humans...but left the experimentation on myself. I decided to turn my eyes that wonderful shade of violet that the late Elizabeth Taylor had. She had beautiful eyes. The object of my study is to brighten eyes in such a way that it is not that noticeable. If you can tell that something was done, then it was probably overdone. I am the only subject with a new eyecolor. Enjoy. The other two cats will come with the next post. So check back soon for more.





The Photographer with "Liz" eyes!



 

Friends and Family

Here is the online photo album. Enjoy

One Sunny Day



Brotherly Love



The weather around here has been crazy. Warm, cold, sunny, rainy so if you blink, it just may change. We had a nice warm sunny day yesterday and I got a chance to do some outdoor photography for a friend's cousin and her kids. They had the sweetest little baby goat with them, so these portraits included the two legged and the four legged family members. I had a lot of fun and elisted everyone's help to hold a white reflector to bring some light up into their faces. It brightened them up. Here are a couple of my favorites. I know the boys wanted a couple for their facebook, so guys, here you go. Remember, comments are always appreciated. You can follow this blog and get notifications when new posts are placed. Thanks for looking. Feel free to email me at Daylilydreamsphotography@gmail to schedule your spring outdoor sessions.



You lookin at me?





Who is that other goat on the sidewalk?



People, Pets & Places

I'm Freddy, King of the Hen House and don't you forget it.!

I am branching out in life. Although I have mainly been a wildlife & nature photographer and have sold a fair bit of my work, I really want to challenge myself to rise to a new level. Of course, that is something we should all challenger ourselves to do. I am happy to say that I will get to go back to RCC this summer and continue my studies. Hooray. So, my mantra has always been "Bringing the Outdoors into your home and office" I am going to begin refining those outdoors shots to "People, Pets & Places" Gotta have something a little bit catchy. I love looking at the photography of my fellow classmates. Kat, of ChinaKat Photography posted this amazing picture of her sister on a reflective surface with a huge Japanese style fan. I want to get there some day. Even though I am pretty comfortable with nature, pets, especially barnyard, cats and dogs have been a lot of fun. The chickens and roosters are a real challenge, especially two extremely mean roosters, Sammy and Freddy (aka Freddy Kreuger). If you look at them wrong, they attack you. My shins and hands have been bloodied and bruised by these two little monsters. But alas, there is one other one, Ethan, who is a little sweetheart (yes, a sweet rooster, now there is a contradiction in terms!). He came to my rescue when Sammy got a little too evil and chased him to the other side of the pen.  So, you may be thinking, why go in there, when you are getting abused by these fowl tempered fowl. Well, there are 7 chickens in there who are also sweet and need to be fed and watered. They also lay eggs which are farm fresh and yummy and they have to be gathered. Every once in a while, I take my camera with me and stand quietly in the corner and if I am lucky, I get a few good shots before Sammy and Freddie go on the offensive!  LOL! Here are a couple from March 25, 2011. Ethan is the little red rooster, Sammy is the black and white, and Freddie, who is the rooster version of a gorilla, is the one who is thumping his chest, aka spreading out is wings to look more opposing. Hope you enjoy the shots.

My Hero, Ethan, chasing away the evil Sammy!

Love the Asheboro Sunsets

I will have to say that this part of the state and county have the nicest sunsets. They occur on a pretty regular basis. The sun sets behind a small hill and when there are just thin cloud cover, the light reflects so nicely. My instructors were right. Dawn and Sunset do have beautiful light. The sunrise comes up over another hill and although it, per se, doesn't look spectacular, you can watch the opposite hills light up as the light moves. That in itself can be pretty magical. I have a friend from Colorado who says their sunsets are even better. I sure do want to go there some day and check them out. They have mountains in that part of their state and I am pretty sure it would be glorious. It is on my bucket list.

I found out that Greyhound has an unlimited ticket program that you buy as one week, two weeks or a month and can ride anywhere as many times as you want. I've never been to the Grand Canyon, or Arches National Park. I would love to take a tent, sleeping bag and my camera backpack and tripod and just go for a month and see these places as well as my dear friends in Colorado and California. I would also go back to Mono Lake and Yosemite. It was around 1984 the last time I went.