Macro May 2020 - Day 3

I have a love/hate relationship with dandelions. They are so bright and cheery, like sunshine, then inevitably they morph into the most amazing, delicate puff balls that just beg to be picked and have their seeds blown far and wide and it's so much fun to watch our kids, big and small do that. But, I don't want them in my small patch of green, which is desperately trying, not very well, to be a lawn.

They were here before we moved in and then last year were rampant, but this year I am trying to dig them all up. It's a long process. I re-check every day and as soon as I see a yellow bloom I dig it up, before it can turn to a puff ball and spread it's seeds further. I'm not convinced I'm winning yet.

Anyway, this little guy caught my eye late this afternoon, not the usual full bloom, but getting ready to tuck in for the night and I liked the different take.

Macro May 2018 - Day 6

When all else fails and there really hasn't been much left to photograph for your daily macro photo...there are always dandelions; beautifully puffy and delicate, perfect domes yet still amazing 'past their prime' to the very last seed.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 17

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

We were away this weekend, with others from our church and during some free time I asked my youngest to come out to the gardens to see if there were any flowers worth photographing. Of course, when you see fluffy dandelions there's only one thing to do. Love this rite of passage for all children and happy that I have similar shots over the years at their different ages doing just this.

Macro May 2017 - Day 27

Day 27 - make a wish

I love macro photography. The ability to get extreme close ups and focus on details. When you focus on a close object, the depth of field is much smaller and I love this effect, which further draws your eyes to the subject being focused on. It forces me to look at things in a different way. For the month of May I will be taking at least one macro photo a day, to add to my collection. Some may be more artistic than others, some may be more technical but I hope to push myself, grow and have fun. Feel free to follow along and let me know if you are doing a similar project that I can follow or if you have any ideas for something you'd like me to try to shoot.

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 40

The weather this weekend was glorious! Low 80s and it's October...in the Bay, which if you don't live here you may not realize that fog is common year round. It was amazing and we had to head to the beach, which with the government shutdown was not the easiest task. Some beaches were open, but the car parks closed, some had open car parks, but the gates to the beaches were locked...completely ridiculous. We finally ended up at Crissy Field beach and after driving and driving found some street parking. It was absolutely worth it and the kids and the cousins had a blast in the water, building sand castles, burying themselves in sand.

As we crossed the field again, on our return, exhausted from hours in the sun, dandelion puffs glowed in the slowly setting sun and what kid can resist those? I think this was our last summer hurrah...and it was perfect.

52 Week Project - Week 23

All children should get to experience carefree pleasures that bring simple joy. Blowing dandelions is one of those experiences, that is almost magical. I think I get almost as excited as them, in the same way as blowing bubbles, or the candles on a birthday cake...why is that?

I know that to some they are just an ugly weed, annoying and uncontrollable, but there is something mysterious and alluring about them. The perfect little yellow flower, so bright and happy, which changes into a ball of fluff, strong, yet delicate and irresistible. There is excitement and anticipation as breath is drawn, and then the releasing, of breath and seeds, floating gently away, like parachutes they gently fall, to start a new life. Quite amazing!

Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful.