My husband sent my son in the house to tell me to come outside and bring my camera!
Lovely Luna
09 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in Artistic, Nature, Photography - General
Category Archives: Nature
Time Out – Bayou La Batre, AL
25 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in Artistic, Just Stuff, Nature, Photo Editing, Travel Photography
Tags
Alabama, Alabama Photography, Bayou la Batre, Escape, Forrest Gump, Gulf Photography, Mississippi Photographers, Nature Photography, Photography, Piers, textures
On Father’s Day I kidnapped my husband and took him on a scenic drive in the convertible. We did the cookout thing the day before, so we had a free day and usually for him that means working in the shop. Nope, not happening this day. Life has been so busy lately that I felt we both needed a break from reality.
I didn’t tell him where we were going. I had in mind to drive to Dauphin Island but as we neared Bayou La Batre I could see that his interest was piqued – he had never been there. Yes, home of the character in one of his favorite movies and only 50 miles or so from our home – that tells you how little time he takes for fun and relaxation! I myself had been through numerous times on the way to Dauphin Island and actually went for a job interview years ago at one of the boatyards there, but had never taken the scenic route – little winding roads just feet from all the interesting maritime businesses and from the Gulf. We stopped at a launch site and got out to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery. Of course I had taken my camera 
After our brief respite from reality, we headed back to the house refreshed. Sometimes all it takes is a few short hours of escape. This needs to become a regular thing, even if it does take 20 minutes to comb out my hair after the convertible ride. How DO those women in the movies do it???
Chocolate Florals from Bellingrath Gardens
19 Saturday May 2012
Tags
Alabama Photography, Bellingrath Gardens, black and white photography, Botanical gardens, Floral Photography, Flowers, Lightroom, Lightroom presets, Mobile Alabama, Mother's Day, Photography
My sister and I took my mother to Bellingrath Gardens for Mother’s Day this year. We do this every few years and it is always a pleasure. They are always working on the gardens and there are always new things to see. Unfortunately, my camera battery died halfway through the gardens – poor planning on my part – and when I got home I realized that I had lost my charger cord somewhere during the trip to Salt Lake, I suppose. So you can imagine that I was beside myself not being able to upload my photos from the day. I immediately ordered another cord, but hated the waiting.
I was cleaning out a drawer in the office the other day and lo and behold I found in my stash of old cords that no one knows what they once belonged to, one that was a perfect match! Yee haw! I uploaded as soon as the battery was charged. I have only had time to process a few of the photos, but was eager to try out a Lightroom preset that I developed after the trip to Salt Lake and used it to process what few florals I had gotten before the battery died. Here are the results. I think that this preset is a keeper! What do you think?
A Taste of Salt Lake – Part 3 – The Great Salt Lake
09 Wednesday May 2012
Posted in Nature, Travel Photography
Tags
copper mines, lakes, Nature Photography, Olympic wall, Photography, Rio Tinto, sailboats, Salt Lake City, The Great Salt Lake, travel photography
Our last day in the Salt Lake area – we finally get to see The Great Salt Lake! How beautiful it is there. I was surprised that the area is not more developed. Of course, we did not go all the way around the lake, but there didn’t seem to be very many people taking advantage of the lake where we were. We did get to see some sailboats coming in. My step-sister said that sometimes the lake stinks and she can even smell it at her house in Holladay, but it didn’t the day we were there.
Earlier in the day we went to the Rio Tinto Copper mine. There was a sign saying “no cameras” so I wasn’t able to get any pictures there, however I did sneak one in from the car window on the way out. It doesn’t show the mine, but I think it’s pretty.
We got to have lunch at the other, older mall in the city, which I liked even better than the new mall. The style is totally different and it seems cooler because there is more texture in the building materials to absorb the heat. (Yes, it was HOT in Utah in April, at least in the afternoon!) The reason we went there is to check out Kelly’s name on the wall of Olympic helpers. It was cool. I hoped to get a picture of her by her name, but unfortunately it was too high up for her to pose by, so I got one of her name on the wall and a separate picture of her and one of Kelly and Tim standing by the contributors wall. (Pay no attention to the rear end in the background!)
It was a great trip, one I hope to make again some day. Next time, though, we will pay more attention to our airline flight schedule and maybe we can make it there in 6 hours instead of 12!
A Taste of Salt Lake – Part 1 – Temple Square
04 Friday May 2012
Posted in Nature, Travel Photography, Uncategorized
Tags
Architectural Photography, Church Organs, Churches, Floral Photography, Gardens, LDS Temple, Restoration Hardware, Salt Lake City, Shopping Malls, travel photography, Tulips, Utah
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to have been able to accompany my husband on a business trip to Salt Lake, Utah. It was a wonderful and much needed get away. I was anxious about the actual trip itself as I am not a fan of flying, but a chill pill on the way there an one on the way back took care of that problem and the rest was great. My step-sister lives there and it was someplace I had never been. Two pluses in one trip. Days one through three it rained every morning, so I used this time to relax in the room and read while hubby was in meetings, but the afternoons were warm and sunny so I got out and walked each afternoon and shopped a little.
The fourth and fifth day were free days for us and the weather decided to cooperate. We checked out of the hotel and stayed with my sister for a couple of days and went exploring. First freedom day, Friday, we visited the new downtown mall and the temple of the LDS. Bee-utiful! I have never before seen a city so clean! I am an early riser, but people in this town were up before me cleaning and scrubbing everything in sight!
Here are a few artistic type shots I got on the Temple grounds themselves. What a beautiful place it is.
The organs inside the temples were something else. There is a big one (that’s the one you see when the Tabernacle Choir sings, I believe) and a smaller one in another building.
We paused to take a rest and get a photo of us sitting on the steps of the church. They were taking wedding pictures in front of the church, so they weren’t paying any attention to us.
The new mall is an architectural wonder of stone, steel, glass and water. It was a real pleasure to shop there, and if you are not into shopping, it is worth visiting just for the walk around.
We discovered a really cool store in the mall – I had heard of it, but had never been to one. It is called Restoration Hardware and I could furnish my entire house from that one store. If I had that kind of money, that is….. I did get some good decorating ideas and Tim bought a few things. They even shipped them to our home for free! The only thing I did not fall in love with was the deer horns. They are big on deer horns. If you like that sort of thing, you can find them there
Hyacinth Love
07 Saturday Apr 2012
Tags
Floral Photography, Flower Garden, Flowers, Hyacinths, Mississippi Photographer, Photography, Pink, Purple, White
The hyacinth is my favorite flower. My husband and I were walking through the store the other day and as we turned the corner, we both sniffed and said “mmmm” at the same time! Turns out we were smelling hyacinths and as I had been planning to get some to plant we bought three pots – one of each in purple, pink and white. For now they are sitting on my dining room table sending their sweet scent throughout the downstairs. After Easter I plan to plant them somewhere. In the yard of course, but for now they remain scentsationally inside for our viewing and sniffing pleasure!
A Snail’s Pace
31 Saturday Mar 2012
Sometimes life gets so busy. I photographed these little guys (pests) on the porch and it occurred to me that sometimes we just need to be a little more like them. Not pesky, but just to slow down a little.
Even Mika the cat got into the action as she asked one of them to play.
My Turn for Flowers
29 Thursday Mar 2012
Tags
blueberries, clover, Floral, Floral Photography, Flowers, marigolds, Mississippi Photographer, Nature Photography, ornamental pear, Photography, sunflowers, weeds
Everyone has been posting such wonderful flower photos lately so I figure that it is my turn. I took a walk around the yard last week or the week before to photograph all the blooming things. I missed the azaleas this year. Due to violent thunderstorms we had last week they did not last long and by the time I got around to photographing they were already on the way out. Here is what I did find:
Not sure what this is – just something that was growing in the middle of the yard before my son cut the grass.
Something else growing in the yard – a daisy like thing.
Blossoms on my blueberry bushes! Can’t wait till the berries are ready!
Marigold still in the tray – we plant these in our garden amongst the vegetables to discourage the stink bugs!
The birds were kind enough to plant this for me under the oak tree in the front yard. Evidently it was generated by their messy eating habits as they drop seed under the feeder.
Blossoms from the ornamental pear trees in the front yard by the road.
I believe that this is some type of clover. It is taking over the bed I am building around the oak tree in the backyard, but I don’t mind – it really is pretty. I supposed one day when I actually plant something in there I will have to do something with it, but for now it is maintenance free and pleasing to the eye so I’m keeping it!
I have no idea what this is – I call it the alien plant. Dreadful weed – if you step on it you WILL be in pain. I LOVE to mow these things down and do so with a vengeance!
The garden has been mostly planted now. I can’t wait to start photographing those blooms, although it will be a few weeks, maybe a couple of months until that happens. Luckily everything seems to have survived the flooding the garden took from last week’s storms and things are popping up all over!
Be Careful What You Wish For!
27 Tuesday Mar 2012
Posted in Just Stuff, Nature
For two years now I have been wishing that someone would have a birthday skating party so that I could roller skate! I love to roller skate. Well, this past weekend someone did. Lucky me, right? Ha! As luck would have it I fell and cracked my tailbone. Lovely. I had already committed to watching my granddaughter for the night and didn’t want to ruin anything for anyone else, so I decided to take her home and see how it went. I had forgotten how sympathetic children can be when they know you are not feeling well. I spent the majority of her visit laying on the couch and she was a little angel. I got lots of hugs and kisses
The top 12 things I have learned these past few days:
1. Just because you CAN do something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you SHOULD.
2. Four year olds love to help out and are very handy for picking things up off the floor when you drop them.
3. I drop a lot of things.
4. I need a four year old.
5. My husband is a sweetie. Okay, I knew this already.
6. Getting dressed uses butt muscles and should definitely be considered exercise.
7. Don’t be upset because you go out on your porch in bare feet and step on a slug. Be grateful that you CAN.
8. Spooning is as effective as a heating pad.
9. Walmart is big and shopping there should also be considered exercise.
10. Pink slime or no, a McDonald’s double cheeseburger can keep you from passing out.
11. Finding a penny and picking it up is not always a good thing.
12. Sometimes you just have to let go.
Just an Interesting Tree
29 Wednesday Feb 2012
Tags
Mississippi Photographer, Mississippi Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, textures, Trees
With an interesting texture.
Posted by photographybyjoylene | Filed under Artistic, Nature
