Today we're going to do a 180.  From fun to art (or at least I think it is).  A small backstory... I got the idea to shoot this subject back during Spring Break.  Playing with a dead leaf while michael was working on his car at his house, I realized I could literally pull a vein out of the leaf.  It was no wider than a strand of hair and no longer than 1/2 inch.  I looked at it, studied it and then it hit me... Macro + extension tubes!  I quickly ran inside and attempted to make an impromptu shoot outside where I lost the thread due to the wind, so I gathered some more leaves to play with later in the week.

That day came, I set up something black to lay it on, picked at the leaves until I got another satisfactory vein and did a shoot with natural light.  I posted 2 on flickr and got some feedback.  The two biggest suggestions I applied to my next shoot (early this month) was increased DOF and different backgrounds (oh and focal point).  I'm quite pleased with the way they came out this time around.

Shot at 11 p.m. at night using an external flash with a hand-fashioned bounce card at 90mm macro + 78mm of extension tubes, these are my results:

1    2     3    4     5     6

Thanks for looking and sorry I talk so much.  I just thought the backstory might help in viewing them.  As for the festival, I'll return to it next week sometime.  I only have jousting, human chess and Paolo Garbanzo left.  Have a great day and comments, critiques and suggestions are always welcome and taken with a smile!

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

My Calendar Says It's Still Summer Is It?

Ruby Lady

Little Leaf
Little Rose

Simplicity

1. ) Color or B&W
   
2. ) Color or B&W
   
5. ) Color or B&W

I did not make my walk today...my leg was hurting again, so I took some shots around the house. As I was photographing Marbles Scrappy was guarding my M&M's. As I was making lunch I photographed  Eggs Boiling...After lunch I went out side and photographed Sparky staying Warm in the leaves...I also took a shot of a Leaf...I love palying around with photoshop.

Oh Beans! I forgot what I was going to write...I guess I will be like a Leaf and blow away...until tomarrow.

Bug DOF
Leaf DOF
Just for the fun of it....fish eye

sun + leaf = ~`'~

Not much of a story, but I found these Marshmellow Guns at a craft fair Marshmellow Guns On the way home I found these Maple leaves Maple Leaves Looks like I'm stuck on the center third.

Leaf On Snow

~~~^~~~^~~~^

I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed this theme.  It has been great to see how much we've all grown, all because of the help and inspiration we have received from all our friends here.  I, for one, have learned a lot; Pyro's "coloring outside the lines" really made me take a look at myself as a photographer.
JoJames' fearlessness of doing self portraits gave me a nudge I never imagined I'd feel, much less act on.  Chef constantly playing around with different things made me think I could do something else besides the "norm".  I am not at my full potential, but at least I'm "branching out" and taking risks.  I have learned from Surferguy, Paulamouse, Moose, lilbit, BusyB, jeffrey....the list goes on and on.  It would be easier to just say THANK YOU to the whole family here.
With that being said, I give you my last tribute photos; I hope y'all enjoy!
1 2 3 4 5 6

...I truly did color outside the lines with most of these pics.....

Leafs
Sniff Sniff
Where Did It Go?

ONE TWO

1
2
3
4

My kids got me a  "corn plant" (I don't kow the technical name for it) for Mother's Day about 10 or 11 years ago.  It has never flowered, but now it has this bud on it.  I'm kinda baffled....anybody ever had this happen before, and if so, does this turn into a flower, or what does it do?  Thanks for any info......

Hope y'all enjoy!

I turned out a bit early today and caught this pre-sunrise shot from the back deck. Sunrise 11-13

Do you remember the colorful Fall Path shot from last week? It has changed a bit since then, here is this weeks view.  Fall Path 11-13

I found more fungus in the woods today. I have photographed a lot of fungus, but I have never seen any with a blue hue, even the leaves surrounding it had a blue tint.  Blue Fungus

And, the bright sun gave us a Touch of Red

Here's some images I took this weekend; hope y'all enjoy!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

I went out to take some more fall pictures.  I'm trying to figure out why I keep taking fuzzy pictures.  The leaves are really turning colors right now and falling like crazy.  Take a look and let me know.

birdhouse
multicolored trees
my shadow
 woodpile

Gathering Nuts

Horses

Fall )%
Fall )%$
Fall )%@
Fall )%#

Horses

close
closer
closest