My Photog Moment: A Wedding

This afternoon I had a chance to shoot a wedding.  A friend from church got married.  I gifted the pictures as a wedding present.  I'll be back to post my wedding shoot experience.

Can you believe these stilettos?  

The happy couple...Dan and Chain

A "fun" moment with the family

I just knew they had it in them

I've included additional pictures to this post:

Two Post Wednesday: Yellow Azaleas

I'm glad I took a turn around our garden late this evening.  I came across our yellow azaleas blooming.  Tomorrow it's suppose to rain.  By Friday, I suspect the blooms will start to look tired.  

I took the following pictures using my 40mm micro lens and small SB-400 flash.  I like working with this combination:

Timeline Collage for Facebook

After the Rain (with my SB-400)

We were fortunate to have a rainy day.  I noticed our clematis was looking a bit wilted.  After a day of rain, our garden perked up.  (So did all the dandelions that appeared out of no where).

The late afternoon sun was going in and out of the clouds.  I decided to try another tool from my photog arsenal.  I took out my lonely SB-400 and just snapped a couple of pictures using this small handy flash:  

Tree Peony (200mm)

Alpine Columbine (200mm)

Clematis (200mm)

Weigela (200mm)

Even when the sun came out, I left the flash on.  I like the results.  I call my SB-400...a portable flash.  It's small that I do not notice the extra weight on my camera.  There are no settings to tweak on the flash.  My smart D7k knows what to do with it.  I think I'll be taking this flash with me more often.

My Hubby...Apostle John

Last Sunday, Hubby was busy presenting a plant lecture at the local garden center.  Today, Hubby was busy presenting a sermon to our church.  He was the Apostle John.  Let me say...he was very convincing.

A close up of Hubby (200mm)

My Hubby can be very animated during a lecture or sermon and is constantly on the move.  It makes it very difficult for me to take good/sharp pictures of him.  After our church service, I thanked him for standing still or moving slowly.  His  reply?  "Well I was portraying an old man...so I couldn't move that fast"

In case, you're wondering...I'm building a pictorial porfolio for my Hubby.  He is looking to become a pastor one day.  

(200mm)

Yes, one day I will become a Pastor's wife.  I can't sing worth beans.  I can't play a musical instrument.  Let's just say I'm not musically inclined.

I can take pretty decent pictures.  Maybe I can become a Pastor's Photog wife?

I took over 100 pictures of my Hubby, Apostle John.  Only a handful came out blurred.  We both had a great day!

Clematis

Our climbing Clematis is now blooming.  It should be climbing our mailbox and since we haven't trained it, it looks more like a low growing shrub.  There's only a handful of open blooms.  I'm hoping by Sunday to have the whole shrub covered.  

Daisies?

So Hubby knows Latin.  That is Latin names for all the plants.  When I ask him "what plant is this"?  Naturally, he gives me the Latin name first.  It's usually long and takes me three tries before I can repeat it.  Then I have to ask him for the common name because I know how to spell those names.  I present to you...Osteospermum.  Commonly known as African Daisies:

Sometimes I have to use the Internet to double-check the spelling.  I'm getting smart at this and "Google" is my friend.

These are Different...Petunias!

Here's another unusual find from the weekend.  Petunias!  I know...they are ordinary.  Check out the neat colors:

Black and yellow petunias (200mm)

As I walked by, I had to do a double-take on these.  I wasn't sure if I was seeing green leaves or pink flowers:

Fushia and green petunias (200mm)

I love the combination of colors.  Not sure Hubby will be bringing any of these annuals home.  He's a perennial type of guy.

A Plant Lecture and Some Unusual Florals

I've caught up reviewing all the pictures from the weekend.  Here's a few more:

Hubby giving a plant lecture at the garden center

Here's an unusual flower I came across on the perennial table:

English Daisy

Here's another unusual flower.  I have no clue what this one is.  Once I find out, I'll be back to post the name:

More English Daisies

A Photog Day...448 Pictures

I spent a couple of hours outdoors enjoying the the beautiful Easter weather.  My hubby was giving a lecture at the garden center.  I stopped by to take some pictures which I'll post in a day or so.  In the mean time, I walked around the nursery and captured these Columbine flowers:

I took over 400 pictures today.  I'll be posting some unusual new flower pictures over the next few evenings.  Stay tuned!

Bleeding Hearts

After having so much fun with my micro lens, I decided to switch and use my 18-200mm lens.  I wanted to see if I could capture some close ups while using my monopod.  Here's the results:

Bleeding Heart flowers (200mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 100 )

My monopod is my tool of choice for now.  Especially when I'm finding I can't hand hold my camera like I used to for close ups.  While using the 18-200mm lens, it sure makes picture taking a lot easier.

More Flowers From Our Garden

It's Easter weekend and we're enjoying a rare peaceful R&R Saturday.  Hubby had a few well deserved naps throughout the day.  Working six days a week at the nursery is taking its toll on him and it's only April.  He feels fully recovered from his hernia surgery, but still has to be careful.  He now has to deal with being tired all the time.

Our gardens are becoming a bit wild and unkept...which I like.  The last thing hubby wants to do when he gets home is to tend to our gardens.  I don't blame him.  So, until he goes back to working five days, we'll enjoy the wild look for the next two months.

We've enjoyed walking around our yard and taking in the beautiful visuals:

Pink and white azalea

Fothergillas

More Fothergillas (it's been a real challenge to get these blooms in focus)

Hosta

Pink Rhododendrons

There's a few perennials that have big buds waiting to burst open.  Looking forward to a busy week of more floral shots!

Snowball in April?

Yes!  As in the Snowball Viburnums are blooming!  I call them "pom-pom" flowers, but Hubby keeps correcting me...it's Snowball.   Right now most of the blooms are green.  I did find a bunch that were in full bloom and looking quite beautiful:

Snowball Viburnums