07/02/12 - Lights a Flutter My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/07/lights-flutter.html No vignette...had trouble making up my mind:-) SmugMug Link My daily shot is a composite of two images. SmugMug Link SmugMug Link I inverted the colors and applied some pseudo HDR and cropped and adjust colors and used select and eraser and added the vignette and framing. You know, highly tweaked:-) A slightly wider/different one. SmugMug Link The most normal pp'ed shot from yesterday. SmugMug Link If I can't get a real butterfly shot I guess I've got to create a butterfly shot. The cool lights came from Target. I have some dragonfly ones too:-) Donnie suggested I tape the cord on the kitchen table to keep them where I wanted them while I shot them. Great idea! HAGD, Maryann

Thanks for stopping by to view my daily photo! I will post a new photo each day to this gallery. Typically, I will post early morning, and the photo will have been taken the day before. Sometimes the photo may be from sometime earlier in the week, but all the pictures posted will be relatively new. I hope you see something that makes you smile. Feel free to leave professionally appropriate comments.

gallery pages: << < 33 34 35 36 37 38 > >>

< 317 of 1438 >

07/03/12 - Tufted Titmouse

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/07/tufted-titmouse.html

A quick shot of a tufted titmouse in my camellia tree taken out my master bathroom window.

The daily food shot...2 eggs made like a crepe with hamburer and Wisconsin cheddar cheese int center served with salsa.  Yum!  We eat eggs every day now. 

SmugMug Link

HAGD,
Maryann

07/02/12 - Lights a Flutter

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/07/lights-flutter.html

No vignette...had trouble making up my mind:-)

SmugMug Link

My daily shot is a composite of two images.

SmugMug Link

SmugMug Link

I inverted the colors and applied some pseudo HDR and cropped and adjust colors and used select and eraser and added the vignette and framing.  You know, highly tweaked:-)

A slightly wider/different one.

SmugMug Link

The most normal pp'ed shot from yesterday.

SmugMug Link

If I can't get a real butterfly shot I guess I've got to create a butterfly shot.  The cool lights came from Target.  I have some dragonfly ones too:-)  Donnie suggested I tape the cord on the kitchen table to keep them where I wanted them while I shot them.  Great idea!

HAGD,
Maryann

07/01/12 - Star Heat Map

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/07/star-heat-map.html

Just playing around with a picture I took of a flag windwock yesterday.  My yearly use of the Heat Map filter:-)

It was just too hot yesterday.  We hit 102 at my house again.  And it's cranking back up today.  I had to go out in the heat and emergency water some flowers to try to save them...a bit sad seeing them wilted.

A SP of me in my gazing globe.  Too bad I couldn't see the birdhouse on top of my head in the background when I took it!

SmugMug Link

Another spiny orb-weaver in my yard this time showing more of the web.  I was going to post this as my daily but didn't want to put a spider in your face two days in a row:-)

SmugMug Link

Another yummy dinner.  A beef fillet from Wilkerson Farms with green beans and onions.

SmugMug Link

Thanks for your comments on my spider shot yesterday even though many of you don't like spiders.

HAGD,
Maryann

06/30/12 - Spiny Orb-Weaver Spider

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/spiny-orb-weaver-spider.html

Each year I take at least one daily of this type of spider found ALL OVER my yard.  I like them.  Tiny guys with a pretty web.  There are usually 4 connection points (2 each side) and some thicker and darker areas of web plus a really nice round shaped to the center.  They are harmless and a curiosity to me not to mention a photo op.  This guy was right outside my front door.  Nice of him to pose for me.

I saw 102 on my house thermometer.  101 in the car.  Repeat today!

SmugMug Link

HAGD,
Maryann

06/29/12 - Lily in the Light

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/lily-in-light.html

I didn't take too many pics yesterday...only 14 which is way low for me.  Instead I spent my time cropping 150 pictures to 4X6 size and printing at Wal-Mart and creating a photo album for Joey and Johnny.  The pics span from February - June.  The boys are headed to NY with their dad for a week, and they enjoy taking some memories of home with them.

The shots I did take were on the ride home from school (red-tailed hawk), and at the pool.

Here's a highly Picasa pp'ed shot of the daily.  I'm not thrilled with the daily, and I didn't like this artistic version better either.

SmugMug Link

The hawk was using the bathroom:-)

SmugMug Link

Helmet girl:-)

SmugMug Link

Dinner the night before.  I've lost 25lbs. eating like this...really.

SmugMug Link

HAGD,
Maryann

06/28/12 - Pink Landing

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/pink-landing.html

I took today's daily at a neighbor's mailbox.  Each time I drive by the beautiful pink and orange lantana bush, I hope to see a butterfly on it.  I've been bummed the last week not seeing any, so today when I saw a black eastern tiger swallowtail on the lantana, I pulled over quick and got out with my camera.  Not only did I capture the swallowtail, but I got a few Skipper butterfly shots too.

SmugMug Link

SmugMug Link

It was awards ceremony day today for the boys.  The boys get out of school Friday and return to their year round school on July 30th for the next grade.  Joey will be starting 4th grade, and Johnny will be starting 2nd grade.  Each of the boys received the Panther Gold Award today, and Johnny also got Perfect Attendance.  Joey was really bummed that he didn't get the perfect attendance award too.  The rule is you can have one tardy and/or one absence and still get the award, but Joey missed two days due to fevers:-(  I told him not to worry about it.  I was proud of the effort he made to go to school even on a few days when he didn't feel well.

This is Joey with his award.

SmugMug Link

Here Ms. Simmons the principal is greeting Johnny with a big smile.  And then Johnny is holding up his awards.

SmugMug Link

HAGD,
Maryann

06/27/12 - Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/hummingbird-clearwing-moth.html

I took quite a few shots of Hummingbird Clearwing Moths on the butterfly bushes at Donnie's house yesterday.  I deleted more than my average amount from the shots.  So many were misses, blurry, overexposed, or grainy.  I picked the daily I think because I like the proboscis and the hard to get head-on view.  I also like the wing detail in the shot below.

SmugMug Link

There were several silver-spotted skippers on the bush too.

SmugMug Link

This five-lined skink was on the back step as I went into the house.  Usually I don't have a chance to catch these quick guys.  I was glad this one posed for me!

SmugMug Link

From the night before, Boston Butt with homemade BBQ sauce, green beans, and homemade coleslaw.  Yum!

SmugMug Link

Thanks for the comments and support on my hummingbird shot from yesterday...

HAGD,
Maryann

06/26/12 - Hummers Come and Hummers Go

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/hummers-come-and-hummers-go.html

Obviously not the best hummingbird shot ever, but I wanted to share anyway.  I sat on Ms. Jeanne's steps yesterday for about 30 minutes holding up the SX40 HS with a focal lock breathing as slow and steady as a could all aimed up on the feeder waiting for the hummers to come and go.  I think I had 4 chances to take pics for a few fleeting seconds, and the daily shot of the male and the other shot of him and the female below are the best that I came away with.  Thankfully I was in the shade, but that camera is heavy for me, and  I was ready to take a rest at that point.

SmugMug Link

SmugMug Link

Gail, thecuriouscamel, has the best hummer shots!

Also in Ms. Jeanne's garden is this interesting cross and very large hollyhock (I think).  That burgundy color is stunning!

SmugMug Link

Where is a butterfly when you need one?  Maybe I could turn one or both of the coneflower shots below into cards. There is room for text.

SmugMug Link

SmugMug Link

This white coneflower variety is quite eye catching too!

SmugMug Link

Thanks for all your comments on my butterfly shot from yesterday:-)

HAGD,
Maryann

06/25/12 - Pipevine Swallowtail

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/06/pipevine-swallowtail.html

I took the butterfly pictures in today's daily photo inside the NC butterfly greenhouse off the side of the Magic Wings butterfly house at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  I believe this to be a Pipevine Swallowtail. I wasn't happy with the original sharpness or color of the shot, so I played around with it in ColorEfex Pro.

Here's a collage showing what I thought were the best butterfly shots of hte day.  I loved that green butterfly and smile on that little girl's face.  Had to share her even though I don't know who she is.  Johnny is in the blue shirt behind her hopefully waiting for his turn to hold a butterfly.

SmugMug Link

Sometimes you've got to stand out from the crowd!  Maybe I should turn the shot below into a card!

SmugMug Link

Ranger Greg says this is a gray catbird.  Pretty!

SmugMug Link 

We also saw a Greg Blue Heron in the wetlands!

SmugMug Link

HAGD,
Maryann

07/02/12 - Lights a Flutter

My Blog: http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2012/07/lights-flutter.html

No vignette...had trouble making up my mind:-)

SmugMug Link

My daily shot is a composite of two images.

SmugMug Link

SmugMug Link

I inverted the colors and applied some pseudo HDR and cropped and adjust colors and used select and eraser and added the vignette and framing. You know, highly tweaked:-)

A slightly wider/different one.

SmugMug Link

The most normal pp'ed shot from yesterday.

SmugMug Link

If I can't get a real butterfly shot I guess I've got to create a butterfly shot. The cool lights came from Target. I have some dragonfly ones too:-) Donnie suggested I tape the cord on the kitchen table to keep them where I wanted them while I shot them. Great idea!

HAGD,
Maryann

SmugMug Link My daily shot is a composite of two images. SmugMug Link SmugMug Link I inverted the colors and applied some pseudo HDR and cropped and adjust colors and used select and eraser and added the vignette and framing. You know, highly tweaked:-) A slightly wider/different one. SmugMug Link The most normal pp'ed shot from yesterday. SmugMug Link If I can't get a real butterfly shot I guess I've got to create a butterfly shot. The cool lights came from Target. I have some dragonfly ones too:-) Donnie suggested I tape the cord on the kitchen table to keep them where I wanted them while I shot them. Great idea! HAGD, Maryann" href="javascript:openLB(1940484345,'',XLarge,'',994,768);">