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  2. Daily Photos

My Best Daily Shots

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. Here's a link to the SmugMug Daily Community.
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03/14/11 - Toco Toucon or is it Mr. Fruit Loop?<br /> <br /> The kids and I traveled back to Scotland Neck yesterday to go to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park. We really enjoy our visits there seeing all the birds and walking the easy trail. There's a beaver blind and a treehouse as well as a playground area with fossil dirt brought in from Aurora for the kids to look for fossil teeth.<br /> <br /> The Toco Toucon obviously stands out for his color and personality, and this is Johnny's favorite bird at the park. Easy for me as the photographer to fall in love with that beautiful blue eye. This was our 3rd visit to the park, and each time we've spent a good bit of time visiting with this bird.<br /> <br /> This guy is a native to parts of Africa. Not on any endanged lists thank goodness. Males and femlaes look the same only males are larger. They live in more open areas than forest areas. They like fruits like figs but also eat reptiles and insects and even sometimes small birds. <br /> <br /> Link to Joey's POTD:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the St. Patrick's Day Parade collage. <br /> <br /> Best bird collage from yesterday:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM</a><br /> Putting all the ones I like side by side like that helps me pick sometimes.<br /> <br /> Best kid collage:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2</a><br /> <br /> The unique crop is because he's in a cage. Although the eye detail is not so nice if you line things up to get his whole beak in beause it's so long. Here's a shot from our last visit that shows his full beak (and a sweet gum ball he's playing with):<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL</a><br /> <br /> I spent some time trying out a polarizing filter yesterday. I wan't impressed. I may try again.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
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03/14/11 - Toco Toucon or is it Mr. Fruit Loop?

The kids and I traveled back to Scotland Neck yesterday to go to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park. We really enjoy our visits there seeing all the birds and walking the easy trail. There's a beaver blind and a treehouse as well as a playground area with fossil dirt brought in from Aurora for the kids to look for fossil teeth.

The Toco Toucon obviously stands out for his color and personality, and this is Johnny's favorite bird at the park. Easy for me as the photographer to fall in love with that beautiful blue eye. This was our 3rd visit to the park, and each time we've spent a good bit of time visiting with this bird.

This guy is a native to parts of Africa. Not on any endanged lists thank goodness. Males and femlaes look the same only males are larger. They live in more open areas than forest areas. They like fruits like figs but also eat reptiles and insects and even sometimes small birds.

Link to Joey's POTD:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo

Thanks for your comments on the St. Patrick's Day Parade collage.

Best bird collage from yesterday:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM
Putting all the ones I like side by side like that helps me pick sometimes.

Best kid collage:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2

The unique crop is because he's in a cage. Although the eye detail is not so nice if you line things up to get his whole beak in beause it's so long. Here's a shot from our last visit that shows his full beak (and a sweet gum ball he's playing with):

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL

I spent some time trying out a polarizing filter yesterday. I wan't impressed. I may try again.

HAGD,
Maryann

IMG8978AutoSmartFixSCurvePop

  • 03/31/11 - Spread Those Wings<br /> <br /> This is another shot from my butterfly 'chasing' Tuesday afternoon. Yesterday is was rainy and cloudy all day:-( The phlox is in my yard, and before and after I took the wisteria shots, I was lucky enough to spy swallowtails on the phlox and get pictures. I have to say that it's harder on the knees to get down at ground level to chase these guys than it is to walk around a butterfly or lantana bush where they are higher up. Good exercise up and down moving down the line of plants and back up the line of plants on my front bank.<br /> <br /> As luck would have it, this nice shot where the wings were open was a tad farther away than I wanted, so it's cropped a bit. I fixed white spots on the pretty petals on both the shot and the added on flower (from another picture that day). I toned the pink down just one notch. It really is THAT pink. I added the frame with OnOne's PhotoFrame. It's one in the Splatter series under the Grunge category, and I don't remember using before. The nice thing is once you get the frame over the picture, you can move the butterfly around to center it up. I slid it right a tad. That left a hole on the far left through the frame to nothing, so I cloned a pink dot under that hole to fill it in. The pink is soooo pink that I thought the black frame did a nice job of letting us appreciate the flower while not being blinded. What do you think?<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the wisteria picture. I grew up with a vine in my backyard in NJ. I used to go out in the spring and sit with my dog Shawnee and pick a 'grape' bunch or two and smell the beautiful blossoms. Ah...such a great smell. Although it's invasive, at least it does give back so much beauty.<br /> <br /> Off on a field trip to Noah's Landing (rescue zoo) with Johnny's class today. The weather is not cooperating, but hopefully it will be a fun day anyway.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/30/11 - The Butterflies Are Back!<br /> <br /> I chased 3 or 4 butterflies with my camera and took over 200 shots yesterday afternoon during a short break outside. I have nicer pictures of the wisteria, but I thought I'd share the shot I liked that had the swallowtail in it. <br /> <br /> Here is a 3 picture vertical pano of this vine in a loblolly pine tree:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1233495000_TYgtn">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1233495000_TYgtn</a><br /> I experienced some difficulty keeping an even exposure going up:-)<br /> <br /> Also, the eggs in the bluebird house:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1233454023_aqhdm">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1233454023_aqhdm</a><br /> The mom and dad were tweeting nearby, and I did get a few far away shots of them. I'll focus on them another day. <br /> <br /> Thank you all so much for the comments on the dogwood shot from yesterday. You guys sure are inspiring!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/29/11 - Looking Upward<br /> <br /> My neighbor's very red dogwood is blooming:-) A darker petal than the shot of the pink dogwood from Duke Gardens on Saturday. I thought the view from the underside of the dogwood petals was equally interesting as the topside view, and I focused my shooting from that perspective yesterday. The siding on the house is a very light green, and that's what's making the pretty background for this shot. I took quite of a few shots, and then of course it was quite hard to pick. If you'd like to see other views, they are around here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1232597388_x6Qap">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1232597388_x6Qap</a><br /> <br /> The colors in this are unedited. I cropped just a tad smaller than maximum 8X10 and removed a few white dots from the darker stem area. It's very close to the original. <br /> <br /> Thank you all very much for your comments on yesterday's dogwood shot...<br /> <br /> The kids started an indoor soccer class last night. Abysmal lighting, but I tried to catch a few shots. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun for them.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/28/11 - Delicate Pink Dogwood<br /> <br /> This is another shot from my trip to Duke Gardens. Although I went specifically in search of tulips, the camellias and dogwoods were also a joy to see. I took quite a few shots of the flowers on this tree as the kids played nearby. Later on the kids and I started talking with an older gentleman and his Bichon Frise, Gigi. He asked me what was of interest to me in the gardens that morning, and I told him the dogwood was my favorite so far. He was going to double back and take a look. He had previously used a S5 IS but today had a Nikon D40 with him. I enjoyed the few minutes of photographic conversation as the kids loved all over the dog. There were many dogs in the gardens that day, and each time we passed one, the kids asked if they could pet the dog and then rushed over for some loving. Cute.<br /> <br /> Madi, Johnny, and Gigi:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1229891171_KU6CZ">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1229891171_KU6CZ</a><br /> <br /> This photo is cropped to 8X10 at the max size of the original (so a very small amount on the right and left is gone). There is no other editing today. <br /> <br /> The kids and I enjoyed a trip to Chuck E. Cheese yesterday and then some time at Marbles Kids Museum. Joey had won a Character Kid Aware for Courage last week, so I thought we'd celebrate a bit. Besides, after the gardens the kids needed some kid stuff. And, it was colder and raining...again. At Marbles Joey slipped and hit his cheek hard enough to swell up quickly with a bump the size of a large gumball. We got ice on it right away, and he'll be OK, but he's got a bump and a bruise to talk about at school today. Poor kid has an unfair share of hits to his face:-( Sledding accident, bee bite, and now this to name just the ones from the past year. <br /> <br /> I am very touched by the attention and comments that yesterday's 2 Guys Photo blog post received. Wow! It was kindof like having my birthday early. Thank you for taking the time to go read the post and for all the nice things that were said... Thank you also for your comments on my tulip shot and of Madi's camelllia shot. Always a great thing to bring a smile to a child. She's able to get on the computer now and go read them for herself, so that's great.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/27/11 - The Tulip<br /> <br /> Well, the kids and I did end up going to Duke Gardens yesterday despite the overcast day and threat of rain increasing as the day went on. The gardens were busy but not crowded, and we had a good time. The tulips were blooming, and that is what I had most hoped to see. Nothing like what Pearl is describing in Atlanta, but certainly a great place in the area to go to try to get some nice tulip shots.<br /> <br /> I have 3 shots on the day of tulips that I really like, and this is my favorite. There's a leafy and variegated green/yellow grass behind it. The other two are:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1230002031_zGfpB">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1230002031_zGfpB</a><br /> <br /> and:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1230002874_neK5F">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1230002874_neK5F</a><br /> <br /> The kids enjoyed rolling down a big grassy hill where families picnic in the summer. I watched a photographer taking family portraits. I took some portraits of the kids as well and got a few that I like. There were lots of dogs in the gardens, and the kids got to visit with quite a few with them. They considered that a real treat and will want to go back just to pet dogs. All in all, a very nice time. <br /> <br /> I am honored that Ed and Rey at 2 Guys Photography invited me to be a featured photographer on their blog. The post that I wrote went up this morning and can be found here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://2guysphoto.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/maryann-goldman-the-shot-that-goes-with-the-story/">http://2guysphoto.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/maryann-goldman-the-shot-that-goes-with-the-story/</a><br /> Thank you so much!<br /> <br /> Madi's POTD:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1230006236_npGdt">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1230006236_npGdt</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/26/11 - Garden Center Daffodil<br /> <br /> Wal-Mart has the nicest flowers (sometimes). I had to run into WM at lunch yesterday, and I couldn't help but notice the newly arrived flowers in the garden center. Wow! Tulips. daffodils, marigolds, petunias, lilies. Like candy to my eyes. Of course I started taking pics. A nice woman and her granddaughter stopped to chat. She said that she has a very large flower garden not too far from me that is very pretty right now and i am welcome to stop by with my camera. Really? Awesome! Photography can be a good way to make friends amongst other things.<br /> <br /> I had wanted to go to Duke Gardens today to take tulip pics, but it's very cloudy, considerably cooler, and rain is on the way. I would be taking lots more spring flower pics than I am if the weather would cooperate more. Yesterday was cloudy too. The dogwoods and redbuds are calling, but the sky is not cooperating. <br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on my vivid primrose shot.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/25/11 - Primrose<br /> <br /> I stopped in at The Garden Hut in Fuquay late yesterday afternoon. One of the friendly workers there, Brenda, brought my attention to the primrose saying it was one of her favorites. I might have overlooked it actually, but after a quick study and taking some shots, I really like it. Although off center just a tad, I really like that the face of the background yellow flower is visible in this shot. <br /> <br /> We were having some fun with Brenda's glasses:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1227937750_UayFa">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1227937750_UayFa</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1227712273_JKnwk">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1227712273_JKnwk</a><br /> Only a really good sport would let a 6 year old hold their sunglasses...<br /> <br /> An exercise I did this morning was to go to the SmugMug homepage and search on 'primrose flower' and see what others had shot. Neat!<br /> <br /> There were several other shots I took yesterday that I really liked. I've loaded them up into my Inspirations gallery if you have time to look (first 6):<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1227929790_UqoHJ">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1227929790_UqoHJ</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for the feedback on yesterday's azalea shot. I agree with a few of you commented RE it's a harder flower to compose shots of than some others. Just lucky that one flower was sticking up so nicely in front of that ready made background.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/24/11 - Azalea in the Llight of the Wisteria<br /> <br /> I took this in Madi's yard yesterday with 100's of bees buzzing nearby. The purple in the background is a beautiful wisteria vine. I liked the delicate pink and pretty purple bokeh. <br /> <br /> The redbuds, dogwoods, and azaleas are all opening. I saw a frost warning for tonight, though:-(<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments on my B&W train shot... <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/23/11 - Duke Power Company #111<br /> <br /> From the NC Transportation Museum website:<br /> The locomotive was built by the American Locomotive Company around 1922, sold to the Stewart-Jones Company of Great Falls, SC in February 1922 and the Wateree Power Company (later Duke Power Company) on July 7, 1924. This locomotive is similar to the Bonsal #7, except the water tank rides atop the boiler, giving locomotive the nickname “saddle-tank.” Duke Power used the locomotive at their Mt. Holly and Cliffside plants along with the Buck Steam Plant on the Yadkin River north of Spencer. Not much is known of its service before 1942 or after 1953. The locomotive was donated to the State of north Carolina in the late 1970s, and is currently on display in Stall 13 in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /> Harsh (Hershey) left me a comment wondering about how Monday's train shot would have looked in B&W, so I decided to go ahead and post this train shot processed in B&W. I actually applied a Vintage News action but then didn't like the extra tan tones in the shot and tinted it B&W with some extra contrast added in. It is underneath an HDR shot created in Photomatix from 3 bracketed shots. <br /> <br /> The Robert Julian Roundhouse at the museum is HUGE and has a working turntable. I do so enjoy going inside to see the restored engines as well as the engines currently being restored. The front part of the roundhouse is for display and use. The backside is restoration. For a look at the front of the roundhouse from outside, go here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223129822_GMwKh">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223129822_GMwKh</a><br /> I regret not taking shots to do a pano. Sorry, Art!<br /> <br /> And, inside a train under restoration:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223105004_va5XY">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223105004_va5XY</a><br /> Just like at an auto body shop, the train bays allow for maintenance from underneath although those areas are roped off to visitors. <br /> <br /> I hope to get out and take some more flower shots today... Thanks so much for your comments on yesterday's flower shot. I loved Paula's comment at the end where she called in Pinkalicious. That is such a cool title. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/22/11 - Spring's Pink Beauties <br /> <br /> As we were leaving the NC Transportation Museum on Saturday, I spotted several of these magnolia trees near the kiddie golf. As the kids practiced their putting skills, I snapped pictures of the flowers. If often works nicely like that. I thought about sharing another train shot today. I have several. But this flower really stood out to me. Figures I'd go to the train museum and come away with flower shots:-)<br /> <br /> Thanks for your feedback on yesterday's train shot. It was a 3-shot HDR. I took a lot of bracketed series so I could hopefully get one where the men weren't moving much. It was lucky that they were enjoying their conversation. I meant to give you a link yesterday showing the engine moving down the line with a big cloud of steam!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1224750569_Q7jLR">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1224750569_Q7jLR</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/21/11 - Flagg Coal Co. 75 <br /> <br /> The boys and I got back from my dad's house last night, and I was able to offload and process my pics from the NC Transportation Museum. <br /> <br /> The highlight of the day at the museum was seeing a steam engine, The Flagg coal 75, in action. It is not normally at the museum, but was there on loan giving rides. There was a diesel engine also in operation using the museum's normal coach cars. 75 was pulling 4 (5?) cabooses. The kids really liked that!<br /> <br /> From Wikipedia:<br /> Flagg Coal Company 75 is a 0-4-0 saddletank steam locomotive built for the Flagg Coal Company in 1930. Restored and owned by John and Byron Gramling.<br /> <br /> Originally numbered Flagg Coal Company 2, the locomotive's number was changed to 75 when it was sold to the Solvay Process Quarry in 1935. It never actually wore "Flagg Coal Company 75" during its service life.<br /> <br /> <br /> FCC 75 went into service in December of 1930 as #2 for the Flagg Coal Company of Avoca, Pennsylvania where it was used as a switch engine. In 1935 it was sold to the Solvay Process Co. in Jamesville, New York and renumbered 75. It was then used to push 4-wheel hopper cars from the steam shovel to the crusher at the rock quarry. In the early 1950s the Solvay Process Co. replaced the 0-4-0s like # 75 with trucks and dieselized the handling of finished crushed stone with two GE 80 tonners, #5 and #6. (#6 now belongs to the Central NY Chapter, NRHS along with former Solvay Process Co. Alco 0-4-0 # 53). In 1954, #75 and twelve other locomotives were sold to Dr. Groman and his planned Rail City Museum in Sandy Pond, New York. The locomotive sat there untouched until 1991 when John and Byron Gramling purchased it with the intent to restore it to operating condition. The father-son duo painstakingly disassembled the locomotive, moved it to their shop in Ashley, Indiana and over the course of the following ten years returned it to service. In 2002 John and Byron loaned the locomotive to the Steam Railroading Institute where it is used for demonstrations and to power steam excursions.<br /> <br /> Flagg Coal Company 75 has traveled around the country to operate, give demonstrations and educate the public about steam locomotive operation and history. The locomotive has made a few historic appearances, such as being the first steam locomotive to operate in Port Huron, Michigan since the early 60s.<br /> <br /> -------<br /> <br /> Really, are Mondays necessary? Sigh...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> The original non HDR shot:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223014651_aKa4a">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223014651_aKa4a</a><br /> <br /> A shot showing the cabooses:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223217083_ZKC6o">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1223217083_ZKC6o</a>
  • 03/20/11 - Parachute Rainbow<br /> <br /> The boys and I had a great time at the NC Transportation Museum yesterday and then made it safely to my dad's house. Around 10 last night I finally got to my computer and tried to offload my pictures. I didn't have what I needed and tried everything I could think of for an hour to get them off. No luck. I was pretty inconsolable. This morning I am taking it more in stride. I have gone on eBay and ordered another PCMIA SDHC card reader so now both my lalptops will permanently have one in the 'slot'. This will not happen again. I felt lost not being able to review my pictures last night for even just a few minutes. Sigh... <br /> <br /> Quite a few pics went from my phone to FB yesterday. I just wish my phone didn't take such bad pictures.<br /> <br /> This is a shot from Field Day on Friday. I liked the colors. I liked the shadows of some balls where the ball is not in the shot. I liked one ball in the air and it's shadow. The kids called this making popcorn. I was able to download from Smug a few minutes ago, edit, and upload otherwise I wouldn't have had something at all. Sigh...<br /> <br /> Dad treated the kids big time to books at Borders which is a normal fun thing we do that he can enjoy with them. This AM is our usual Sunday buffet at Golden Corral. <br /> <br /> Thanks to everyone that left me a comment yesterday or who will today even though I am not at my computer commenting much. I'll be back on schedule tomorrow.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/19/11 - Yoshino Cherry with Delicate Reds<br /> <br /> My large red flowering Japonica Camellia is behind these delicate yoshino cherry blossoms in this shot. I went back and forth on how bright to leave the background and settled on this version. Maybe not as stunning as a dark blue sky behind the blossoms, but I liked this unique background choice and wanted to share.<br /> <br /> I did catch a swallowtail and silver spotted skipper on the tree yesterday. The skipper shot is here and has the blue background. The skipper is not in focus...just the blossom beside him:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1220898206_qZEfb">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1220898206_qZEfb</a><br /> <br /> I did get some very cute pics of kids at Field Day at the boys' school yesterday. This was one of my favorites:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1220622090_afQ5J">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1220622090_afQ5J</a><br /> That little boys is just too cute!<br /> <br /> Off to my Dad's house today.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/18/11 - Yoshino Cherry Blossoms<br /> <br /> Last night, I reviewed all the cherry blossom shots that I took this week. It was hard to pick, but I like this one I took on a cloudy day earlier in the week the best. I like the background, and I also like the 'ballet slippers' combined with the open blossoms. I adjusted the color a bit to hopefully take away the cloudy day and leave you with a softly warm flower shot.<br /> <br /> The kids got into the car yesterday afternoon at school saying that the leprechaun had visited their classroom. While they were at lunch, chairs were overturned and books moved and some other obvious leprechaun signs. LOL.<br /> <br /> There is a Field Day at the kids school today. In this case, that's outside games and events put on by the gym teacher. I volunteered to go help and am excited.<br /> <br /> The warm weather continues, and spring is nearly gone with a high in the mid 80s today. Gulp. That's just what NC does. <br /> <br /> Thanks for the comments on the kids and Blaze in green. Blaze is a very good sport. She loves those kids even when they are making her do silly things.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/17/11 - Happy St. Patrick's Day from Joey, Blaze, Madi, Johnny and of Course Me<br /> <br /> Joey came up with this idea that we should take a picture of our dog Blaze dressed up for St. Patrick's day. I agreed knowing what that really meant, and it took us a few days to have good weather and find the time. Monday after school, the kids and I grabbed the green and Blaze and set out to take a picture. Boy was this a comedy of hats falling off. Finally, after much repositioning, I was able to get this shot. My favorite thing about this is that Johnny has the pot o' gold in his mouth and is pretending to be a dog too.<br /> <br /> Madi took this very nice picture of me and Blaze and the boys as well:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1218284851_c2wkF">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1218284851_c2wkF</a><br /> <br /> The frame is made up of several layers:<br /> Green oval toner scratch on OnOne PhotoFrame<br /> Scatter brush shamrocks (twice)<br /> A few single shamrocks to fill in holes in the scatter<br /> Oval acid burn in grunge category on OnOne PhotoFrame<br /> Line border in grunge category on OnOne PhotoFrame<br /> <br /> The brushes came from:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.obsidiandawn.com">http://www.obsidiandawn.com</a><br /> <br /> If frames interest you, do check out his St. Patrick's Day shot of just Madi and the frame that I made for it from brushes and OnOne PhotoFrame too:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1218191092_XMdoa">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1218191092_XMdoa</a><br /> <br /> Thanks so much for all your positive feedback on Madi's portrait yesterday.<br /> <br /> HAGD and wear the green!<br /> Maryann
  • 03/16/11 - 7 Going on 16<br /> <br /> This gorgeous red oak tree is in my side yard. I live on an acre of mixed hardwood/pine trees. Throw in a bunch of American Holly too. The yard slopes to the back and the septic is on the side, so the side yard is more the backyard. When they put in the septic, the guy on the heavy equipment and I had a discussion about this tree and how important it was to save it. He was as careful as a guy on heavy equipment could be, and I prayed on it, and 18 years later it still is doing well. There are 7 'stalks' to it. It survived hurricane Fran (I prayed on it then too). I got married in front of this tree. There are quite a few shots over the years of the kids up in it usually taken in the spring or the fall when the temps are right and the bugs aren't too active. I hope for many more shots of the kids at this tree in the years to come... Maybe some day their kids too. <br /> <br /> Madi's mom and Madi really liked this shot. That made it for sure worth it for me. I took it Monday and have picked up prints of it already, and it printed well.<br /> <br /> Yesterday I took another pic of Madi in this tree from a different angle. Seriously, these kids pose for me and ask to have their picture taken often, so sometimes I really have some good opportunities for shots. If you'd like to see two more shots of Madi that I have spent time on for presentation, they are here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1218190763_SqZQf">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1218190763_SqZQf</a><br /> Too many pictures an not enough days in the year to share them...<br /> <br /> Thanks very much for your feedback on the thoughtful Johnny shot. He loved being the center of attention over it. Madi was also quite excited on your comments about the swan shot. Thank you.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/15/11 - Lost In Thought<br /> <br /> I know you guys are used to seeing Johnny all smiles. This is quite a departure from that. This was taken at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck on Sunday. I was fixated on taking picture of the peacocks, and the kids had walked over to a picnic table area and entered into an imaginary game. Madi was the mom and Joey was the dad, and little baby Johnny was being fussed at and given a self imposed timeout. Johnny had moved over to this table and pretended to be put out and upset. I saw him and the light and the gazing look and decided to start taking pics of the interaction. :Less than a minute later 'Mom' was picking him up and giving him a hug to make things all better:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215580834_vru3C">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215580834_vru3C</a><br /> His smile returned instantly, and life was good again.<br /> <br /> I used an Action from The Pioneer Woman's website in PSE to tint this B&W. Then I used Color Variations to add back in a hint of red. That's a tad different than how I processed Madi's shot a week ago. There is a corner burn as well from The Coffee Shop Blog. I found out the hard way to make sure you remove spots early in the work flow. There was a small spot in Johnny's head shadow that I didn't see at first, so I ended up going in and having to fix it on several copies and variations of this shot vs. just fixing it once at the beginning. One of these days I will learn.<br /> <br /> My yoshino cherry tree is blooming, and I was out taking lots of pics of it yesterday too. There were so many bees on it the entire front yard was buzzing. Pics coming later in the week!<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the 'blue eye' from yesterday. A very pretty bird with lots of character and a joy to view in person if you're ever in the area. This place is not far from the VA border and not far off I95.<br /> <br /> Joey very much enjoyed your comments on his duck shot and was encouraged. Thank you.<br /> <br /> Madi's POTD (swan):<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1217107133_RwQUU">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1217107133_RwQUU</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/14/11 - Toco Toucon or is it Mr. Fruit Loop?<br /> <br /> The kids and I traveled back to Scotland Neck yesterday to go to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park. We really enjoy our visits there seeing all the birds and walking the easy trail. There's a beaver blind and a treehouse as well as a playground area with fossil dirt brought in from Aurora for the kids to look for fossil teeth.<br /> <br /> The Toco Toucon obviously stands out for his color and personality, and this is Johnny's favorite bird at the park. Easy for me as the photographer to fall in love with that beautiful blue eye. This was our 3rd visit to the park, and each time we've spent a good bit of time visiting with this bird.<br /> <br /> This guy is a native to parts of Africa. Not on any endanged lists thank goodness. Males and femlaes look the same only males are larger. They live in more open areas than forest areas. They like fruits like figs but also eat reptiles and insects and even sometimes small birds. <br /> <br /> Link to Joey's POTD:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1215884498_UAtxo</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the St. Patrick's Day Parade collage. <br /> <br /> Best bird collage from yesterday:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215665275_g82PM</a><br /> Putting all the ones I like side by side like that helps me pick sometimes.<br /> <br /> Best kid collage:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1215667474_aRfn2</a><br /> <br /> The unique crop is because he's in a cage. Although the eye detail is not so nice if you line things up to get his whole beak in beause it's so long. Here's a shot from our last visit that shows his full beak (and a sweet gum ball he's playing with):<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/SylvanHeightsWaterfowlParkScot/Sylvan-Heights-022011/15917697_ZVfEA#1193792092_7ZqtL</a><br /> <br /> I spent some time trying out a polarizing filter yesterday. I wan't impressed. I may try again.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/13/11- St. Patrick's Day Parade with Marbles Kids Museum<br /> <br /> Joey, Johnny, Madi, and I marched with Marbles Kids Museum in the Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday. I knew the kids would be a little bored waiting for things to get moving but have a great time once we were underway, and I was right. We all admit it was worth the wait, and if we have the chance to do this again, we probably will. Boy did we luck out on the weather! It was in the 60's during the parade and a warm wind. If anything, we were too hot because we were bundled for it to be a tad chillier. We saw just a few friends along the parade route. Too much excitement and too big of a crowd to make out much. At first we were going to be behind the clowns, and then we got tired of waiting with fidgety kids and snuck in behind a dog group:-) The kids sure liked that! J&J&M took turns holding the Marbles banner. How nice that the staff offered the kids that job. I did my best to take pics and keep the kids in a straight line with it; not that easy of a task. Most of my shots were taken waiting in line for the parade to start and shooting into the sun), and during the parade itself, so it's a different perspective than from the crowd. My favorite moment in the parade was turning the corner and having the huge crowd and the old state capital building in front of us. Wow!<br /> <br /> After the parade, we did a few carnival style rides on Moore Square. Madi got her picture taken by a WRAL reporter on the rock climbing wall. The pic is #17 in this slideshow:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.wral.com/entertainment/image_gallery/9262142/">http://www.wral.com/entertainment/image_gallery/9262142/</a><br /> <br /> We went to see Mars Needs Moms at the IMAX theater next to Marbles too. I figured we'd all enjoy sitting after the parade, and I was right. It's a good movie and we really enjoyed it on the big screen. It has a few tense moments like Toy Story 3 did. If your younger kids/grandkids were OK with Toy Story 3, they will be OK with this. <br /> <br /> I had trouble staying awake last night. I wonder why. As a consequence, I didn't make as many comments as I'd hoped, and I forgot to start my upload to SmugMug. The pics are uploading to my March 2011 gallery now. However, they are over on Picasa here:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/fotomom.maryann/JJ031211MarblesStPatrickSDayParadeMadiTheBest">https://picasaweb.google.com/fotomom.maryann/JJ031211MarblesStPatrickSDayParadeMadiTheBest</a>#<br /> including some neat videos.<br /> <br /> I have on 4 hats in the lower right pic because of course the kids got tired of wearing theirs and I didn't feel like carrying them:-)<br /> <br /> Thank you so much for the comments on my flower shot from yesterday too... <br /> <br /> No clue what we're doing today. 71 and cloudy. The kids are asking to 'go', and I'm sure we'll be up to something fUN!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 03/12/11 - Bradford Pear Surrounded By Forsythia<br /> <br /> I took quite a few more flower pics early in the day yesterday but weren't very happy with them. It was sunnier. I took a similar shot to this one, but despite being in manual mode and slightly underexposing, the whites were still too bright. I had the shot from yesterday and this shot from Thursday up side-by-side and liking the composition and general color decided to work on the background color of this shot to brighten it and make it more saturated. I pulled the flowers and leaves out to a new layer and then used PSE Color Variations to lighten, remove green, and then adjust color curves. I like it better now. The only thing lost from yesterday's shot is no sunlight through the leaves themselves. I was lucky on this shot, the laso or quick select tool did a good job. When that tool works as expected, it's a great help. I also did a Picasa Lucky adjust at the very end which had the effect of darkening the shadows a tad. If nothing else, trying an auto adjust gives me a good idea of what to try to adjust manually assuming I like what it did. If I try out the auto fix on a shot and it makes little/no changes, I figure I got the exposure pretty close. If not, I can decide to go with what it does or attempt similar changes manually.<br /> <br /> Original:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1212572025_P65Nv">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1212572025_P65Nv</a><br /> <br /> Yesterday's sunnier shot:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1213363847_2yiN6">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/March-2011/16046070_gZarf#1213363847_2yiN6</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your feedback on the pink camellia shot. I did take quite a few more shots of pink blooms yesterday too.<br /> <br /> We're marching in the Raleigh St. Patrick's Day parade at noon today. Weather should be reasonable, and it should be fun!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann

  • fotoeffects

    on August 13, 2016

    Incredible!

  • Arnold Dubin

    on February 10, 2014

    Very nice close-up. I particular like the details and colors you captured in this photo. ADubin

  • Snowtop

    on January 12, 2014

    Superb color and detail

  • smeraldi

    on September 11, 2012

    Very good crop and colors.

  • 1058334TDFDPIX

    on September 11, 2012

    Wonderful shot! The colors are fantastic and that blue eye is amazing! Pretty!

  • Marc Breault

    on September 11, 2012

    Nice shot, I love the detail on his beak!

  • Lgood

    on May 23, 2012

    WOW!

  • 1140424BethWalshPhotograp

    on May 23, 2012

    Excellent close up. Brilliant colours and detail. Love it!

  • bluemountainsphotography

    on May 6, 2012

    Captivating image - colors, detail and that eye just draw you in!

  • pagbla

    on April 30, 2012

    Beautiful Bird! Cool Crop!

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