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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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06/05/10 - View at Dinner from Canyons Restaurant Blowing Rock <br /> Family weekend at Day Out With Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad.<br /> Not the best shot...HDR, low light, colder to bring back blues, brighten so you can see it, 2 inches of rain in the next hour right after this shot. <br /> More coming...<br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> Posting from good ol' McD's.
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06/05/10 - View at Dinner from Canyons Restaurant Blowing Rock
Family weekend at Day Out With Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad.
Not the best shot...HDR, low light, colder to bring back blues, brighten so you can see it, 2 inches of rain in the next hour right after this shot.
More coming...
HAGD,
Maryann
Posting from good ol' McD's.

IMG6400398399tonemappedBrighter

  • 06/05/10 - View at Dinner from Canyons Restaurant Blowing Rock <br /> Family weekend at Day Out With Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad.<br /> Not the best shot...HDR, low light, colder to bring back blues, brighten so you can see it, 2 inches of rain in the next hour right after this shot. <br /> More coming...<br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> Posting from good ol' McD's.
  • 06/04/05 - Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail<br /> I only got to fire off one shot and then this guy was on his way:-( This was taken on one of the butterfly bushes in my yard. <br /> <br /> I did fidget with this shot just a bit to bring out the best true color and clarity. Little saturation and sharpening. 8X10 crop. Brighten a tad. Remove two stray white dots. <br /> <br /> I missed out on taking swallowtail pics on my yoshino cherry trees this year...the timing was just off somehow on the trees blooming and the butterflies arriving for the spring. So, I'm glad to be seeing them now. Definitely my favorite local butterfly to take pics of. The female has more blue and orange spots and is a little showier. I'm just glad this male had intact wings. This butterfly is a bit stubborn about taking refuge from storms, so often you see them flying around quite tattered after a thunderstorm comes through.<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments on the dahlia flower:-)<br /> <br /> In other news, I saw the Red-Tailed Hawk down at the swamp and did manage to fire off a picture of him before he flew too. And, I had my second Blue Grosbeak sighting. He was in the shade, but I did manage several shots of him too. Also saw and took a picture of an Eastern Kingbird. It's amazing how I can travel less than 2 miles from my home and see so many interesting and different birds and plants.<br /> <br /> Also, Joey's bookbag came apart at the seams and we were bookbag shopping at WM yesterday. Great luck that they had a Mario Kart Wii one and a Mario Slugger one. Johnny now has his bookbag ready to start Kindergarten:-) <br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#889448231_9Lb8q">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#889448231_9Lb8q</a><br /> He was so excited wearing it around the store and trying out things in it when he got home. Joey had a 'Show the Parents' teacher conference yesterday where we got to see his work at the beginning of the year and compare it to work at the end of the year. Wonderful to see the growth. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/03/10 - Dahlia in Pink<br /> Johnny ended up having swimmer's ear and is on drops twice a day for seven days. On the way home from the doc, I got him a small strawberry smoothie, and we stopped at the Garden Hut to redeem the $25 gift certificate that I won for submitting some photos on Mother's Day. I picked out a butterfly bush, lantana, and a bat-faced cuphea. Johnny and I walked around me taking a few pictures and him enjoying the fountains all around:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/The-Garden-Hut-Spring-2010/12127265_4jA9i#888011868_8Hpms">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/The-Garden-Hut-Spring-2010/12127265_4jA9i#888011868_8Hpms</a><br /> His fascination with water is ongoing:-) If I am ever in a position of have a large running fountain, I know where I'm going! The 20 minute walk with Johnny amongst the flower was the highlight of my day:-)<br /> <br /> Anyway, this wonderful dahlia was available for sale in a good sized pot, and I would have bought it if I had more sunny spots in my yard. But I don't, so I settled for this picture. Wow, what a flower!<br /> <br /> Thanks so much for your comments on yesterday's POTD. Judy (fotoeffects) pointed out late in the day that it was a Gloriosa Daisy and not a Black-Eyed Susan. After Googling that, I agree. I had Googled Black-Eyed Susan before I labeled it trying to be sure, and let's say I think a lot of people are confused about that particular flower. Good to learn something new everyday, though. Thanks, Judy. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> About 30 new pics from The Garden Hut in my Garden Hut gallery here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/The-Garden-Hut-Spring-2010/12127265_4jA9i#888023556_zwVjg">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/The-Garden-Hut-Spring-2010/12127265_4jA9i#888023556_zwVjg</a><br /> <br /> They are also in my June 2010 gallery here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#887985966_vqJef">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#887985966_vqJef</a>
  • 06/02/10 - Black-Eyed Susan and Butterfly Bush (correction - Gloriosa Daisy)<br /> I have a small flower bed in my front yard, and I've finally gotten a few Daisies and Black-Eyed Susans established there. I also have two small-sized butterfly bush varieties there as well. I'm hoping to attract butterflies, but so far, just lots of tiny bees on the Black-Eyed Susans. <br /> <br /> This is cropped just enough to get it to an 8X10 size as the shot had a tad too much real estate on the bottom. I tried intentionally to get the butterfly bush in the background. The green is just grass between the flower bed and the street.<br /> <br /> Johnny and I went on a puddle jumping walk again yesterday. I took this close-up portrait of him that I thought was really sweet:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#887016696_mBiCY">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2010/12400102_x8pU2#887016696_mBiCY</a><br /> Poor kid this AM says his right ear feels infected (not quite those words), so we'll be trying to get in at the doctor's office after they open. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/01/10 - Slide!<br /> We received an invite to come back for Day #2 on the waterslide. Once you have the slide set-up and the canopy and chairs plus have a lot of leftover food from Day #1, you might as well have some more fun, right?!? It was a much smaller crowd on Day #2, and the kids and I played in the pool and on the slide for 6 hours. Water volleyball and frisbee, the waterslide with various tubes, water balloons, hamburgers and cupcakes and popsicles...a really fun time! <br /> <br /> This is Joey making a very huge splash on his way down. The water jets up top continually soak the slide, and then the water collects at the bottom for the splash. The water looks a bit white, and that's soap bubbles created by putting some dish detergent (Dawn) on the slide to speed 'er up! I really love hanging out at the bottom of the slide with my camera trying to capture the moments as they happen. Sometimes if I stop taking pictures I get called back, "MeMe, come watch my super duper slide!" "Mom, this is gonna be the biggest splash ever!" I'm going to miss the weekend and the kids today for sure...<br /> <br /> I did take a few dragonfly pics yesterday. They started landing on the wet floats around the pool. I just thought a fun, festive and colorful shot was the way to go for a virtual Monday and wet Tuesday here. Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's dragonfly shot.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/31/10 - Female Widow Skimmer Dragonfly - POTD 2 of 2<br /> A special thank you for all your comments this past week on my nature shots. In my book, the best thing about taking a photo is sharing it with friends, and I certainly consider you guys friends. I really do appreciate that you take a few minutes out of your day to check out my daily photo. And, I get a lot of joy out of your feedback. <br /> <br /> I was back at my favorite swamp spot yesterday, and this dragonfly caught my attention. I was zoomed all the way in at just about 3' away for this shot. Although I have a beautiful full wing shot, this particular species has appeared like that in my dailies before, and I thought the detail on the eyes and legs especially in larger sizes was really worth focusing on this time around. <br /> <br /> I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> I just couldn't help but also post this shot today.
  • 05/31/10 - Memorial Day Weekend Water Day 2010 - POTD 1 of 2<br /> First, let me take a moment to remember our Veterans...especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and for their families who continue to pay. These smiling faces are free to enjoy the holiday thanks to those who were willing to stand up for our freedom. And, may those serving on this Memorial Day be safe and appreciated.<br /> <br /> This is the 3rd year in a row we've spent Memorial Day weekend at Madi's house on the waterslide. Some of the faces change, or at least grow up, but it's mostly the same crew enjoying a wet and festive day on the slide and in the pool. I just love capturing smiling faces and making sure each person has a shot of themselves from the day to look at, enjoy, and smile upon. Although a few are not pictured, these shots are certainly a good representation of the fun that we had yesterday. <br /> <br /> Yes, I did go down the slide, and please feel very free to overlook the picture of me! <br /> <br /> I hear it's back for day #2 later today. Woo hoo!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/30/10 - American Lady and Friends<br /> The kids and I made the rounds to Lake Wheeler Park and Yates Mill Park yesterday. I just love the plants they have growing in the Yates Mill Park parking lot and around a few other places in the park. This picture was taken there. The main butterfly is an American Lady. I'm not sure about the other butterfly or the two little black bugs (one is under the smaller butterfly). I liked the dof on this shot and the face detail on both butterflies, so that's why I picked this one. A view of this butterfly from the side is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#883104524_72kku">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#883104524_72kku</a><br /> Looks like a completely different butterfly from the side. <br /> <br /> When I shoot butterfly shots, I try for various results. In many cases, I am trying to get a good picture of the straw (more properly called the proboscis).<br /> <br /> It was cloudy all day yesterday:-( I added a tiny amount of saturation and sharpening to this shot. It is not cropped. Looks like clouds again today for our big picnic and Water Day events:-(<br /> <br /> In other news, the kids were walking around the trails at Yates Mill playing Wall-E again. Madi is of course Eva, Johnny is Wall-E himself, and Joey says he plays M-O. It is so cute. They shut themselves down (still with arms at sides looking down sometimes squatting or standing straight) and wake themselves up to move to the next trail marker or bench and then shut themselves down again. Johnny does the most compacting of himself I guess because that is of course what Wall-E does. <br /> <br /> Also, I saw a blue grosbeak yesterday. He was pretty far away, but the composition of the shot is quite interesting with my favorite red fishing chair and yellow wildflowers in the shot too:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#883034599_ffoEj">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#883034599_ffoEj</a><br /> That's only my second sighting ever, so I was very excited.<br /> <br /> I hope you are having a wonderful long weekend with family and friends and taking great pics...<br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/29/10 - Male Blue Dasher<br /> A sure sign of summer...the dragonflies are out in force at the local swamp. I photographed two species yesterday and saw several others. They perch, fly around a bit, and often come back to the exact same stick, so the key to catching them is just staying focused on the perch and letting them come and go from it I think. I liked how he was posed with his tail up:-) <br /> <br /> I took a picture of a beaver footprint at the swamp yesterday too which is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#882203818_Y3rKV">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#882203818_Y3rKV</a><br /> <br /> I am pretty darn sure twice now that a beaver has dived into the water upon my approach. Something has made a racket on two different mornings. Good thing I'm not too easily spooked. But then I have learned to wear jeans and socks even when it's 95 and I'm gonna shoot pictures down there. <br /> <br /> Johnny and Madi had out the 'Jeep' yesterday and were nearly hysterical driving it. They took turns behind the wheel, and the other would push the gas. Jerk stops and starts, intentionally running into things...BUMP! It was just a crazy fun time for about 30 minutes. Sadly, they are nearly too big for it.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#882198114_qbH22">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#882198114_qbH22</a><br /> <br /> After serious enough storms to take out our power last night and a lot of rain again, the kids and I are off to try to enjoy a few parks today. Tomorrow will be our big water and picnic day at Madi's house.<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on my butterfly shot from yesterday. I was back at the swamp 3 times yesterday. It is peak time for the wild, orange daylilies. However, I did not see any great butterflies come through while I was there. I did have my first sighting of the green heron, though:-) <br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#881948037_62iuf">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#881948037_62iuf</a> <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/28/10 - Viceroy<br /> I always wonder when I take pics of these orange butterflies if they are viceroys or monarchs. When I get home, every time, I end up Googling pictures to help me remember how to tell them apart. This is definitely a viceroy. I took the shot at the swamp area down John Adams Road where I take so many of my flower and nature shots. I've seen viceroy and taken pics of them there before. It may be that I have never actually taken a monarch picture. Monarchs love milkweed to reproduce, and we just don't have ANY milkweed in our area. And, I've tried starting some from seed with no success. Viceroy apparently like poplar and willow to reproduce, and both of those are readily available at the swamp.<br /> <br /> Online picture comparison with the monarch on the left and the viceroy on the right:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Monarch_Viceroy_Mimicry_Comparison.jpg">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Monarch_Viceroy_Mimicry_Comparison.jpg</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your response to Joey's math homework shot and his portrait of Mommy and Johnny. Now if he can just remember to spell again correctly on his spelling test today:-)<br /> <br /> Joey is in year round school track 4, so his summer break is just the month of July. Our traditional calendar school are out now, so that's why Johnny had his preschool graduation...they were on a traditional calendar. But, starting in July, both kids will be on the same schedule!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/27/10 - First Grade Math<br /> I'm feeling the need for closeness to family stuff today, and I thought this shot I took last night while Joey was doing his homework was interesting enough to post. He did the sheet over two nights and had a scratch sheet off to the side. I think he missed about 6 total and I'm sure those were due to not rechecking. I had him redo them, and he got them right the 2nd time. He's a good boy and a good student and I'm proud that he's come a long way on his math this year.<br /> <br /> His school year ends at the end of June, and soon both he and Johnny will be getting on the big yellow bus... <br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on the butterfly shot. I really enjoy tracking butterflies and taking pictures of them. Hopefully more soon.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/26/10 - Delightful Nectar<br /> I didn't really care for any of the pictures I took yesterday. I didn't get out with my camera until 7PM, and then the late day light was heavily filtered by clouds and not very pretty. But today it's sunny...and 20 degrees warmer.<br /> <br /> This is another butterfly picture taken at the Butterfly Bash at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham on Saturday. This one was taken inside their Butterfly House. Slightly cropped and fixed a couple of white spots on his wing. I tried an SCurve Pop and that was a nogo...lost too much detail that was not well compensated for by the brighter color.<br /> <br /> Thanks for taking a ride with Captain Johnny on his starship yesterday:-)<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ncmls.org">http://www.ncmls.org</a>
  • 05/25/10 - Future Starship Captain<br /> Every time I went to the old Exploris museum and now every time I go to Marbles Kids Museum I end up fixated with this nifty window that lets you walk over the sidewalk below and look down. I see so much more than just a cool window. My pictures never seem to do it justice, though. I want to get out the Windex and clean it and then do something really cool to get a good shot. Well, I got to thinking that maybe I could spruce up a shot I took Sunday with some pp. What do you think? It's a gradient map filter followed by a posterize filter and then finally a glowing edges filter. The thumbnail may not look like much, but in larger sizes I love the color. I had to do those other filters because otherwise it just did not have all these pretty varying colors in it. Just glowing edges was all green for example. Kindof a neat study in B&W too. I had a vertical shot and a horizontal shot and I ended up going with the vertical shot cropped horizontal. Original images and some of the other ones that led up to this one are here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#878466504_VVAWp">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#878466504_VVAWp</a><br /> <br /> The only other thing I might want to do to it if I knew how was give it some zoom to make it look more like he's moving and not stationary. You know, that classic warp speed feeling:-)<br /> <br /> Oh, and that's model Johnny in the shot:-) <br /> <br /> Thanks so much for the butterfly picture comments:-) <br /> <br /> Several scifi movies that this reminds me of. A window in Star Wars. Maybe something from the old Black Hole movie. I think my vision in this is a blending of all of them vs. one in particular.<br /> <br /> If you're looking at this picture and you've taken a picture of this window or a similar one to it in your city, how about leaving me a link to your shot so I can see what else can be done perspective wise or pp wise. Thanks!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/24/10 - Sitting Pretty<br /> I took this butterfly shot at the Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh yesterday. In conversation, I always refer to this place as The Dinosaur Museum. They boast Willow the dinosaur with a heart, a giant ground sloth, a T-Rex skull, and the best Acrocanthosaurus specimen found to date. Started in 1851, this 'new' version free to the public makes for a great place to spend some time on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Although much smaller that the Butterfly House at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, their butterfly display is also very enjoyable, and that's where I took this picture. Ya gotta know that I would have given anything back at home to somehow remove that man out of my shot! But the clarity of the butterfly and especially his eye which can be best appreciated at larger sizes made this my POTD anyway. <br /> <br /> In other news at the museum, we saw the sloth climb his rope!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbles-Kids-Museum-052310/12288787_HT48s#876709398_j7Quc">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbles-Kids-Museum-052310/12288787_HT48s#876709398_j7Quc</a><br /> You know, about every 4th or 5th visit he might actually open an eye or move a few inches, but yesterday he traveled 10 feet!<br /> <br /> The gallery with all the pictures from yesterday's trip to the Natural Sciences museum and Marbles Kids Museum (yes, I was there too!) are here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbles-Kids-Museum-052310/12288787_HT48s#876670249_jbVVX">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Marbles-Kids-Museum/Marbles-Kids-Museum-052310/12288787_HT48s#876670249_jbVVX</a><br /> <br /> Thank you all for your comments yesterday especially the really nice ones about Johnny's portrait...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/23/10 - I ate a bug!<br /> Yep, they were serving up sauteed meal worms and crickets at the Butterfly Bash at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham yesterday.<br /> <br /> I really didn't see this experience coming. I was just as sure as Joey and Johnny that I was not going to eat a bug. But, after riding the train and giving it some thought, I figured I just shouldn't pass up on an opportunity like this one...ha ha gulp! So, with a little moral support from the staff and some help from Kristen with the camera I took the plunge and ate 2 cooked meal worms with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar. Now, I have to admit I didn't, um, chew but they did go down! After all, it is just protein, right?!?<br /> <br /> Later Note: I just want to add that many, many other parents and kids were eating the bugs. One father assured me that the crickets were great in soy sauce. I passed on trying that. And, this was MUCH harder to do than holding the snake a few weeks ago at Noah's Landing. <br /> <br /> I posted 2 daily photos today, and the flower is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#875903612_bQQtN">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#875903612_bQQtN</a><br /> <br /> Johnny's daily is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#875897224_JDU8x">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#875897224_JDU8x</a><br /> <br /> Full blog write-up on the day is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2010/05/not-just-butterflies-at-butterfly-bash.html">http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2010/05/not-just-butterflies-at-butterfly-bash.html</a>
  • 05/22/10 - Just Skippin' Around<br /> This was taken outside at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ncmls.org">http://www.ncmls.org</a><br /> <br /> The butterfly is some sort of Skipper. I didn't pay attention to the flower name, but it sure is pretty. I like the bonus bumblebee floating by and the dreamy feel of the blurred background too.<br /> <br /> Late Note: Papamugger says the flower is Pink Guara. Thanks you!<br /> <br /> We had a great time yesterday, and I enjoyed the day on many levels including taking quite a few picture in the outside butterfly garden.<br /> <br /> Johnny's daily is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#875897224_JDU8x">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#875897224_JDU8x</a><br /> <br /> Posting 2 daily photos today, and the 2nd one is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#875903805_f6Zjf">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#875903805_f6Zjf</a><br /> <br /> Full blog write-up on the day is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2010/05/not-just-butterflies-at-butterfly-bash.html">http://maryanng.blogspot.com/2010/05/not-just-butterflies-at-butterfly-bash.html</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/22/10 - American Copper Butterfly on Queen Anne's Lace<br /> After I got Joey off the bus yesterday, the kids and I drove to our local swamp area. This time of year, that gets to be a daily thing. The Queen's Anne's Lace is lining the side of the gravel road, and I got out to take a few pics of it shooting from the underside and studying the geometry of them as I often do. I was pleasantly surprised to see some butterflies. First I saw a Buckeye (not pictured), and then I saw this American Copper. This is a very small butterfly not much bigger than a nickel closed up or a quarter opened up. I was reading a Wikipedia article on it last night, and not only are they common in North America, but they can be found in the United Kingdom and North Africa as well. I took pics of this butterfly last year as well. Such wonderful vivid orange when open I think. <br /> <br /> You may remember I took some pictures of fields of red earlier this spring. Well, that's a variety of sorrel which is the plant that the caterpillars of this butterfly feed on:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep%27s_Sorrel">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep%27s_Sorrel</a><br /> All of the local soy bean fields fill with sorrel over the winter here and are just now being half plowed under for a new crop.<br /> <br /> All the pics in the collage are cropped but none severely. For the picture on the left, I was in macro mode, and my lens was nearly touching him. <br /> <br /> OK, I think you get that butterflies are fascinating to me.<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comment on the daylily shots from Madi and I...<br /> <br /> In other exciting news, Johnny graduated from preschool yesterday after 4 years there. He's come such a long way since we enrolled him at 2 due to him being so behind in his talking. A super cute picture of him with a homemade cap and tassel is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#874754193_zAn5Y">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#874754193_zAn5Y</a><br /> I took him to the mall yesterday afternoon for some fun...just me and him:-)<br /> <br /> We're off to the Museum of Life and Science today for their Butterfly Bash. Should be lots of fun and pics.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/21/10 - Wild Orange Daylily<br /> I was so excited a couple of days ago, when I went to my local swamp spot and found that the wild summer daylilies were blooming. There are many, many plants, and this show will go on for a couple of weeks at various spots in the area. Such a sight to see and a joy to behold and even better upclose trying to take the perfect picture. <br /> <br /> I went back yesterday morning to take pictures, and this is one of them. I have used spot healing to remove a few stray white dots, but that's it. <br /> <br /> I was more focused helping Madi yesterday than really getting the best shot myself. Her POTD is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#874043131_nNTan">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#874043131_nNTan</a><br /> She's such a great student even at only 6. She really takes in everything I says, has a strong desire to please, is genuinely interested, and follows directions great. Since we didn't have the boys with us, no distractions either:-)<br /> <br /> I was very excited to see an Indigo Bunting and a hummingbird perched on a branch at the local swamp too.<br /> <br /> One more story this morning... Madi and Joey are in the car with me, and we're headed to drop Joey off at school. We've just started down our street for the main road when Joey says, "Mom, there's an owl in that tree! Go back! Go Back!" It didn't take much convincing and no one was behind us, so I stopped and backed up. I knew at nearly 9AM it probably was not an owl, butcha never know. What Joey had seen was a beautiful Red-Tailed hawk:-) I can certainly understand his quick glimpse confusion. I was so proud of my boy for looking out for stuff like that. We tracked him for a few minutes, a took a couple of snapshot pictures, and we really enjoyed watching him fly across in front of us on his way to a new tree.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#873291689_5tLGM">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#873291689_5tLGM</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/20/10 - Through the Glass<br /> I was back playing with beads and glass last night. In this case, I used multicolord plastic beads between two different clear glass plates that had varying textures. I held the plates under a ceiling light. I had the camera in macro mode shooting back up through the plate from the bottom side. I think the two layers of glass added a bit of dimension. There were clear beads in the mix, and I think if I did it again I would remove them.<br /> <br /> Some of you may remember that I did a lot of shots similar to this last year. If not and you're interested to see more, go to my featured Glass Appeal gallery. <br /> <br /> I think the consensus is definitely 'Alien Mask'. When I took that shot, I wasn't thinking anything scifi at all. But, I do have to admit that while I was processing the pictures I was watching 'V'. So, there ya have it! My Dad was a huge scifi and fantasy book/movie fan, and I have certainly picked up on that from him. Dad took me to used book stores very often as a child. I was picking out Bobbsey Twins books in the early days, and he was going for used scifi and fantasy paperbacks. I remember always studying the cover artwork of the books in his bag. Anyway, thanks for your comments as always.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 05/19/10 - The Mask<br /> A friend on FB yesterday discovered my Glass Appeal gallery, and that got me thinking that I hadn't done a 'glass' shot in months. I guess after I did the coffee shop show in December I was kindof burnt out on it for a while. That and I was at a point where coming up with unique color combinations and new interesting glass patterns was proving more and more difficult. Anyway, I got out a plate and some beads and some soap with 'beads' in it and started taking some pictures after the kids were in bed last night. We had clouds and rain on and off all day yesterday, and some intense, heavy rain overnight again, and I didn't have an opportunity to take any outside shots. <br /> <br /> So, it didn't quite start out this way, but in the end, this was the most interesting shot I took I think. Quite a bit different for me in that it's B&W and more spooky than warm and inviting. <br /> <br /> Here's what this is from:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#872096296_LY3b7">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/May-2010/12049321_ofahM#872096296_LY3b7</a><br /> If you explore the images after that one, you'll see that this is as you might have guessed, the original image combined twice (using Picasa collage). That is, I did a horizontal flip and saved a copy and then merged the original and the flipped version. I did a B&W conversion too.<br /> <br /> Although I did take shots with the beads and soap, this is actually just a shot of the plate with F8.0 and held at an angle to the light. All shots done in macro mode. This one was a few inches from the plate, but many of the others from last night were literally touching the plate. <br /> <br /> Johnny was really excited about your comments on his Splish Splash shot. Thanks...<br /> <br /> Will we get more rain today or will the sun peek out? The weatherman just was not sure last night:-)<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann

  • Brian Stephen Green (InfiniteVisionsPhotograph)

    on June 8, 2010

    Wonderful scene! Great layers

  • irishmurr

    on June 7, 2010

    Gorgeous view!

  • Chika

    on June 6, 2010

    Wow, wonderful view!! Love the gradation of white and soft blue color of the sky!

  • Christine

    on June 5, 2010

    Nothing better than a restaurant with a beautiful view IMHO. Thanks so much for your advice on the overlay the other day. I tried it with just a plain solid white layer and cranked down the opacity. It worked really well. I think the photographers photo was a brighter picture- I will have to try this in the future to create a somewhat high key look. Photoshop is like a matrix!!!!! It never ends....

  • Janet McQueen

    on June 5, 2010

    Wonderful scene, love the misty blues...., very moody somehow...

  • billiejean

    on June 5, 2010

    I think it's beautiful Maryann, all those wonderful layers of mountains is outstanding!

  • WildeLifePhotography

    on June 5, 2010

    Great view, wonderful shot.

  • Connie Raley

    on June 5, 2010

    Beautiful layer and layers

  • mcdonegal1

    on June 5, 2010

    A fantastic view. Great shot under difficult circumstances. Well done!

  • Pixel Footprints

    on June 5, 2010

    Fantastic view!
    I had been to the botanical garden in Amsterdam today and managed to get couple of shots at the Butterflies. Thanks for all your inspirational work :). Will be posting them sometime next week.

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