Summer Fun Challenge: Water Photos

15 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in iPhoneography, Lifestyle, Summer

Tags

feet in water, floating in water, hands photos, iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhoneography, lifeguard, lifestyle, outdoor pool, photo contest, Photograph, pool, pool photos, red nails, shadow photos, summer fun, summer in Virginia, summer photos, swimming photos

Recently, I signed-up to join Blissfully Domestic’s Summer Fun Photo Challenge where Angela England hosts a different photo challenge topic during each week of the summer. Results are posted on Fridays.

Week One’s task was to photograph Water, and the topic is open to any interpretation.

So the other day, I hopped over to the pool, iPhone in-hand.

No doubt, folks thought I was a bit looney as I waded into four feet of pool water with my iPhone.

Regardless, I managed to keep my iPhone safe from the dangerous waters!

And, people at the pool thought I was even nuttier, probably quite narcissistic, as I spent the afternoon in the water taking pictures of my own hands and feet.

Okay, okay… so I got a little help from my husband taking the photo of my two hands (after all, I couldn’t push the button). However, it was frustrating because he couldn’t see what I saw, so, quickly the team photo tactic was abandoned.

One time, the life guard called out, “Are you trying to get a photo of your ring?” Ummm… not exactly…

And, I snapped a more shots of the pool.

Hummm… what to we have here? A crack in the stair?

Then, more shots of my legs. They looked cool.

Another quick look around to see what I missed…

Then, it was time to get out and hit the pool deck.

All in all, it had been a lovely day at the pool, don’t you think?

The topic for next week’s Summer Fun Photo Challenge is Technology… not in my comfort zone, for sure!

To join the fun, visit Blissfully Domestic’s Summer Fun Photo Challenge. Each week we’ll get a different theme and each Friday we post results. Here’s what’s ahead…

June 15, Week 1 = Water
June 22, Week 2 = Technology
June 29, Week 3 = Fun/Playtime
July 6, Week 4 = Light
July 13, Week 5 = Family/Home
July 20, Week 6 = Money
July 27, Week 7 = Travel
August 3, Week 8 = Friendship/Love
August 10, Week 9 = Food
August 17, Week 10 = Learning

So grab your camera, and join in the summer photo fun!

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar: Persnickity Portrait Subject

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Butterflies, Flora and Fauna, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring, Wildlife

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Tags

Biology, black swallowtail butterfly, black swallowtail caterpillar, butterfly, caterpillar in carrots, caterpillar photo, caterpillar photography, eastern black swallowtail butterfly, eastern black swallowtail caterpillar, Flora and Fauna, garden, garden caterpillar, garden photography, green and black caterpillar, green and black worm, Insecta, interior decorating color palette, iPhone, Lepidoptera, nature photography, Papilio polyxenes, Pupa, Virginia caterpillar

Lookee who I found in my carrot patch yesterday… a beautiful eastern black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes).

At first, my attractive little visitor was mad at me and flashed a bright orange osmeterium. Looking like soft orange antlers, the forked osmeterium organ emits a liquid compound containing chemicals called terpines. Unfortunately, I missed the photo of the brightly colored, antler-like osmeterium when it was visible… it looked sensational against the bright green foliage and orange carrot roots.

Regardless of my missed opportunity, as the sun played hide and seek above, I took a few more photos in the changing light before releasing my visitor. Yet, without a maco lens and precise focusing abilities, my iPhone camera and I found this creature to be the most persnickity of portrait subjects. The little animal’s front end was in constant motion and I could not get a well-focused shot – let alone get any sort of smile – or even a wink!

Mother Sun bleached out the appearance of these vibrant colors in my photos. However, I can see the bright and contrasting colors applied to interior decorating projects… Easily, I can envision this palette in a kid’s room or kitchen. Pop in some hot pink or purple for a bit of whimsy. Against an expanse of white, I see a very chic and modern living space.

After finding an expired mama eastern black swallowtail butterfly during one of my walks recently, it is heartwarming to see her life was not in vain. The life cycle continues! Without the short black spikes that appear around the black stripes of younger caterpillars, the creature in my carrot patch looks about ready to pupate. After just two weeks in its chrysalis stage, I look forward to seeing this little beauty spread its wings as a majestic swallowtail butterfly.

Gift #29: Swallowtail caterpillar (anordinarymiracleday.wordpress.com)
Metamorphosis, part 1 (natureofphotography.wordpress.com)

Iris Flowers, Up Close and Personal

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

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Tags

blue iris, closeup flower photos, flower abstract photos, flower photos, flower potography, garden photography, hardy flowers, Home and Garden, iPhone, iris, iris germanica, iris photos, Irises, old flowers, pink iris, plant phtotgraphy, Plants, purple and white iris, wet flowers

Its been a week of stormy spring weather. Every day, we’ve experienced fat, angry, lightening bolts, house-shaking, cracks and roars of thunder, and sheets and sheets of wind-driven ran. Last night in the car, as we headed home from town under brooding, bruised skies brightened with wild, white flashes of lightening, ginormous raindrops pelted the car. And when we were almost home, big balls of hail pinged off the car and bounced in the road around us.

Very dramatic.

But, its not all been drama weather this week.

In between the tempestuous conditions, we’ve had hours of peaceful, balmy days. Days when garden and roadside stems push upward and blooms stretch outward.