Sunday, December 11, 2005
Wild Petals of Gold

If you have been around the site for a while, or just looked back through the history of images you already know I love California Poppies. This one is a little bit different than most of my poppy photos. I really like the imperfection of the petals, the wild angles seem to bring out the beautiful texture more.

Saturday, December 10, 2005
Lone Daisy

This was a lone rebel daisy. It must have not been the right time of year for them because, in a large expanse of green, this was the only daisy.

Sunday, November 20, 2005
Poppy from a different point of view

I thought this would be a nice contrast to the Photo of the day for the 17th. They are quite different images, but they were taken only moments apart of exactly the same flower.

Thursday, November 17, 2005
Backlit Poppy

I had fun getting this image. I actually had to lay on the ground to get this perspective. (and it was a very HOT day to lay on the sidewalk)

This is one of my favorite subjects, in fact it was the subject of the first image on this site.

Friday, November 11, 2005
Poppies

I particularly like the color of these poppies. And, the center of that lower one is rather interesting.

Thursday, October 6, 2005
Icelandic Poppy Closeup

I've had some fun with this image, somehow it seemed like it just wanted to be an Easter card.

Sunday, September 4, 2005
Abstract Poppy

I like the simplicity of this one. There is enough texture in the closest petal to keep it interesting. One of my favorite subjects!

Saturday, September 3, 2005
Vinca

Wow for a little flower this guy has a lot of names.

• Information about Vinca Major

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Spotted Orchid

This is a new scan from my last trip to the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. (Sometimes it takes a while to get everything scanned and categorized) I did not get this one, but there were a couple that did come home with me.

Thursday, July 21, 2005
Poppy Petals

Another scan from my recent lunchtime walk in Ventura. The red of these poppies looks like it was brushed on to a normal orange California Poppy. They are a beautiful variant.

One of the interesting things about these poppies is the way they adapt to their local area. There can be a slightly different variant that lives only in an area as small as a single small valley. This variation actually makes them more hearty in a specific area, they are adapted to the exact conditions and climate.

In fact, it is actually possible to hurt the wild poppy population by plating seeds. Since most of the seeds you would get from the local garden supply shop are from stock that was originally exported to Europe. Being acclimatized for European gardens, releasing these plants in an area with native plants can actually weaken the resulting cross-pollinated next generation. Strange but true. Oh, and don't even think of collecting seeds in the wild, thats illegal. Oh well, some things are just meant to be enjoyed where they live!

Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Award Winning Rose

Award winning, but maybe not the kind of award you might think.

Last August was the first time I put my photography on display. I was very excited about doing it, but I did not really know what to expect. I have received many kind words and great stories (especially stories about humming birds,) but one of the highest complements yet was on Sunday at the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show.

This rose was framed and sitting on an easel near the sidewalk. A young girl, about 10 or so, walked by talking to someone I assume was her mom. Neither of them were really paying much attention to the show. But, she stopped in mid sentence and said "WOW! Look at that Rose!."

Now that is the kind of complement I like. There are many artists out there trying to impress people (especially people with money) with their "deep interpretation" of things. And, that's not to say none of them have great work. But, as far as I am concerned, the complements of children (and animals) are among the highest you can receive!

Friday, May 6, 2005
Daisy Dew

Yesterday was a bit rainy. I kind of like the rain, especially when the timing is right to lay around and listen to it on the roof. Right after the rain is a great time to take pictures and yesterday was exceptional. The clouds were clearing after an overcast day as the sun was slipping down. I'm sure I got some beautiful shots, one of which this is not. I took an uncharacteristically small number of shots so the roll is still in the camera. But I will finish it off soon and upload the results!

In the mean time, the lighting in this photo reminds me of what I was seeing in the viewfinder yesterday.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Flaming Petals

My best friend loves to paint watercolors. She started learning about watercolors with the desire to paint a bird of paradise and she has made several beautiful images. Now she has been eying Dahlias. She has been looking for a good model to inspire her so I have been grabbing shots of them whenever I see them. I can't wait to see the masterpiece she creates!

Apparently these are the National Flower of Mexico. The mountains of Guatemala and Mexico are their ancestral home. Must be a beautiful place!!

There are quite a few different kinds, this seems to be some sort of "Cactus Dahlia"

• American Dahlia Society
  Dahlia Basics
• Cal's Dahlia Page
  Lots of Dahlia Pictures and classifications

Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Swirling Sunset Petals

Another print from my first show at the Santa Barbara Public Library, Townley Room. Flower close-ups are one of the first things I started to tinker with when I got a real camera. But, by real I don't mean expensive or brand new. I got a manual Canon AE-1 and some cheap lenses off of eBay. (This was back when I could look through all of the items in the photography section on eBay in one evening) Because of working with anything I could find a good deal on, the combination of lenses I put together causes a slight halo at the edges. Rather than giving up on the lenses, I found the softness makes for beautiful flower close-ups. My friend and I dubbed them my "Fuzzy Flower Filters."

The important thing if you want to get into photography is to tinker and have fun. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on the latest equipment. You don't need digital this and auto-focus that, I have the most fun with my trusty, all-manual AE-1. That's not to say I don't have an auto-focus camera and a small digital for quick shots. But, I find myself more inclined to carry a cheaper camera all over the place with me than I would an expensive top-of-the-line camera. If you don't have your camera with you, you can't get the cool spontaneous things you see on a daily basis. And the combination of an $80 AE-1 from eBay and a high quality slide film will result in sharper images than all but the most expensive digital cameras.

In the end you have to find what works best for you personally so you can have the most fun with it.

Sunday, March 13, 2005
Flaming Poppy Close-up

It was a wild weekend getting ready for a show, that is my only excuse.

This is the first day I missed a post since I started the site. But, I thought I should put something nice in this place for those of you that have come back to look.

Thanks for your dedication!! :0)

With a little luck you will soon be able to give me feedback on my images too. I'd love to hear what you think!

Saturday, February 12, 2005
Wild Daisy

One of the things I shoot a lot are these soft close-ups of flowers. In fact that was the subject of my first Photography show. But, of all of my flowers, this is one of my favorites. I like the fact that the flower is less perfect and symmetrical. It makes the petals and other parts of the flower stand out more. It is a little unexpected.

Monday, January 17, 2005
Prickly Pear Flower

There is a great cactus garden on Figueroa Street in Santa Barbara. I pass there often after eating at one of my favorite restaurants, Los Arroyos.

I took this photo when I introduced my parents to Los Arroyos for the first time. Ironically, they were in town to see my first Photography exhibition, a collection of flower close-ups.