Category: Flowers

What’s Blooming?

Posted in California, Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro Photography, Photography, Spring, What's BloomingTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 20 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Spanish Lavender from my neighbor Maria’s yard. She has the best garden!

Spanish Lavender Macro Photography-LensBaby

This is a hedge that we put in on both sides of our house for a little more privacy.

It’s been so many years ago that we put it in I can’t recall the name of it. It attracts the bees, and looks great when in bloom. It has red and green broad leaves and is ho-hum when not in bloom. 🙂

Privacy hedge- macro photography Lensbaby

We just had our 26 yr old railroad tie retaining wall/planter box replaced with a cement stone looking wall which meant I bought new flowers to replace those that were let go or trampled on while the wall was being installed. These are some sort of cone Daisy. I need to ask Rick our contractor what he planted. I love these!

Macro Photography-Flowers-LensBaby

Calla Lily-  I love this blossom, but have a really hard time photographing it and getting on film what I see in my head, but I adore this curve.

Calla Lily-Macro Photography-LensBaby

Nikon Df| Nikon 105mm macro lens & LensBaby Composer Pro w/Soft Focus Optic & 8mm and 16mm Macro converters| Delking Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Pink Gerbera

Posted in Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro lens, Photography, Soft Focus OpticTagged , , , , , , , , 40 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A Pink Gerbera from a  bouquet of flowers #1 Grandson had Baby Girl buy for me a few days ago since I’ve been a bit under the weather the past 2 weeks.  I had to break out my LensBaby to take a few images of the flowers.

Pink Gerbera

Here he is with the bouquet at the store.  Baby Girl said it was his idea and was totally floored.

Jaxon with Bouquet for Grandma
Image used with permission

He wished me to feel better the second the front door opened then ran to me with this huge bouquet. He’s so sweet, and wonderful!

I came down with a mild case of Shingles. I thank God it’s a mild case! I can imagine how horrific a bad case is now because it’s been pretty awful, but I’m a big baby. 🙂

I’m too young to have been offered the vaccine, but I’m going to get it when I’m over this; the Dr. said it can’t hurt.

I am getting better everyday, and hope to be right as rain soon.

I hope you all are having a lovely Sunday!

Purple Flower

Nikon Df| Lensbaby Composer with Soft focus Optic & 8mm macro converter| PS CC 2015 & Nik Suite.

More to come…

What’s Blooming

Posted in Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro Photography, Nikon DF, Photography, Roses, What's BloomingTagged , , , , , , , , 16 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

White miniature rose in full bloom from my yard.

White miniature rose- photography

Nikon Df| LensBaby w/Soft Focus Optic and 16mm macro converter| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

An Australian Beauty

Posted in Australian Plants and Flowers, Flowers, Non Native Plants and Flowers, Photography, ProteaTagged , , , , , , 18 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

UPDATE: Pauline over at https://pommepal.wordpress.com/  has identified this plant! It is called Waratah, and is in the Proteaceae family.  Thank you so much Pauline!

The Wintering birds are beginning to head north which means they’ll be fewer bird posts, but I won’t be slowing down. Spring is blooming all over and I love hunting for flowers and photographing them.

Protea

This particular plant and blossom is a Native of Australia.  Much to my surprise I learned last year that Santa Cruz has the same Mediterranean climate as Australia. The University of California in Santa Cruz has a lovely Arboretum with quite a few native Australian plants and flowers of which this is one.  The Elevenia J. Slosson Research Garden established in 1978  began looking for drought, and pest tolerant beautiful ornamentals to give Californians some options for our gardens.  Since their trials they’ve paved the way with Koala Blooms Programs to introduce many new plants to California gardeners.

I think this is in the Protea Family. I couldn’t find the marker to snap an image so I’d have the name of it. If anyone knows what it’s called please let me know.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 105mm macro lens| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015| Nik Suite| On 1 Photo 10

More to come…

 

 

Vermilion Flycatcher Male-In Watercolor + 1

Posted in Art, Birds, Flowers, Photography, Watercolor PaintingTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 31 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It was rainy last week which kept #1 Grandson and myself indoors. Some of the things I’m trying to teach him are coloring, writing, and painting.  One rainy morning I set up his paints, paper, brushes, water bowl, and crayons. While he was giving his crayons a bath, and finger painting I reached for a piece of his Artist Loft watercolor paper then using my brushes dipped into his Artist Loft’s watercolor palette to paint a loose rendition of the Vermilion Flycatcher I had photographed the previous week-end.

Vermilion Flycatcher in Watercolor

 

A few days later I tried to paint it with a bit more structure and detail using my Turner Watercolor paints, and Arches 140lb cold pressed watercolor paper.

Vermilion Flycatcher Male in Watercolor

I like the loose painting best even though the pigment isn’t as rich and the paper hasn’t much tooth.

The Reference Photo-

Vermilion Flycatcher-Male

The following evening instead of watching TV or reading I went in a different direction and painted Poppies.

Poppies in Watercolor

I used my Turner Watercolor Paints, and Arches Watercolor 140lb cold pressed paper for

this painting.  I’ve been doing poppies on and off for a few months and I like this one the best so far.  I have a LONG way to go before I’m anything other than mediocre as a painter, but I’m having fun learning and trying.

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015|

More to come…

P52 46/52 Chrysanthemum

Posted in Flowers, Macro Photography, Photography, Project 52Tagged , , , , 9 Comments

Copyright ©2015 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The few Chrysanthemums I have in my yard are in bloom! The yellow ones looked so lovely in the late afternoon light that I grabbed my macro lens, and camera before the light faded.

P52 46 of 52 Chrysanthemum _5130

The plants are super old, so the blossoms are much smaller than in past years. I think I need to add new plants or rip these out and start anew? Anyone know which would be best?

Speaking of plants.  We’re having the front landscaping done finally! It should be done by Tuesday. I’ll post images when done. I’m so excited!

Nikon D700| Nikkor AF-D 105mm macro lens| Lexar Professional Digital Film|