cottageCategory Archives

Winter Macro (or the Opposite of Colour)

Here are some photos from my first attempt at winter macro. It was minus 11 outside! These pictures were taken on December 29 when there was at least a bit of sunshine.

: At first the sun was shining so I could capture this series of ice globes.

: Upon enlargement this ball of ice became a glass paperweight.

: Ever so slightly melting ice is like a worm.

: Curving as it meets gravity.

: Winter macro is my new "cross to bear", so to speak for an atheist.

: Twirly in ice.

: The remnants of a daylily with delicate ice crystals.

: Literally a pile of detritus on the side of the road.

: The feathered ice makes it so interesting.

: The ice on the lake was also feathered. See my husband's blog post for incredible ice pictures (valdodge.com).

: Feathered ice crystals peppered the lake.

: These crystals were flatter and the ice beneath them was clear.

: Getting grayer down by the shore.

: My favourite macro subject in the winter is far less exciting but there's still something intriguing about it.

: Icy chandelier.

Ms. G

December 30, 2011

cottage, photography

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macro, winter

Winter Macro II (Even Less Colour)

On December 30 the light was flat most of the time, making it extremely difficult to capture anything other than the inherent grayness and brownness of winter.

: Yesterday's subjects now with fresher snow.

: I wasn't happy with yesterday's "twirlies" so I tried again.

: I tried to keep the background clearer.

: Interesting shape.

: Today's twirlies are coated with a layer of ice.

: Revisiting yesterday's ice worms, now minus the sunshine.

: A lot more snow on the downed seedhead.

: A seemingly innocuous dead leaf revealed incredible textures.

: My favourite photo of the two days. Who knew there was any colour anywhere.

: This tree bark reveals an elephant's face if you look at it the right way.

: A simple sage plant provides woven texture. I will definitely go back for more pictures of sage.

: Ending on a literal note.

Shadow in December

Here are some recent photos of a day-in-the-life of Shadow and her brother, Fletch.

: This is me playing in the morning at my cottage.

: I am tempting my human to play with me. This toy is not for independent play.

: I am reaching for a spoon. Why should only humans use cutlery.

: I like to hide under the dining room table.

: No one can possibly see me here. It's just like the tree I used to live under.

: I also enjoy sitting under this cabinet. Again, hidden from view.

: Nap time.

: Play time again.

: If I see something of interest I can get really curious really fast.

: Me in sepia tones. I think this effect brings out the kitten in me.

: My portrait.

: My human Val likes to cuddle me.

: This is my brother Fletch. While I do all this stuff all day he sits in his basket.

: As I mentioned, he sits in his basket.

An Afternoon at Presqu’ile Provincial Park

We spent Saturday afternoon at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, which is less than one hour from our cottage. Located on Lake Ontario just south of Brighton, it is known as a birder’s paradise. Unfortunately for us the birds have moved on, however, we primarily went to revisit the marsh boardwalk we first experienced last summer. The pictures betray my amateur photographer’s status as many of them are taken in harsh afternoon sunlight leading to nasty shadows and flat texture.

: A marsh full of cattails.

: Meadowhawk.

: Monarchs everywhere.

: Vibrant colours: monarch on goldenrod.

: The marsh had ferns aplenty.

: At the end of the marsh boardwalk there is a bizarre forest of misshapen cedars and knobbly cottonwoods. This is the bark of a cottonwood.

: Graffiti.

: An intricate starfish-shaped flower.

: On the last lookout over the shorebirds' beach there are hundreds of birds' bones betraying the harshness of nature.

: Bird bone of some sort with an interesting, sponge-like texture.

: On Lighthouse Beach at the farthest tip of the park this frog seemed either terrified or unfazed as it rested in its algae pit.

: As the wave came in the frog remained in place.

Early September Photos

September offers both new flowers and leftover pods.

: Barely opening by the side of the road.

: Revealing intricate details.

: Delicate.

: Frayed edges.

: Dandelion leftovers.

: Circular centres.

: Swaying in the breeze.

: Frog crossing the road; this could be the one that lives in our pond.

: Moth at rest.

: Graphic caterpillars.

: Some kind of seed pod.

: Prickly pear?

: Seed pod, much like the one I posted a few weeks ago.

: Brown isn't so boring.

: Lupine seed pods, once green, now beautiful brown.

Shadow the cat

Here are some pictures of my new cat, Shadow. Forgive me, I am very biased and think she is extremely cute. You will also see her big brother, Fletch.

Ms. G

September 3, 2011

cottage, photography, summer

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cat, Shadow

August details up-close

I got bitten all over taking these simple photos. I’m not sure they were worth it, however. I did discover that my interest in macro photography is not primarily artistic – I have very little artistic ability. It’s more about using the macro lens as a microscope, to see the tiny details that are not visible to the naked eye.

: Up close, you can see that this tiny individual flower is just starting to push its way out to the world.

: The tiny, candy-cane stripes are visible through the technology of macro photography.

: It now looks like an ice cream cone with a side of flowers.

: I call this a thorn with a crown. It looks like a mystical underwater creature but is really just the flower atop a thorn weed.

: This seed pod caught my eye for its simplicity and resemblance to a rattle. My next project will be to photograph the seeds inside the pod.

: I love capturing these side-of-the-road commoners just before they fully flower.

: The pattern of hen and chicks reminds me of an artichoke, not that I eat them or have ever cooked one.

: You may not notice the silhouetted ants on first glance at this seen from behind view of a hosta flower.

: I have no idea what this fluffy plant is. All I know is it's a sign of fall.

: Even though this purple coneflower is nearing its end it still has a lot to show.

Ms. G

August 21, 2011

cottage, photography, summer

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macro

July colours

: White daisy

: Spider on hydrangea

: Dragonfly wings

: Blush of pink

: Pink

: Orange day lily

: Orange and yellow centre

: Orange pollen

: Deep pink with orange

: Echinacea

: Ech for short

: Deep raspberry

: Reddish crown

: Purple flourish

: Purple trumpet

: Tiny snail on green

: Chewed green leaf

: Lupin seedpods transition from green to yellow

: Blackeyed Susan bud

colours, cottage, flowers

Calm before the marking storm

Thursday and Friday I marked a set of essays. Monday I will be finishing another set. Then next week I have three exams in two days. I decided to take it easy today. Here are my pictures.

: A blue dragon fly down by the shore.

: A daisy growing on the shore.

: The scary jaw of a dead fish.

: The silvery fin of another dead fish.

: There has been a dead bird on the rocks for months now. This is its claw, I presume.

: A beautiful pink peony announcing summer.

: Have you ever looked inside an iris?

: Hen and chicks.

: I have no idea what kind of flower this is. I just like how it catches the sunlight behind it in the "golden hour", the hour or so before sun-down.