I placed some mandarin oranges into a goblet. I added some gorgeous orange lilies into a blue glass vase. I placed a terracotta pot on the side for a rustic touch. I photographed this against a white backdrop and added textures to give this photo a painted look.
Golden Light on Tree Trunk
In the early morning I pass this tree on the way out of my community. On a sunny day, the sun just illuminates the tree, making it look almost two dimensional–but only in the morning. By the afternoon, it is just the one shade. I decided to capture this beautiful transformation one day, waking up early just to get the light just right. It is amazing the things you see by paying attention. This composition captures the serene beauty of a natural landscape.
Three Green Pears
I gathered three ripe pears in my studio and arranged them in a row against a black and then white backdrop. Each image has a different feel to it. Not sure which I like better. All these images were taken in studio. The colors on the second image were added as a texture. The image against the black backdrop were arranged on a shiny black table. Their vibrant green color and smooth, glossy surface give them a fresh and appetizing appearance. They look good enough to eat.
Red Apples and Orange Lilies
I wanted to create a scene using red on red: I bought a red glass vase and I pared it with two ruby red apples. I created a staircase of candles- each one lower than the previous one. I added beautiful orange lilies to the red vase, I also placed some lovely mini yellow carnations in a small black and white ceramic vase. I added a rustic texture to the background. The scene exudes warmth and calm, complemented by the earthy tones of the setting.
Orange Lilies and Apples
I found an orange wax candle, and a peach and cream colored ceramic vase while looking for items to use in my still life. The vase was matched with some gorgeous orange lilies which offset the orange in the candle. Two red apples were placed at the base of the candle holder, and added a gray stone vase with little baby yellow carnations was added. The entire composition was offset by a beautiful texture I added as a background. There is a lovely contrast between the rustic vases and the vibrant colors of the flowers.
Crepe Myrtle Buds
I came out last Sunday to go walking and I just couldn’t resist going back into the house and getting my camera which already had a macro lens. It had rained the night before, so the buds were so new and sparkling, ready to become blooms. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was just beginning to shine through the foliage. The bright natural light enhances the the vibrant color and detail of the buds.
Reading by Candlelight
I enjoy combining many seemingly unrelated objects into a cohesive composition and telling a story too. The theme is reading by candlelight so, in addition to the candle and books, I added a red candle holder, an alarm clock, and pears. I felt that his creation needed some lovely pink lilies to bring it together. The pink glass vase matched the pink lilies. This arrangement has a classic, still-life feel with a soft, blurred textured background.
Raindrop on Flower
As I was leaving to go walking on Sunday morning, I noticed raindrops on my Crepe Myrtle tree. I knew it rained Saturday night so I thought there may be some pretty droplets on the delicate flowers. I just so happened to have a camera with a macro lens upstairs luckily. So I went back in and grabbed it, came out and started shooting. It was so hot and steamy that morning that my lens was getting fogged up. But I kept wiping it off with my cloth and managed to actually see what I was photographing. The background is softly blurred in shades of pink and green which highlight the beautiful droplet on the flower.
Sunlit Bridge at Phinizy Swamp
I visited Phinizy Swamp in Augusta, GA, last week. It is a beautiful nature preserve and wetlands. Although it is very lush in the Summer, I still managed to find some gorgeous scenery. It is so peaceful and tranquil along the footbridge, where Spanish moss and lush green trees grow on either side of the bridge. The blue sky was a lovely contrast to the green foliage. The sunlight casts a pattern of shadows on the pathway, enhancing the natural serenity of the scene.
Phinizy Swamp in Summer
The other day I went out to Phinizy Swamp, a beautiful nature preserve in Augusta, GA. I hadn’t been there in years but it didn’t disappoint, although it was very overgrown, as it is in the Summer. Once the cooler weather hits, it is much more beautiful and nuanced regarding the different colors. Things that were covered up in the Summer stand out because they are not impeded by the overgrowth. I still managed to get a few good shots showing just how lovely and peaceful it is there. If you’re a nature photographer this is the absolute best.