I love going to Phinizy Swamp in the late afternoon when shadows are more prominent. There is something so beautiful about how the bridges curve around under the cypress trees. The day I went there the sky was a deep blue with puffy clouds emitting sunlight giving it a heavenly feel. It is so amazing that a swamp can be so alluring and almost dream-like. I have wonderful memories of visiting this magical picturesque oasis in the middle of a busy world. The peacefulness is almost hard to explain unless you’re there.
Yellow Sunflowers
I always loved sunflowers; all different sizes. The blooms, bright yellow, are so beautiful but the backside of the flower is exquisite. It is just as expressive and lovely as the front. I decided to concentrate on doing a close up. I had not used my macro lens lately, but I found the closer I zeroed into the lush, complex, green petals of the backside, the more excited I got. I always think an image, especially a sunflower, is so much more dramatic when moving as close as possible and photographing just a portion of the flower. I think this vivid picture was exactly what I had envisioned.
Becky
One thing I can say about Becky, she has a real zest for life. I advertised that I needed models and she volunteered. I’ve taken her portraits before, but this was another one. I often like to do dark, moody shots, especially of me. But I just knew that wouldn’t work for Becky. She is a happy, joyful, human being and I wanted to let her personality sparkle. I think these shots truly show the essence of her as a person. She loves to shop and there were no problems getting her to bring several cute outfits. She hardly needs any direction for posing as she is a natural. I enjoyed the afternoon with her and I hope I have captured and portrayed Becky as the happy person she is.
Phinizy Swamp 2017
I met my friend Pat the other day at Phinizy Swamp. She came with her hubby and her grandson, Gabriel. I didn’t think there would be any new pictures to take, since I have been there numerous times, but there is always a new take on a picture. I found myself taking pictures of things I hadn’t done before, or maybe the same thing, but using a different angle to create something original. It’s very nice to visit the same place a few times during the year to get a different perspective.