My 200th Post – Sunset Dream

I suppose it is just another number but this post is my 200th and I felt I should make note of it! I started blogging in January 2009 as a way to display my photographs and express my thoughts about photography. Acting as a photo journal; I can scroll through and see where I’ve been, what I’ve done and where I’m headed. But the best part has been the ability to share what I am doing with others. Posts have often opened up welcome and interesting discussion in the comments area and I have made new friends through blogging. So, in celebration of my 200th post, I’d like to thank you if you are reading this! Special thanks to my followers and those who have taken the time to leave encouraging words. That encouragement has meant a lot to me over the years.

Now, feeling a bit retrospective I’d like to share the image below and how I was feeling when I made it. One of the bigger challenges of late has been in achieving a landscape image I could get excited about … something as good as, or better than favorites that have come before. I have been out with my camera numerous times lately; sunrise, sunset, scouting, looking, and trying without the level of success I was looking for. The weather, the light, the sky, my timing, just wasn’t coming together and with the added challenges of photographing New Jersey’s Pine ‘Barrens’ I was getting discouraged. Than this … finally, the moment I had been hoping for. My discouragement vanished completely as the sunset reached its peak color and I heard someone across the lake yell … ‘thank you God’! It was the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. No contrails and no Photoshop necessary. Yes, ‘thank you God’. It was just the gift I needed to lift my spirits and help me celebrate this personal photographic milestone!

Sunset Dream I
‘Sunset Dream I’ © Denise Bush
Prints For Sale at Fine Art America (link top right)

 

I Can’t Help Myself…

Something always seems to happen to me this time of year whereby I am compelled to join the legions of other photographers, focusing on flowers! As if never seen before, I am in awe of the incredible beauty and colors these wonderful subjects bring. Being among flowers, examining and photographing them can act to renew the spirit, especially after a long winter! So, please forgive me … here are a few more images from a recent trip to Longwood Gardens.

'Poised Poppy'  © Denise Bush
‘Poised Poppy’ © Denise Bush
'Poppy Close-up'  © Denise Bush
‘Poppy Close-up’ © Denise Bush
Rare Beauty
‘Rare Beauty’ © Denise Bush
Emerging Poppy
‘Emerging Poppy’ © Denise Bush
Little Lupine
‘Little Lupine’ © Denise Bush
Alien Encounter
‘Alien Encounter’ © Denise Bush
Hibiscus Center
‘Hibiscus Center’ © Denise Bush

 

Passage Into Spring

Taking a trip to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA for my first flower captures of the season, is a fun yearly ritual. This year, accompanied by 3 friends, our goal was to capture the beautiful blue, Himalayan Poppies. Their stay is always short-lived and we were lucky to find the last remaining few. So, in my desire to move things along (and in contrast to my previous post) here is my first spring image.

Poppy Fireworks
‘Poppy Fireworks’ © Denise Bush