Black and White

Light, patterns and details make an interesting black and white photo.  To me, it's like removing layers of makeup and revealing the true beauty underneath.  

My BLACK AND WHITE Photos

BLACK AND WHITE Photos on Fine Art America

Follow me of Pinterest:  BLACK AND WHITE

Orchids

Orchids are one of my favorite flowers.  They are SO impressive with their vibrant colors and unique patterns.  They are also very challenging to photograph!  Sometimes, you just don't have a lot of choice when it comes to lighting.  It depends on what time of day you are shooting and the position of the orchid.  (So far, I have resisted the urge to reposition the flower for a more favorable light.)  My best shots, so far, are backlit orchids with lots of nice bokeh in the background.  Here's an example:

f/4.0, ISO 160

The best place to take pictures of orchids is at a botanical garden.  Local fairs are also great, as they display many different kinds of orchids and it is fun to see which ones are judged blue-ribbon worthy.  Some cities have orchid societies that put on excellent orchid shows and plant sales.  Typically, I ask a lot of questions and have learned a lot about caring for orchids this way.  To use good photography etiquette, it is always best to ask for permission to take photos first.  I explain that I plan to sell my photos and ask if that is okay.  Usually, I get a resounding "sure".  Recently, my husband and I took a trip to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida.  The greenhouse was simply stunning, with giddy photographers (me included) walking around with huge smiles on their faces.

I learned from a short video upon entering the gardens, that orchids are epiphytes.  Apparently, Selby gardens has the largest collection in the country.  Epiphytes are plants that grow on another plant without harming it.  They receive their nutrients from the air and rain.  Some other examples of epiphytes are ferns, mosses, lichens and bromeliads.  Below is a picture of a bromeliad and Spanish Moss fountain that you will find at Selby.  I love this idea and hope to replicate it some day.  This would look great in front of my house!

Click HERE to see my Orchids Gallery on Fine Art America.

Click HERE to see other orchid artwork on Fine Art America.  

I hope to go back to Selby Gardens soon, to take more photos and to visit their wonderful gift shop.  It is almost as beautiful as the gardens themselves!  

For information on art classes, photography classes, botany classes, etc, check out Selby.org.  

To learn more about orchids, check out the American Orchid Society.  

If anyone has the name of a good orchid identifier book, I would really appreciate the information.  

Thank you!

Carol

Haunted New Orleans

Is there any better place to visit in October than New Orleans?  I think not.  With its ghost walks, eerie cemeteries, and haunted past, New Orleans is my number 1 place to visit around Halloween.  I highly recommend the French Quarters and Cemetery Tour.  I found it both fun and informative.  They take you to the famous St Louis Cemetery #1 and walk you around to various haunted locations in the French Quarter.  You will see balconies wonderfully decorated with spider webs and skulls.  The atmosphere is both electric and spooky.   

If you are lucky enough to be visiting on October 31st, there are some very cool activities going on in the city.  You will find details here:  The Times-Picayune  (I love that they have a "Ghost Sightings Forum" and "Vampire Sightings Forum" on their site.)  

No matter what time of year you visit New Orleans, you must visit the lovely New Orleans Botanical Garden.  It is my go-to place when things get a little too "wild" in the French Quarter.  The kids will, no doubt, love Ghost in the Oaks and the Fall Garden Festival.  It is a lovely place to take photos.  

You will find some more great activities during October, online at New Orleans Official Guide.

If you like ghost stories, like me, you might want to check out the local bookstores for books written about New Orleans' haunted history.  There are some very cool used bookstores in the French Quarter.  Check them out at:  New Orleans Bookstores

While in New Orleans, here are some other fun things to do:  10 Best Things to Do in New Orleans

The WWII Museum is simply amazing!  A Swamp Tour is a must!

Basically, any time of the year is a good time to visit New Orleans.  But, if you happen to be there during October, you are in for a real treat, especially if you like ghost stories and haunted history.  

To see artwork and photos of New Orleans that you can buy as prints, canvases and various other decor, check out Fine Art America's great collection:  New Orleans

My favorite New Orleans painter:  Diann Parks

My favorite book to read before visiting New Orleans:  Very New Orleans

My photo gallery on Fine Art America:  New Orleans

Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon.  :)

Carol

Birds

Photography can turn you into a bird watcher.  Just look at me.  A few years ago, I didn't even notice all the birds in Florida and I guess you could say, I took them for granted.  But now, with trusty camera  in hand, I have become quite the birder.  My office is filled with bird books and I'm proud to say that I can now identify most common birds and their songs.  Birding, for me, is fun and challenging.  Working with the light, focusing on small moving flyers means you have to constantly adjust your settings.  Going on walks to 'hunt' for birds has kept me in shape and is very relaxing.  

One of my favorite places to bird watch is the Birdsong Nature Center in Thomasville, Georgia.  The trails are amazing and they have a lovely viewing room where you can watch cardinals (above) and hummingbirds flit and flutter right in front of you.  Another wonderful feature is the Listening Place, where you can sit in a screened-in shelter and just listen to all the birds singing around you.  

Probably my favorite birds to photograph in Florida are Sandhill Cranes.  They walk around our neighborhoods like they own the place (which they do) and are so fun to watch.  In the springtime, they bring their chicks into the yard as if to show them off.  It is fascinating to watch the chicks follow their parents around, learning how to hunt and to fly.  

Brown Pelicans are everywhere along the Florida coast and are also fun to 'shoot'.  Visit any fishing pier and you will find them graciously posing.  They will entertain you with constant fly-bys, dips in the water and forever preening sessions.  They are quite the showoffs.  

My favorite bird identifying book is Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of North America.  

To see all of my bird photos on Fine Art America:  BIRDS

To see other amazing bird photos on FAA:  BIRDS - HUMMINGBIRDS - BROWN PELICANS - PELICANS - SANDHILL CRANES

European Charm

Europe...amazing food, cozy gardens, interesting museums...it is my favorite vacation destination.  I love the movie 'Something's Gotta Give', especially the scene where Diane Keaton visits Paris.  My dream has always been to spend a day roaming around the city by myself, visiting parks, eating at sidewalk cafes and, of course, taking photos.  Last year, my dream came true!  I visited Rodin Museum Garden, Tulieres Garden, Cluny Medieval Museum Garden and the lovely Monceau Park.  It was magical.      

European Gardens

France

My family lived in Belgium for a total of 10 years.  It is a photographer's paradise, with quaint houses, beautiful landscapes and rich history. When I return to Belgium, I get the feeling that I'm coming home and it brings to mind memories of wonderful get-togethers with friends, school events and traveling with my family.

Belgium

My husband is Dutch and that accounts for my many pictures from the Netherlands.  To me, it is like a fairytale land, so neat and organized with lovely tree-lined roads and lots of waterways that are great for reflections.  Holland is all about the color green.  Recently, we went back to Norway, where we lived for a short time in the 90's, and once again I was struck with that feeling of coming home.  It was here that I learned the importance of color in decorating as our bright yellow and red curtains gave me a 'boost' every morning during dark winter days.  Even the houses are painted with those warm yellows and reds. 

The Netherlands

When my children were small, I focused mostly on chronicling their childhood and filling up scrapbooks.  Now that they are grown, I have in mind to capture the mood of the day or essence of the experience.  

Check out all of my European photos, available on Fine Art America:  Europe 

Check out other amazing European artwork here:  Europe

Wild Florida

With cooler weather (finally) arriving in Florida, I have resumed my nature walks, in search of all things wild: wildflowers, birds, insects and gators.

No walk is complete without at least one gator sighting.  My family likes to go 'gator hunting' with our cameras, measuring the success of the trip by how many we see. On a recent trip, the tally was 3 baby gators and 1 huge adult. Trust me, when it comes to gators, I don't take any chances. Most of my photos are taken safely from the boardwalk.  Mosquitoes, on the other hand, can ruin a nice walk through the forest, so you are really in trouble if you forget your bug spray!

It is beautiful in the swamps around Tampa right now (November). The bald cypresses, for a very short time, turn all kinds of wonderful shades orange (as you see in the photo), losing their leaves and remaining 'bald' until springtime.

I have started a new gallery on Fine Art America for my Wild Florida pictures. Click to see:
Wild Florida

To see other artwork on Fine Art America:  Florida

First Trip to Savannah

My first trip to Savannah was a dream come true--I have wanted to visit there as long as I can remember. Daughter, Danielle, and I recently spent a weekend in this photographer's paradise. We 'splurged' a bit on our hotel--staying downtown in the Hyatt Regency because our time was limited--only one full day--and we wanted to be close to the historic district. The first night, we walked along the riverfront, including lovely, tree-lined Emmet Park and Factors Walk--just down the street from the hotel. This used to be the hub for all things related to cotton commerce. Next time, I will definitely check out the neat antique shops there.

We made the most of our full day in Savannah by taking a trolley tour to all the main areas of town, stopping along the way to walk around and take pictures. (This is my favorite way to see a new city; you get a great overview and can always go back to visit the sights you missed.)

We had two memorable meals in Savannah. First was dinner at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons (southern food at its finest with a great atmosphere--if you love her show, you will love this restaurant). And dinner at Chart House on the riverfront(okay, another splurge for sure, but well worth it--great seafood and a lovely old building).

If you haven't read, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I suggest you read it before visiting Savannah. It is a mystery, based on a real murder, in which the author, John Berendt, describes some very interesting 'real' Savannah characters and unique locations around the city. (The tour is even more fun when you remember the areas mentioned in the book.) We found a great little bookstore, "The Book" Gift Shop, where we bought a signed copy of the book! I'll give you a link to this neat store since the address was wrong in our tour map, and we wasted precious time searching for it. If you are a fan of the book, you don't want to miss it: http://www.midnightinsavannah.com

And one last tip--if you are a photographer--do not miss seeing Wormsloe Plantation. You will not see a plantation, just ruins of a colonial house although that was kind of cool. The lane of live oaks is the main attraction--simply stunning. You will see them in my Savannah gallery to the right. I imagine the best time to visit is in the winter since there aren't many visitors and the lane isn't clogged with traffic. We went during the week, in January. No cars at all, except for the park ranger who kept popping up in my line of vision. Oh well, nothing's perfect.

Before leaving the city on our last day there, we drove around Tybee Island and walked along the pier. As a 'west coast girl', I enjoyed seeing the Atlantic Ocean and this beautiful beach and taking pictures of seagulls (one of my favorite pastimes).

To see my photos from Savannah, check out my gallery:  Georgia

To find other great artwork with a Savannah theme, check out Pixels.