Tag: Crocus

Sun Dance

Up until recently, I have captured the images for the 100 Day Project using my AF-S Nikkor 35 f/1.8 lens. I rented a macro lens hoping to capture some juvenile amphibians in the vernal pools during my hike in the Sourlands. I wanted to learn how to use the lens. This morning and this afternoon, I bent over a patch of crocus growing in the yard and capture some images. I found out that I might have to show at small apertures and ISO 400 and maybe use a flash. The DOF of a macro lens is very narrow, so a small aperture helps. However, smaller apertures mean less light enters the sensor. Shooting at higher ISO and using a flash helps.

This was one of my favourites from the set. You can find the rest on Flickr.

Crocus at Sunset

I walked around the parking lot at the office looking for compelling images to capture for my photo of the day project. I found nothing of interest.

But then l came home, stepped out of the car and noticed the evening sunlight glowing off the tiny crocus growing in the front of the house that I knew I had my photo of the day. The crocus is considered a sure sign that spring is here. I am allergic to almost every North American plant, including grass. Despite my seasonal allergies, I love springtime. I can't wait for the trees buds to open, revealing the green hidden inside. I can hear the amphibians calling to each other at night, and it reminds me of the sweet air of the rains forests of the Caribbean.

This is the image for my second day of The 100 Day Project.

NOTE: You may have noticed that I started the 100 Day Project one day early. Why? I wrote on the Day 1 post that my family and I witnessed the beautiful evening light that filtered through the branches of the trees onto the red barn located behind the 1860 House in Skillman. I went back the next evening and was lucky enough to capture what I had seen the day before. I love the resulting image, so I decided to start a bit early.

Published via MarsEdit.

Purple Haze

I love gardening. Growing up in the British West Indies I was always surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The island where I was born1 has a now dormant volcano[^2] but previous eruptions have left the soil dark and fertile. Almost anything will grow on this island without much help. Plant it and it will grow. I grew up with a backyard filled with coconut and avocado trees, and what natives call plum trees2.

I brought that love of grading with me when I moved to the United States but I have nowhere to plant until we bought our first home. I had to learn a lot. The soil in New Jersey is not as fertile and the sort of plants that would grow here are quite different. I had to learn about perennials and annuals and when to plant what and in what soil and with how much fertilizer. It took many years but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Last fall my niece and I planted a whole mess of bulbs. I love watching her face when she comes over to visit and she sees what we created together.

  1. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
    [^2]:La Soufriere ↩
  2. A lot of the fruits are imported from the Pacific, some by Captain Bligh on the Bounty. ↩