Stitch

Posted: November 29, 2016 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: effects, Embroidery, macro, photography, Uncategorized | Tags: creativity, Embroidery, gold, macro, photography, photos, red | 3 Comments

These pics were my interpretation of a Flickr macro theme called ‘Stitch’. They are of a lovely Christmas table runner that I bought a few years back…..

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

On the last one I added a ‘glow’ effect called deep forest which I thought rather suited this embroidered leaf. I used to love doing embroidery myself in my younger days, but sadly arthritis caused me to give it up …. but I can do photography instead !

As always – thanks for dropping by, Eileen

Green and Red

Posted: August 10, 2016 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: Abstract, Flowers, macro, Nature, photography, Plant Portraits, Uncategorized | Tags: colour, Flowers, green, heuchera, leaves, macro, photography, red | 2 Comments

Leafy Layers

It’s marvelous how God has designed and inbuilt every species of life with stored information in the genes/DNA to pass on its characteristics to future generations. This has enabled breeders of the Heuchera plant to produce a wonderful variety of leaves and I have several in my garden. They have also crossed Heucheras with Tiarellas and produced the ‘Heucherella’ which is a very pretty smaller plant. Now, in our technological age, it seems anything is possible and a great benefit – as long as it’s kept within the boundaries that God has graciously set for us.

Simply Red

Smoothie

Petalscape

Redscape

Green and Red

See ya’ll again soon I hope DV Eileen

Cherry Ripe

Posted: June 10, 2015 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: Humour, photography, Plant Portraits, Still Life | Tags: bit of fun, cherries, close up, Paintshop Pro, red, still life | Leave a comment

I had to resist eating the cherries I’d bought while I had fun photographing them. I can’t claim originality for the idea of using forks in a still life image, but I tried to do my own thing with them ….

Kissing Cherries

Three of a Kind

Two Atop

And Two More

Hope you liked them … I hope to show some Roses next time, Eileen

New Arrivals

Posted: July 29, 2014 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: Flowers, Nature, photography, Portraits, Wild Life | Tags: botanical, brown, butterflies, close up, colour, colourful, digital, drama, Flowers, Gatekeeper, image, image background, insects, nature, orange, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, plants, purple, red, sedum, weather, Wild life | Leave a comment

For weeks I’ve been bemoaning the fact that I haven’t had any butterflies in my garden – well today there have been several fluttering about and even resting long enough for me to take some pics. I think this particular lot are called Gatekeeper [Pyronia tithonus] because they have twin black eyespots with white pupils on their forewing. Anyway – I only know that because I did a google search! I’m delighted – especially as I’m getting more used to using the zoom on my camera instead of the macro setting [which I still haven’t figured out!].

I amused myself no end cropping and trying to be generally more ‘artistic’ without it looking too artificial … BUT – I do try to get the best pics I can ‘in camera’ as is always recommended. I tend to take loads of shots and discard the majority as many of them are almost the same – it’s just a matter of choosing the best of the bunch. It’s been a bit on the windy side today, so as well as the butterflies and bees being on the move all the time – so are the plants they land upon unfortunately.

I’ve deliberately kept some images high key to reflect the beautiful sunny weather – although I appreciate some butterflies suit a bit of drama more.

Even though this Sedum isn’t in flower yet, the butterflies are obviously attracted to it. I’m fortunate in having several Sedums which I love – especially this dark red variety called Purple Emperor.

I’m looking forward to posting some photos I took through the window during a downpour yesterday. I was going to post them today but the butterflies took priority!

see you soon, Eileen

Patio Garden

Posted: June 11, 2014 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: Flowers, Nature, photography, Portraits, Roses | Tags: botanical, colour, colourful, cream, Cream Abundance, digital, Flowers, garden, image, nature, outdoors, Paintshop Pro, patio, patio garden, photography, photos, plants, Poppies, red, Rose, small garden | Leave a comment

This is a corner of my little patio garden. As you can see – there are still gaps to fill as I only started planting it up last year and wanted to see how much room the plants would need. I’ve tended to go for ‘clump forming’ plants because I don’t want the hassle of invasive ones. I know from past experience what a nuisance they can be – even if the flowers are beautiful [you can have too much of a good thing!]

The poppies, I think, will easily divide, so I’ll be able to give some to friends. For the most part the chosen plants have all behaved themselves, but I bought an achillea that has spread far too rapidly – the flowers are a deep pink and appear to be more invasive that the lovely pale yellow variety I had in my old garden. So – I will get them dug out and passed on to my daughter who likes the feathery leaves.

I’m not able to do the digging and planting [because of arthritis/hiatus hernia etc] so I have to rely on a gardener to do it for me. Unfortunately he is very busy and tends to fit me in when he can …. I also rely on my son to take me out to Garden centres etc. when I need more plants.

At the moment it seems to be all reds and pinks showing , so I’m on the lookout for some pale yellows/blues. Irises [which I love] would probably fit the bill but the one I bought last year must have made a nice meal for the slugs as it hasn’t re-appeared. Either that or it didn’t like the sun [no shade here whatsoever] or the soil isn’t right. P’raps someone could enlighten me?

My all-time favourite rose is now blooming – it is called Cream Abundance, so I just had to take pics of it again….

Please feel free to leave a comment so that I know you’re there! many blessings, Eileen

Trooping the Colour

Posted: June 18, 2013 | Author: Eileen Thompson | Filed under: Events, photography, Portraits | Tags: army, change of scenery, close up, colour, colourful, digital, drama, horses, image, military, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, red, soldiers, uniforms | 3 Comments

I watched the Trooping of the Colour [celebrating the Queen’s birthday] on TV last saturday and decided to have a go at taking photos ….[ I’m hoping I haven’t breached any copyright laws]. I was quite pleased with the results in spite of having to deal [post-production] with the inevitable reflections on the tv screen. I could be clearly seen holding the camera in some of them so had to discard them.

Another problem I had was unwanted lines and ‘moire’ patterns so I removed them as best I could. As a result sometimes the images weren’t as sharp as I would have liked. Anyway – I tried to compensate what were technical problems by concentrating more on composition and cropping.

I love all the colour and pomp and circumstance too. My dear old Dad was in the TA Royal Artillary in the 1920 s and was with horses and gun carriages like these. I specially like their uniforms – so dashing ….