I have a new favorite desert plant- the boojum tree. It is actually not an Arizona native, but it was planted at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It’s related to the ocotillo, another favorite of mine- but it is CRAZY looking!
It’s REALLY tall! I would say this specimen is 15-20 feet high.
Below is a young one.
And another view of the trunk. . .
There was so much to photograph on our outing last weekend. I loved the contrast between the dark tree (mesquite?), the green leaves, and the yellow blossoms peeking through from the background.
Happy Earth Day! Go outside!
at the Bryce Thompson Arboretum
One of the first areas you walk through at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the hummingbird garden. The hummingbirds definitely are attracted to what is growing there, because there were more hummers in this part of the park than anywhere else. This little guy was happy to pose for us.
Like most photographers, I’m attracted to the old and rustic. On the grounds of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a building called the Drover’s Wool Shed. I assume that this is a replica (I’m thinking of an Australian sheep ranch) – although it certainly does look old- and rustic. If there was an explanation, I missed it.
A view of the outside:
And the view looking in:
On Saturday, Lonnie and I got OUT OF TOWN! After a couple weeks of illness- and then a water leak which will eventually lead to our floors being replaced- we were more than ready for an outing. We didn’t go far- just southeast to the town of Superior to visit the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, where we walked and walked and walked admiring all the different cacti and wildflowers. It is a beautiful spot! I took dozens and dozens of photos; it felt so good to get out and use my camera again.
These rocks form the backdrop of the state park, which is right by the highway. Octotillo was in bloom everywhere!
I brought my Lensbaby Edge 80 along too, which I used on these flowers (along with a bit of enhancement from Topaz Impression).
I had fun yesterday giving this butterfly a painted look with three textures and two different Topaz Impression filters. It somehow satisfies my childhood desire to be a painter.
Yesterday I tried the selfie thing again. My photo club (not the weekly class, but the monthly club) meets next week, and I am forcing myself to take some selfies for the assignment. The examples were all very creative- such as a person reaching out from inside the LCD screen on the back of a camera to click the shutter. I have been working on a (lame, so far) composite for the following month, so decided to just be straightforward about this topic.
So here I am again. Bear with me. . .
I took only 3 shots: one serious (I look mean), one squinting into the lens (also mean), and then this smiley one. I really wanted a serious shot, but I can’t seem to achieve it. And I really dislike the process.
Thank goodness I have some photos that have never seen light of day, because I have NOT been using my camera lately. Here is a shot of pussy willows from last month.
Don’t you always wonder what they are talking about out there?
We had a great time at a pre-season Giants-Royals game (courtesy of our daughter!) a couple weeks ago. I didn’t come out with any stellar photos, but had a great time just being there enjoying seeing the players and watching the game. This photo as been taken into Topaz Impression (Urban Street Art) and Simplify for fun.
I’m back among the land of the living again! I haven’t quite returned to photography as yet, so today’s photo is a reworking of one I took last summer in Tucson. I played with it in Photoshop and added some textures to create a painterly look.
A nasty bug has knocked me flat! I’ve been in bed for almost a week and will probably stay there for the rest of this week too. I have lots of meds, am following doctor’s orders, drinking fluids, listening to podcasts, and playing lots of Words with Friends. Could be worse!
I’ll be back!
Well, our next photo club theme is self portrait. Cringe! I’m working on an idea for a composite for the next month’s assignment after that (which, in my case, also involves a selfie), so I took photos for both this week. Here are a couple versions.
I’m not sure someone my age should really pose next to flowers, but I was trying for an environmental portrait. How do I spend a lot of my time? Shooting flowers, of course! How did I take a photo with my camera if I was holding my camera? I got my broken one out of the closet. . .
I think I might get a negative comment for cutting the top of my head off in the above portrait. I happen to like that look, but I might reshoot it- which would probably mean buying more flowers. Maybe not.
Below is my personal favorite, which involved Topaz Impression and some textures. It is also an environmental portrait, because this is how I spend much of my time. If I’m not editing photos, I’m researching ancestors.
I may post some other versions in the future- we’ll see. . .
Happy April!
As I looked out my office window yesterday at gray skies and snow flurries (!), I was remembering the lovely grounds of the vintage hotel where we stayed in Palm Springs, Here are a couple detail shots:
Another flower- this time an orchid.
Edited with Topaz Impression- with added texture.
melinda anderson photography 