Category: First Shot

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

Today’s walk was brief, but long enough to say I’d done around forty-five minutes of walking. It was rather breezy and, I’m sorry to say, perfectly sunny. While some want the sun, we photographers aren’t as thrilled about the perfectly blue sky. Funny how that works!

This is a first shot, and I nearly called it “Rose on a Windy Day” as a way of excusing the lack of focus on the complete rose. That would, however, be a lie: at the moment I made this the wind had died down. I was just focussing on the petal in the left quadrant that caught my attention in the first place. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t. It takes me a few days to decide!

First Shot: Pastel Rose, 4.27.17First_Shot-_Pastel_Rose,_4.27.17.jpg

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

This was one of those nearly perfect days for walking and camera work: there was a breeze, but it did stop on occasion. The temperature was perfect: low to mid 60°s makes me happy. There was cloud cover but enough light to work with. I just wish I’d been in the mood to walk longer, but distractions snuck in and I cut the walk a bit shorter than normal. So it goes. Still, I think I might have some work that will turn out to be printable, and that would be nice.

This is merely  my first shot and it’s doubtful I would consider printing it. But as I’ve written before, “A first shot is a first shot,” and there’s not denying that. I like to share them to show where I start when I pull the camera out, and I sort of think of them as warm-ups. Sometimes I am fortunate and even the warm-up is a special image. It happens! (And you never know, I might even change my mind about this one. Time will tell.)

First Shot: Iris Petal, 4.26.17First_Shot-_Iris_Petal,_4.26.17.jpg

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

I first thought I’d not get the camera out at all today: we were having misty-drizzle sort of weather and it didn’t seem as if it would stop. I spotted a yard with a ton of Grevillea, though, and I couldn’t resist. Shortly after, the drizzle did actually stop. So nice for the weather to cooperate for me, don’t you think?

First Shot: Grevillea and Raindrops, 4.18.17First_Shot-_Grevillea_and_Raindrops,_4.18.17.jpg

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

I was finally able to walk to the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden today, and I am very glad I did: a good number of roses are in bloom right now. Some of the roses will only bloom once a year, so if you miss them you miss them. I highly recommend a visit!

The area has more than roses, though: there are a huge number of California poppies along with other native wildflowers. It’s a bit of a mess right now, and I notice the area that used to have bearded iris is not longer tended, but this Tulare Lavender Iris is a wild thing and grows no matter what, it seems. This was my first shot of the day.

First Shot: Iris Munzii, 4.17.17First_Shot-_Iris_munzii,_4.17.17.jpg

First Shot, Floral Photography

First Shot

by patricia emerson mitchellLeave a Comment on First Shot

This is a funny first shot: I had pulled the camera out and was just getting ready to focus when I accidentally clicked the shutter button! I was pretty sure I’d get home and trash the image but … well … it’s not half bad. I’m just quickly posting it … might do more with it later, but we’ll see. It is, after all, just a first shot. It’s like that first note of the day that I play on oboe: it’s not always my fave!

First Shot: White Camellia, 2.27.17First_Shot-_White_Camellia,_2.27.17.jpg