Shade of Purple

It was a sunny day. Immediately when I was done with my morning chores, I grabbed my camera and out of the door.  Road work was in progress. I had to make two detours before I arrived at my destination. Sky was a dramatic blue and maybe a bit too bright. I hastily pulled my camera out of the bag and turned it on. ‘No card’ was shown on my camera screen. My heart sank a second and lifted. I had a spare card.

I smiled to myself, hey, I am always so organized and so prepared. Maybe not. ‘Card full’ popped up when I inserted the spare card into the camera. Impossible.  But, what the heck. I can just format the card, so I did.  Still ‘Card Full’. I made three attempts, not working. It is a Canon sd card but quality is not the same as camera?! I had good luck trusting brands, but not this one. I packed up and went home. How can I not to shoot something in such an awesome weather? How did I so screw up and miss the golden hour completely? I know I will feel guilty all day if I don’t do something about it.

Sun is sneaking into the house. Outside was a freezing 37 degree with wind, but inside is cozy and soothing.  I was still tired from a birthday gathering couple days ago. There is no easy way to make Chinese dishes for dozen guests. It took me more than half day to do the preparation for the six dishes that I served. However, I am happy that I got the family together, and even better, I snapped a shot of my granddaughter.

My Favorite Girl in my favorite Purple

She is the most funny girl I know not mentioning how expressive she is being less than two years old and how she amazed me in so many ways. She was running and in backlight condition, I was not quick enough to have flash ready. Her face is not as sharp as I like it to be,  but the streak of sunlight coming through from the left side gives a tint of gradient that softened the image. I feel her soft face is actually in tune with the soft tone.

I am no longer a world traveller and never been an outdoor adventurer. I neither can make myself a travel photographer to share 'Around the World' images nor can I share unique and dramatic shots that a daunting spirit and fearless soul can accomplish. In a day like this, I missed outdoor opportunities, so I shoot around the house.

Lantern Rose was the first one blooming in my yard while Daphne is also taking off. These two beautiful flowers are truly deer resistant. I don't know what God had in mind that He let deer eat almost anything in our neighborhood except beautiful flowers (Rhododendron is also one of them).

Natural Daphne Purple

Eternal Fragrant Daphne blossoms are very tiny and they grow in clusters. This dainty flower is white with purplish magenta color trims. Very similar to African violets, the petals look iridescent in the light up close .

Illuminated Purple

We are surrounded by the trees and we like to leave the windows case free and no draperies. I also have been trying to minimize home decor items in order that I don't have to spend time dusting around the house (more time for photography:-)  Now I want some interesting background and we have only solid color walls. For alternative, I used a poster with the similar rosy and sage green color as backdrop. The mocha couch, the copper etched piece, sage green and the understated rosy color seem to compliment one another. I bent the rule of thirds to place the flower in the center but then I purposely left the white from the poster and I had frame placed slightly in an angle to break the matrix.

Blush of Purple

Just a few shades of purple, surely not 52 shades of g.....

Spring Is Here in Willamette Valley, Woohoo!

Said to drift along and tossed the anchor whenever and wherever, and I did exactly that in the past week. I have to admit that without my Wednesday regular blog post, I feel odd and have urge to pick up my pen again. I don’t like pressure, but the relief after pressure is amazingly fulfilling.

I began to feel the boredom because I am confined inside a box where a certain blog format and content exist. Searching a break-through point, but I have no clue what that will be and when I will reach that point. Bear with me while I am roaming without aiming specific targets. Life is a working progress and the happenings are within the journey.

Lantern Rose, Magenta Blush

Believe or not, spring is here, in February! I am seeing soft green buds everywhere and some flowers have popped to breathe in the cozy air. Just when I was thinking to do some rainy day photo projects, that lovely sunshine sneaked into my window and dwelled on the breakfast table.

Sunny Day, dream

Finally finished my yearbook 2014 under the gun just before the groupon expired. It is so enjoyable to flip through the pages of a yearbook and I know, it will become even more precious in another 20 years when I won't both to haul heavy camera equipment and just want to sit around and think about good old days... Looking for 'stuff' around the house to shoot some stills, this porcelain bowl was found, the first porcelain piece that I did with my daughter Laura, a memorable piece for me. 

Vacation Day, relax

Flower is no doubt my most favorite subject. Often times I crawled on the ground to get the best focused image I can, but end of the day, I still like the soft look better. Lantern roses (Hellebore) are gorgeous, but they grow with faces down and it is hard to photograph them. I thought it looks interesting to display the flower in three sections. Imagine they are displayed in three picture frames on your wall.

Lantern Rose, Spotted Lotus, framed

It is this early spring lifted my spirit and prompted me to get out of the house... I saw a small herd of animals running ahead of a four wheeler. Thought they were cows at first, but cows do not run as fast. OMG. They are sheep, the tamed and soft looking animals who are usually lying down on the grass and now 'galloping' in front of me. Fun.

Spring March

From what I read, sheep usually give birth to their babies in spring between March-April when the green grass starts to grow and mothers are provided abundant food to produce their milk. Now spring comes early and we see the early arrival of the lambs as well.

Lamb

On Short Break

As mentioned previously, I have considered to reduce the frequency of my blog post, perhaps bi-weekly instead of weekly. I am on the road at the moment and I think it is a good time for me to take a break and start this transition.

I want to put some time away and re-charge myself. Other than my blog calendar, I am making an education schedule for myself. Lots to learn, but I don't have to learn everything. I do have a list of subjects that I am aiming for and I don't want to put it off any more.

Either it is to better my photography skill or to renovate my blogging content and style. I plan to let my mind drift till I find my harbor. During this period, I will post as my learning goes and my mind wanders.

My 'explorers' are stored on the dock temporarily, but they will relaunch whenever I am inspired and compelled to share.

You eye on super(bowl) heroes, I eye on mine.

Not a sports fan, I went to Oregon Women’s Basketball game, for photography sake. I shot at Track and Field once before, but this is the first time that I shoot a basketball game. 

Prior to the game, I was pre-visualizing some closer action shots, otherwise, something I can snap from distance. So I brought in my telephoto lens.  The seat usher could not immediately identify our seat numbers because they are in the special zone. My daughter Laura has got us row One seating again! 

I would rather hide somewhere and point my camera from distance, but now I am right against the referees and the players. Too much lens for one basket and slightly shy from the other.  None the least, say thanks to my daughter. It was my first experience shooting a game and I was a bit undecided at first and then decided to just wing it as it comes.

Oregon Ducks and UCLA appear to be quite equal. UCLA may be slightly stronger. Oregon was losing ground from the start. I kept telling myself, it is just a game and I am here for photography. Don't get too excited... Last quarter started and that's when the excitement began. Oregon was catching up from a 11 points difference to 65 points tie when the clock was less than 2 minutes left.
The shot taken by No. 33 is the key to the victory in that last fatal minute. Wow, what a nice surprise!

Not NBA or NFL, but they are my heroes. And, I am not only speaking of the players, I am also referring to Oregon Gymnastic team and the cheerers. These girls have yelled their lungs out to cheer for the team.

And, check out the performance of Oregon gymnastic team. 

The pictures say it all.  I still like that familiar Green and Yellow.