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

A Salute to Spring

Spring is literally here. She brings in sunshine, new life, color, cheer and energy. Blue sky, white cloud, sage mountain, green acres and multitude of colors.  Flowers are the primary source of colors. It is not just the varieties of colors. Multi colors are displayed on one single type of flower, too.

It is now the blooming season. After many months of cold and wet weather, it is so refreshing and energizing to be surrounded by flowers and colors. They are surely the secret potion to rejuvenate our spirit and carry away our winter dismay. 

This is the first day that we are able to dine on our patio with seatings surrounded by trees and greens. 

Sunset light shines on the white cherry tree, it is golden and it is hidden among cherry blossoms. Our red wine is bitter sweet, slightly fruity and aromatic. The cozy, fuzzy warmth just down the throat. A salute to spring! 

Heaven-on-earth is here at Wooden Shoe tulip farm on a breezy and sunny day. I  have been here three times. This is the first time that I actually bring home some pictures. My first visit was two years ago. I then just began to use a DSLR and did not have clue about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Everyone was shooting, so I did. I brought home about 100 images and downloaded them to my computer. Then I deleted the files from memory card without knowing my download job was not successful. 

Later, I learned that the files can actually be recovered from memory card using some sort of rescue software. I tried, but too late. I did not get anything out of the card. Not a big deal. I did not think they were too exciting any way. I went back the second time last year with friends and children. We got 

there late. It was a sunny Sunday. Double jeopardy. Lots of family fun events, but too much sun and overwhelming crowd. Shooting flowers with a remotely clean background was impossible.

Efforts are required to create good opportunities. Going with the flow does not do the justice.

Was determined to take some pictures this time, I was there before sunrise and before sunset. And yet, many other photographers had been there before me, had their spot claimed and tripod on duty...  I don't have another 20-30 years to play, I better work harder. I have to become an early bird.

Sun came up briefly after I'd waited in morning chill for more than an hour. I was thrilled to be able to have some shots to portrait this beautiful sunny day. It is irresistible to ponder on it. It brings me the light, the heat and the photo opps that I have been longing for.

Wooden Shoe is such a well-cultivated and maintained tulip farm. The blossoms are large and rich in luster. Single color patches create beauty in unity and mixed patches invite excitement in diversity. They are absolutely gorgeous either way. I seriously did not know where to begin at first. Once I got rolling, I had hard to stop.

Deep colors are looking splendid and magnificent while pastel ones looking delicate and elegant. So many flowers can be used for subjects in different degree, and so easily to look beautiful. If I have used 'beautiful' too many times here, my other option will  be 'speechless'.

Bright yellow and orange have never been my favorite colors. But while the orange is a papaya orange and it is brushed into the yellow. They are so seamlessly engaged. Awesome.

The contrast blend of white, yellow and screaming red is outstanding. I am surprised that my humble camera has actually captured the exact red color, the romantic and poetic red. The red that makes you scream and want to embrace. And, of course, my favorite purple or you like to call it violet which has its regal gesture and outlook.

I grow up in a small island where there is one single mountain range. Plenty of giant and ancient trees, but the varieties of flowers are very limited. Green is the dark and hazy green. Flower colors are sporadic and scare. In a dense community, people can only hope for some colors from flower pots. However, air quality is questionable and flowers are not thriving in pots.   It is surely the big quality improvement of my life to live in a spacious and natural environment with abundant fresh air and colors.

Spring is the time for animal world to expect their new babies. I have heard birdie's sound around and seen the flapping wings. The little ones know how to attract mommy's attention to get fed. They are afraid to get caught because they cannot fly too fast and too far, and yet they are drawing attention with their juvenile behavior. It is fun to watch.

There was a college Crew race at Daxer Lake last weekend in a misty day. I knew it would not be a good photo opportunity, but I went for it out of curiosity and for the fun. Walking by the lake, I heard this high pitched Kill-Deer sound which led me to the bird, a mother bird with three freshly laid eggs.

Their calling sound is how they get their name as Killdeer.  Killdeer usually hang out close to the water

on the ground.  On a regular day, this place is calm and isolated, killdeer can have their home party here without any threat.  But it was the racing day with large crowd and that sent the alarm to the mother.

She sent out her emergency alarm repeatedly, but no second bird came around. I guess her man was out watching the race and drinking beer. She was all alone trying to protect her unborn babies.

I wanted to come closer to take pictures and she watched me like a hawk. I was under her intense scrutiny as I came around to find a good angle to shoot. Deeply feel her fear and anxiety, I stayed away from her.  Mother's love prevails and danger recedes by itself. Lovely scene in lovely spring.

Spring Colors

Since I dropped my illustrator for lady’s handbags, I have barely checked out the current fashion and trends. The day of strolling down the fashion alleys in Milan, Florence and New York is over. I have put away my business suits, dresses and high heals. Instead of shopping fashion stores, I am going to sports stores now.

This is a big change for me because I have been so dedicated to style and fashion, and I have always thinking sportswear is too masculine and too boring for my taste. When I was the product manage for Columbia branded leather goods, I went to their office regularly for product presentations and I often wondered then who would buy their stuff… now I know.

I cannot tell you since when I started to wear sports apparels and now I wear them 90% of the time. I fell in love with Columbia clothing because they are so versatile and comfortable. They are perfect for my in-home photography and photography outings. I wear them for hiking and biking or simply take a quick trip to the grocery stores. As I started to use them, I found out that sports apparels are not only engineered for technical benefit and wearing comfort, they are also designed with trendy colors, details and trim. I can be active and also remain stylish….

Spring is quietly walking into our life. Spring flowers are budding. I seemed not be able to wait till their full bloom. I am out and around the house scouting every bit of life and color.  Colors often remind me of fashion and trends. Now speaking of sportswear and spring colors, I was suddenly urged to check out spring 2013 colors.

colors: African Violet & Lemon Zest

Violet color is trendy this spring, so is the lemon color.   Purple and yellow are complimentary colors.  They are both bright, but they look nice together. Look at these lantern roses on the bush. They do look like lanterns, don’t they?

I met a German couple who immigrated to US more than 20 years ago. They originally brought in the best growers from Germany and England (later added Holland) and began to grow this Hellebore flowers in Northwest. 

The flowers come in great varieties and colors. The plant is not only beautiful, it is tough and versatile.

color: Emerald

Emerald is my all time favorite stone.  Other than jade, this is definitely one popular stone used by Asians to fabricate beautiful jewelry that often become family heirlooms among the women. This green color is so deep and so rich, it takes your breath away. 

I was walking down the street looking for flowers and colors, here came an array of plum trees with these delicate flowers (picture below). They are up there embracing the blue sky. The clear sky traces every fine details of the flower.  This is the first time I noticed that plum flowers have multiple color tones, pink, peach, yellow, and black trims in the end. They are charming and refined. I was stunned by what I saw and you know what next, I was snapping it away.

I like many colors with dusk tones. Dusk Blue is another trendy color.  It is between blue and purple and the dusk tone makes it casual. Maybe that’s why I like it.   

color: Dusk Blue

color: Strawberry

Hot Pink is always popular among school girls and teenagers. It was in spring 2012 palette, but I still see them everywhere. This flower is from a deciduous tree named Red-flowering Current. It is a native plant and supposed to be deer resistant, but deer chewed up all the leaves last year. Not too optimistic about its future, I was thrilled to see the new blossoms.  I was afraid that deer would come and take them alive again, so I instantly took the picture. If they cannot fight deer, I at least have this picture to moan afterwards.  Hot pink is not my color. I purchased an off-season sweater at Christmas sales and I began to like it because the bright color energized me and I feel good. 

Fashion colors is there to boost the big bucks in fashion industry. I want to be stylish, but I certainly don't chase after trends. I don't feel that I am dated just because fashion vendors want to press you to wear a different color 6 month after.  Everyone should have a style of her own and only follow the trends that will enhance your outlook and make you feel good about yourself.