Wednesday, January 18, 2012

...AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS...AGAIN

It has been one year since I joined Dragonstar at The Weekend in Black & White. I've found someway or other to post without ever missing.....52 weeks in a row!
My goal was to improve my skills and to enjoy the wonderful photos of others.
It's been a profoundly moving experience and a year I will never forget.
This second year will be different in a number of ways.
First, I will not be able to post each week. My job and my family need my time in ever increasing doses.
Secondly, I've outgrown my poor little camera.
I need a new one to continue this journey.
I don't like to say I need a 'real' camera.
Perhaps a serious camera would be a better term.
My greatest joy is nature macros, so if anyone has a special camera or lens they'd like to tell me about or recommend,
I'm all EYES!
Thanks to all for such a wonderful, warm welcome, kind comments, and continued friendship.
David/ Houston B&W

2011 BEST SHOTS







































2012
This week's photo: " The Journey Begins....Again"

Thanks for stopping by,
David/ :0)

Saturday, January 14, 2012

RISKY BUSINESS: A MONOCHROME BLOOM DAY & FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP

Black & White Photos for a Garden Bloom Day? Risky business indeed!
This month I am putting my Garden Blogger's Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-up post on my monochrome photography blog. Hope you enjoy the change of pace. Black & White photography strips away all the glitter and glitz and really makes the photographer concentrate on form and light. Now on with the show of flowers & foliage:


                                        Loquat leaves both new and old...I love their edges.
                                                                       A metaphor:
                   A poor poinsettia left behind after the holidays sees a hint of green through the curtains.
Unknown Aloe species in bloom today.

                                                   Honey bee coming in for a landing...
                                             "Houston...the Eagle Bee has landed. " (famous NASA quote)
                                                   Tweedia caerulea (every garden should have a fun name to say)
                                                         Agave weberi.... a smoooooooooth agave
Miscanthus seed fluff.

Twinkle, twinkle, little seed...a little wind is all you need. Woosh...and they'll be gone.

Setcreasea purpurea green form  (...as if you needed to know that for a monochrome...LOL)

                                                      close-up of Setcreasea flower
Lantana still in bloom!

Asclepius curassavica with two ants

                                                           Shrimp plant still in bloom.
More feathery Miscanthus

...and more!

                                      Tweedia caerulea seeds getting ready for take off.
                                                 Shake the pod and out they come!
My favorite thing to show you...although it's not for bloom day OR for foliage. Still, it's here in the January garden and so very fun to watch.

                                                                     Kapow! An explosion of life.
                                                          ...and the journey begins...
Visit my garden blog, Tropical Texana, for some color versions.


And my sincere thanks to:
Carol at May Dreams Gardens...our monthly garden host of GBBD
Pam at Digging...our monthly host of Foliage Follow-up
and Dragonstar...our weekly host of Weekend in Black & White
Thanks for stopping by and being kind enough to view a bloom day in MONOCHROME!
David/:0)