Tara and I visited Laurelhurst Park a couple weeks ago to take advantage of glorious February sunshine. The park was lovely, as always, though not as advanced into signs of Springtime as we had hoped. I took plenty of shots, in my typical fashion, and nothing grabbed my heart until…these.
The light behind these buds and flowers is inspiring!
Has that ever happened to you? You are walking along, looking around, taking all things in as more or less equal contributors into your environment, and then BLAM! An incredible snapshot is framed ahead of you. Terrible when you see it without a camera nearby. But what a treasure when the Nikon is slung around your neck at that moment. Carefully pull the strap over your head without breaking eye contact with that amazing view, switching it on as part of the fluid swish of motion, since – for heaven’s sakes the “on switch” is programmed into subconscious memory by now.
And the greatest treasure of all: when the photos look as wonderful on your laptop as they did in the tiny viewfinder.
Conscious Engagement 
Love your depth of field and love that the buds are backlit. Great job!
Thank you so much, Jenny!
Beautiful shots Crystal! I so admire people who understand the art of photography 🙂 It won’t be long now for you – we are preparing for autumn, though the temps are still very warm the days are getting noticeably shorter…….
Pauline, there is something delicious about the end of summer, isn’t there? It’s no longer blistering hot (usually), but still barefoot weather. I hope you have lots of lovely days still.
Ours are getting closer! Trees are in bloom, the frost melts away by noon, and sunshine holds more promise than punch – but I’ll take what I can get. Thank you for your compliment on the photography! I promise you I am a lucky lady with a nice camera. I really don’t know diddly about photography, but I can see when I’ve got something nice. 🙂
lovely photos
Thank you Maureen. You are looking at the end of summer like Pauline. I have loved your photos this year.
thank you
Beautifully lit Crystal
I thought so too! I think it was the fuzzy outlines of the buds that caught my eye. Every one has a silver lining.
The sun glowing in the background really helped to light up the branches and buds, Crystal. I love the pinkish purple hues so prefer it over the black and white.
I do use my cell phone now, but prefer my camera. It is part of our more deeper interest in art and creativity which makes us who we are. For us, we are still expecting more snow, not like New England and out East, but Ohio has its piles, today it was sleeting on the way to work and now, it is going to add some inches of snow while we sleep.
Oh, by the way, I took photos on a gloomy Sunday walking home from the library of pussy willow branches. I have them on my cell phone to show one of my good friends, I have Friday’s with Jenny after I work a half day. She is a retired teacher…
Do you ever force branches in Spring? That was one of my tricks to keep my hopes up at the end of a long winter when I lived in a snowy place. Cut some of the willows and bring them inside in a vase. They will think it’s spring and put out buds and then leaves.
Doubtless… you’re a very good photographer, for these buds and othe shoots I’ve seen from you. Regards.
Thank you Rosa! By the way, I finally mailed your envelope yesterday. He said it should take 8 to 12 days to arrive. It is nothing special, but something I think you will like. ❤
Oh dear!!!!! you are so polite…I am very nervous!!!!!! Thanks in advance!
Beautiful Crystal!!!
Coming from you, my friend, that is high praise. Thanks, Cambrae. It means a lot to me that a woman so skilled with a camera likes my photos. 🙂
Captured by beautiful flowers while Tara freezes. 🙂 Daughters just have to be sacrificed on occasion. lol –Curt
Just getting Tara ready for life, you know. Cuz I’m a good mom like that. 😉
The bokeh in that first image is so very lovely!
We might shoot 70 images, but there’s always one that makes the cut and makes us so “oh yeah, my time was well spent”.
I totally thought of you when I saw it!
Beautiful!
Thank you, I thought so too.
Gorgeous. Spring is in the air. You really caught it, plus gave me hope that winter may be on its way out the door. Hopefully, crossed fingers.
Yes! Winter is losing her grip on us and will soon tuck herself up into a cave somewhere and wait for her turn again. Your part of the world is so very cold, I’m glad these photos gave you a little hope.
your photos are beautiful. How nice to see buds in the dead of winter, even if it’s over the Internet. Thank you for sharing,
Yes, I’m conscious of that when I post the latest spring photos. My friends are so spread around the world, I know spring is at different stages for many (and indeed, some bloggers are experiencing fall right now!). I feel a tiny bit of guilt for not having any snow like some of you, but I’m glad the sunny wildflowers are a welcome sign of warmer weather to come.
You may not know diddly about photography, but you have a photographers eye. Some have it, some don’t. My stepson has it, my son has the tech aspect of it but not the natural eye. Don’t tell him I said that. Maybe if he loosened up a bit, but you take those perfect, natural shots. This one is beautiful. I’ll like to walk around there again after seeing these.
Thank you, my friend. That is an honest, and much appreciated comment. 🙂