My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
A walk in Inniswood Gardens found this older couple enjoying the Spring day. Notice how their stride is in sync and I love the holding of the hands. The grass is really starting to green up. Buds are popping out. Flowers are opening up. What a wonderful time of the year.
Okay, where’d the promise of Spring go? Las week we had clear skies and warm temperatures to wake up to in the morning. Now it’s cold again and we had about 3 inches or snow here in Ohio. Would prefer rain. Anyway, we did enjoy the warm days and made sure to venture outside and take it all in. This image is from Inniswood Gardens and is a small brick walled area near the Sister’s Garden. I made a few adjustments with Topaz Adjust.
Yesterday was a wonderful day so headed off to Inniswood Gardens for a walk. People were out and about. Flowers are “springing” up, birds are singing their happy songs and the squirrels were busy looking for food. I got in some decent exercise then defeated it by eating my half of a pizza with my room mate. Darn good pizza, too! Hope you’re having a good weekend.
It’s effecting hundreds of people. Football season is over, we’ve had at least two full days of sunshine and temperatures are finally rising above freezing. With these kinds of conditions I found people aimlessly wandering in Inniswood Gardens yesterday afternoon, all of them infected with “Spring Fever.” Parents had the youngest toddler in the stroller while the older siblings were burning up energy running along the trails. Couples were walking hand-in-hand as they soaked up the warm sunshine. Any park bench which had been covered in snow and ice last week was now welcoming people to sit and listen to the birds sing. The melting snow was now revealing a carpet of green grass. Tulip sprouts were breaking through the dark soil as they stretched upwards for the suns rays. I even drove by the Dairy Queen and noticed a few people medicating themselves with ice cream. Yup, Spring Fever was everywhere. I think I may have it!!! And, just to be sure I medicated myself with one of those Blizzards, the Midnight Truffle.
I enjoy walking along foot paths, with my camera, and taking images as I move along. I took this one a couple of days ago in Blendon Woods Park. It was cold with light snow falling and a nice crisp breeze blowing right through my pants. Brrrrr! Bring on Spring!
I read a quote somewhere by an famous photographer that the best zoom lens we have is our feet. Well he must not live in an area where there is snow, gusting wind and temperatures in the high teens. My wandering in Blendon Woods Park today with only my 35mm lens required me to zoom by using my feet. However, today the snow was deep enough to go over the top of my boots making for cold toes and wet socks. Invigorating to say the least.
I have been shooting for several months with this nice little fixed focal 35mm lens and enjoying it, leaving my zoom at home. I use it for my travel with work as it is lightweight, small and fast. It works well in low light situations and I love working with the shallow depth of field. I’m getting better at knowing what coverage it gives me on my DX format camera and how it handles contrast and colors. This is espcially true with street and portraiture photography but when it comes to landscapes in the winter I think I’ll use the 18-200mm. That way my feet stay dry.
They’re still cold.
A simple project I did a few years ago was to take and post an image of a bench each day for a complete month. Every since that exercise my eye has been drawn to benches so I keep adding images to the subject (keyword). With the snowfall and cold we’ve had it is more difficult to get out but some days I just have to get out there. This bench is not as inviting as it is in the warmer seasons but it is one of my favorite subjects.
We had a dusting of snow a couple of days ago. I must admit I do enjoy watching it snow, so quiet and peaceful. However, I’m not a fan of shoveling and driving in it nor do I enjoy the cold temperatures that come with it. As the years of my life continue to increase, I am not able to stand up to the cold as I once did. Today, I felt the urge to venture out into it so I bundled up and made my way over to Blendon Woods Park. There I found nature had added to its beauty with its light brushing of snow. Brown leaves, curled by autumns frosts, had formed small cups where nature had quietly filled them with snow. I love how nature is always providing us the opportunities to enjoy it and if you have your camera, even create a few images.
If you hadn’t noticed I added a few snow flakes to my blog. If your so inclined to also add a few more flakes to your’s, here is the link on how it’s done.
I parked my rump on a bench along the foot path in Inniswood Gardens to watch the half dozen squirrels in front of me as they scampered along the forest floor in search of food. This time of year you will find them busy searching for and storing nuts and acorns near their dens for the coming winter months. The carpet of leaves has hidden some of their much needed food so their search for food has the feeling of a game. You can hear the rustling of leaves as they stick their noses under the carpet of leaves in search of their treasure then quickly lift their heads and move to the next location as if to say, “Nope, nothing there. Maybe it’s over here.”
Every so often they seem to be playing a game of tag with one another but I soon realize they are being territorial as they chase one another around. Their work at this time of the year is a necessity and feels hurried, yet they seemed to also be having fun and no one gets hurt. I enjoyed watching.
When my mind gets clouded, a walk in nature will clear the fog. I also know it works for others, too. For example, I had a friend call me last week and ask if we could go for a walk together. Now, how did she know I needed one of those walks?