Winter, Where Art Thou?

We have had less than an inch of snow this year. Nothing in about a month. It's just insane. These are what California winter days are like. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, I'm just waiting for the hammer to fall.

So, what to shoot? Everything outside looks dull and dingy. Maybe I should go buy some flowers and shoot some indoor stuff like this photo from a few years ago. Then there's that photo processing I talked about last time. Nah.

I do want to get out and get some more snow scenes... when we get snow. But, for now, I'll just have to wait. I just hope the late winter doesn't make for a late spring into May. That would not be good.

...and it felt goooooood...

...to finally shoot something again.

Ok, it's a flower. Ok, it's in my front yard. Ok, it's not like I ventured forth into the wild recesses of Iowa to track down the lonely tulip that has not been seen since the Bohemian Beatnik Renaissance in old Holland in 1966. But, oh, it felt so good to actually shoot something for the first time this year.

I even used my new macro lens, which had been sitting on my shelf unused for almost three months now.

I like this shot because the background is slightly blurred yet still recognizable without being distracting. The focus... literally and figuratively, is on the tallest tulip, as it should be.

What a Good Photo Club can do for You

My photo club hosts an annual picnic in a local park. This local park has a community flower garden. Many of us retire to said flower garden after the picnic.

Well, this year it was very hot and humid and muggy, so only about 4 or 5 of us ventured out this year. The shot here is one that I obtained that evening.

This is an example of what a good photo club can do for you.... expose you to new opportunities and encourage you to shoot. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Unfortunately, there are some clubs that are rather boorish and cliquish and don't do any of that. I would encourage anyone seeking a photo club to visit a few clubs a few times and determine if they will suit your needs.