The urge to get outside, to create, to look in wonder and enter into the season – it’s undeniable.
From the bottom,
Crab apple blossoms, Maidenhair fern, a pine cone, a Magnolia branch in flower, A Magnolia bloom, fallen Magnolia flower petals, maple twigs with their dangling flower parts, more Maidenhair ferns in black and white, last year’s Magnolia leaf, chewed by insects, and the long, elegant needles of the Montezuma pine. All were seen Friday at Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, Washington.
Note on processing:
I procrastinated about buying the excellent Nik Silver Efex program for converting color photos to black and white. It was just as well because last week, the program became free to all, along with several other Nik programs for digital processing. I’m just getting the hang of it and I expect I’ll find the suite of programs very useful. The first photo, of a pine bough, takes a bright, sunshiny image to a dark place, thanks to the Color Efex program; the second photo’s creaminess was exaggerated with that program’s settings, too. Sometimes though, it’s best to leave well enough alone – the final photo has only very minor tweaks in Lightroom.
All photos taken with an OM D-1 with Olympus 60mm f 2.8 macro lens. Yes, I brought other lenses, but I only had two hours. Changing lenses takes time, to switch out the lens and to reboot your eyes to the new lens. Besides, I just love this lens.
Next some near-abstract images, also derived from outdoor shots. Coming soon…
bluebrightly 
These photographs are absolutely wonderful Lynn and I love the way you are embracing the season. I’m hoping you’re getting enough opportunity to do just that despite your work schedule!
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Barely! But like I said, the urge is undeniable, so I figure out a way. I’m glad you like the photos – thanks so much for your good words.
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Love that decaying black-and-white leaf– an unexpected subject.
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I almost didn’t add it because it doesn’t have the more upbeat or soft Spring feeling, but I took it the same day…and I thought there would be someone who would appreciate it! Many Magnolia trees around here are attacked by a certain insect (or insect) that eats all the flesh out of the leaves, leaving the veins. You should look under Magnolia trees – maybe it’s the same there, I don’t know.
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Excellent as always!
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Thank you!
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Your love of the season sure shines through. Lovely, lovely images.
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Mmm, good! And right now I think you’re on the road, somewhere in the southwest – can’t wait to hear about it.
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Nope, not leaving until Tues, but feeling a bit frazzled in preparation. Won’t be back until Earth Day, so you’ll just have to wait! 😉
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Have a fabulous trip!
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Two more days!!! 😀 Thanks.
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Beautiful images, Lynn. Love the pink blossoms. 🙂
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The progression of cherry and apple blossoms is fun – there’s a very early cherry around here that’s simple and pale pink, then white ones, and lately, the very fluffly darker pink ones are out. The march of the fruit tree flowers!
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Undeniable indeed ~ your ability to capture the details and bring them shining into life as the main attraction is amazing Lynn. Extremely awesome images here in this series, and the opening shot mesmerizes me with the contrast. Beautiful.
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You’re too kind – that first one is totally different than the way it looked at first, but it actually gets the impression across –
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So beautiful! I keep longing to get out for a long walk with just me and my camera to get in closer to all the tiny details of the life bursting into being around me. At least I can admire from afar…and see through your lovely artistic eye.
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Why is it that Spring gets so busy – its just when you want more time!
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A fine set Lynn, both in the taking and the processing.
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Thank you, Louis – both are enjoyable, and challenging…
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Montezuma pine—yes! Have never seen one in person, but you make me want to. That color is yummy, and I love the lines. Glad you’re still working with the maidenhair fern. These are lovely. We do have it in Ohio, and I have photographed it, too. You’ve inspired me to pay closer attention the next time I see it.
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I think it’s a Mexican tree (OK, yes, it figures). It was huge, with the most improbably long, graceful bunches of needles – just gorgeous. The maidenhair fern that’s planted is slightly different than what we see in the woods, but both are incredibly delicate and well worth peering in at. I love the dark, thin stems against the silk-like delicacy of the leaves, and in the wild I love the spiral, curving arrangement.
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Stone beautiful images, Lynn…love the closer perspective….gorgeous work.
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Love your feminine, tender and lovely way to see the world! 😊💛
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Just catching up with your wonderful posts. My reaction to each of these images as I scrolled down: Gasp. Gasp. Gasp. Sooooo beautiful!
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Just catching up myself…life it like that…thanks so much.
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Lyn, have to tell you, I’m in a slow-mo internet zone at the moment and what a thrill it was to see the pixels of your gorgeous shots come together!
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Funny! I love it.
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First four and the soft magnolia close-up are my favorites.
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