Thursday, March 15, 2007

Spring growth




One of the delights of digital photography - which I have only been doing for 18 months - is that the high resolution allows you to enlarge your pictures until you are really close to your subject. In my case, that often means closer than I can get by bending or kneeling down - I just don't do kneeling down these days, and could not have got so close to the violets with the naked eye! Another problem I have is that my hand is no longer very steady; add to that the fact that there is always a breeze blowing on my hilltop, whenever I want to do nice steady closeups, and I sometimes feel it is a miracle I get a decent shot at all. But there are enough of them to encourage me keep going.

13 comments:

Catalyst said...

Judith - Lovely pictures. I'm just getting started with my digital camera. BTW, my wife's name also is Judith and our last name is Taylor.

Judith said...

Tell her 'snap' from me!

I like your pirate's head-kerchief, by the way.

stitchwort said...

Is that a honey bee?
There have been concerns over the bee population. Lots have simply disappeared, it seems - not good for crop pollination.

Avus said...

You have violets already? Here in the south east they ain't through yet.
Nice pics Judith - a lot of the new digital cameras have an "anti-shake" facility, which will help if you have the DTs!

Judith said...

Stitchwort, it certainly looks like a honeybee, but I wouldn't be sure. I've not heard of any hives in my neighbourhood.

Thanks, Avus, I'll bear that in mind!

Granny J said...

Nice bee!

A couple of years ago something infected the bees in our area and no fruit was set. This year we are having an early warm spell, some trees are blossoming-- and loads of bees have shown up! Gives me hope.

herhimnbryn said...

Great images J. I have a bee's bum in one of my posts ( click on the 'garden' label). I too had just started using the dig. camera then. All I have to do now is remember to carry it with me ALL THE TIME! Do you?

Judith said...

No, I don't, and that's half the problem. My handbag is too heavy already, and I tend not to bother with it when I go out for walks, as I don't have a pocket big enough. Mine is not among the smallest and lightest, so I might change if and when I can afford it.

Pauline said...

Thanks for the spring preview! We're still under snow here in the Berkshires (in Massachusetts) but in a month or so, our violets will be as happily purple as yours!

Anonymous said...

Violets are one of my favorite flowers. The perfume faint and delicate.

Good luck on the award, you are a winner in my books!

I agree digital photography is an amazing tool, and I like it best for the close ups it allows.

Judith said...

A touch of telephathy there, T-in-C? We seem to have been commenting on each other's blogs at the same time - around 7.30 am here in England.

Stephen said...

And very good they are, Judith!

Lucy said...

That bee in the blossom is just gorgeous, It seems quite early for bees.
My camera used to just fit into a jacket or waistcoat pocket, but since I got a thing to protect the lens it won't. I still feel a little self-conscious with it round my neck. Also, I find photographing is rather a solitary pleasure, and don't like to impose it on anyone I'm with; it's boring as a spectator sport!