My Life, my photography, my passions
A simple but elegant macro of a peony. They are in full bloom right now and just spectacular.
Photography Notes: Added a warming filter, sharpened the stamens, added a pale yellow mask then erased the inside, burned the white leaves for dimension.
My first award, or recognition, members of the Facebook 365 Day Photo Challenge voted my “Strutting Peaccok” the photo of the week! Yeah!
Peacock images have been overdone as well as roses, but what photography collection is complete without a strutting peacock. I did bump this up a little with posterizing in Photoshop and a green tint in the black and white layer. The effect I was trying to achieve was to get the “eyes” to pop and I believe it was achieved. Those eyes would get my attention
By the way, this male peacock did catch the female after a little chase. Just another photo from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, love that place.
The Henry Doorly Zoo is more than about animals, it’s a horticultural dream. Especially at the Garden of the Senses. My goal was to capture the dew drop still hanging on this rose. Roses have been over done as a photography subject, but because they are I had to include it in my collection. You know me and flowers.
This wide eyed lemur is part of the Madagascar exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo, yes I went back a week later. Did get some different photos, but I was pickier this time. The walk through outdoor exhibit allows you to pass through a double door entry and walk amongst a troop of ruffed lemurs.
It is 6,700 square foot netted exhibit with man-made trees linked by vines and allows visitors to photograph these animals without a net or glass obstruction.They even jump on the walkways and get up close and personal. It’s only open Fridays-Sundays and so I didn’t see it the week before. I think it’s probably due to staffing as a keeper is in attendance at all times to keep the people and lemurs from touching each other. They are very friendly and very unafraid.
The keepers had just gone into the exhibit and stuck several willow branches into the ground, this troupe of ring-tailed lemurs loved the treat.
In towns all across America teenage boys pick up bats and balls and head out to the local ball field for Legion baseball.
One of the best sports experiences my kids ever had was American Legion Baseball. It was by far been the best sports experience in my 15 year history of sports in Elmwood-Murdock. This includes all school-related and summer town league ball seasons. My youngest son played Legion ball for four years, started as a freshman on a team that begged a group of boys to play so they could have a team. (many had not played since T-ball)
The coaches were fantastic (thanks Duane and Hank) and their expectations were not to win a game, but to improve as the season went on. If they won a game great, if not it was all about teamwork, having fun and growing as young men. My young man played right or center field, he’s center here, and loved to play. So much so that he delayed his Marine Bootcamp ship date so he could play one last summer. I still have sports bags in my garage with baseballs and gloves and every now and then my daughter will ask me to come out and do batting practice. Reminds me of summer and I miss the bleachers at the ball field watching my son.
Diamond D1-AL American Legion Official Baseball (Pack of 12)
I didn’t play sports in school, I was rather clumsy and not athletic. But, I have learned sports is not just about winning, it’s about how to win, how to lose, how to face adversity and still play. It’s about playing as a team, traveling and living together as teammates even if you don’t like the person next to you, sports does teach about life.
Spartan Ac: An American Legion Baseball Team United Through AdversitySwinging for the Fences: How American Legion Baseball Transformed a Group of Boys into a Team of Men
Since this photo was part of my 365 project here is a little bit of information about it. It is straight out of the camera, no editing, the storms clouds were gathering and it poured rain about 15 minutes after this picture. So far half their games have been rained out, but we have a long summer ahead of us and I’m going to enjoy each one.
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