Saturday, October 30, 2010

(Day 303) Lemon-aid

Some people might call the type of day we had today a lemon day - leaves a sour taste in your mouth and doesn't at all meet your expectations, especially after a couple of very nice days we had earlier in the week. Weather doesn't usually put a damper (ew, bad pun) on my spirits - I can go-with-the-flow, so to speak. And since I'm on a roll here with a bunch of clichés, how about the one of making lemonade when you're presented with lemons.

In that vein then, the lemonade was literally hanging from everything today as a light drizzle turned into a steady downpour. But I was determined to capture some of it. You should have seen me out there in the yard today - carrying a tripod with camera attached in one hand and trying to keep everything - me included - dry by holding a large candy red umbrella in the other ! Good thing we live back far from the road.

NOTE: we will be on the road for the next 2 days as we make our first foray as 'snowbirds' to Florida. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to post or visit anyone's blog during that time; I shall try my best to capture an image or two along the way, however. I appreciate your visits and comments and hope to be back in full swing by Tuesday.

(60mm  f4  1/50 sec  ISO200)

 (70-200mm  f5.6  1/40 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f14  1/13 sec  ISO200)


20 comments:

Dawn said...

Incredible!!!!
Those water drops look as though I can touch them! How do you DO that???
(I sure would have loved to see you and the umbrella:)))

Snowbirds to Florida!....THAT sounds like a lot of fun. Cannot wait to see what you capture THERE!
Have a very safe journey!!!!

Scott Law said...

Very tasty lemonade there. Hope you have a great trip to Florida and come back safe and sound.

Leovi said...

I really like those drops of water to fall. Very good pictures!

Unknown said...

Beautiful close ups . . . Stunning droplets :-)

Greetz,

Joseph

Katherine said...

I just pictured you outside with all your photographic paraphernalia, under the candy striped brollie, tip toeing through puddles & waiting patiently to capture the drops just at the right time. Now that is creative passion at it's best!!!
These photos are truly beautiful Rick ... Have a wonderful trip to Florida with you wife..safe travels. :)

imac said...

Neat shots Rick, mmm off again, tut tut getting as bad as me,lol.
Have a great and safe trip my friend.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

These are worth all the effort.They look like jewels.
Blessings,Ruth

S. Etole said...

Looks like your efforts paid off.

Test said...

Veri nice shots!

Teté M. Jorge said...

I loved those pictures... a few drops of water caress...

I'll be waiting for you, for your photos, for your charming stories. ;)

Have great days.

Greetings to all the family, honey.

Beijos with love.

darlin said...

Wow, awesome macro shots Rick! Off to Florida for the winter? You lucky duck you! I can't wait to see Florida through your lens, have a safe trip.

Hope said...

have a wonderful time in Florida.. should be nice and warm there.. your so lucky..

Alexander DeLarge said...

Loved the delicate rain drops!

Greetings, Alex.

PS: I'm going to steal the expression, 'lemon day', I think it's very illustrative in some ocasions!

Rick said...

@Dawn - thank you Dawn - just a bit of aperture and shutter speed stuff, and the tripod of course to hold things a bit steady. Oh, and the umbrella to keep the drops off. Made it to Florida safe and sound - thanks.

@Scott - thank you Scott. The trip was long, but worthwhile. No photo ops, however - at least none that I stopped for.

@Leovi - thank you Leovi !

Rick said...

@CarreraCaballo - thank you Joseph ! It was worth going out in the elements.

@Katherine - I think I was a sight to behold. Could have used a 3rd hand though - at times I balanced the umbrella with my chin when I needed 2 hands ;-) Thank you - and we arrived safely !

@Imac - I've learned from the best mac ;-) Gotta keep moving !

Rick said...

@Ruth's Photo Blog - thank you Ruth - for visiting, and for your comments.

@S. Etole - thank you Susan. Despite the weather obstacles, I had some fun getting the shots.

@Cristian Istrate - thank you Cristian !

Rick said...

@teca - thank you teca; I always appreciate your visits and your comments. Muitos abraços e beija !

@darlin - the plans were slowly coming together this year and finally happened. Will be here for a number of weeks, home for Christmas, and the Lord willing, back for a while after New Year's. Thanks Darlene - got here safe. and sound (mind ?)

@Hope - thank you Hope; yes, we know we are blessed to be able to be here.

@Alexander DeLarge - thank you Alex. Feel free to use that ;-)

Dagmar said...

How I love hanging raindrops like this. Just don't have the good macro lens for it to take them myself...one day it will come.
Thanks for sharing yours with me buddy.
Hugs D.

Here I Am Carrie said...

Love those little droplets. So you are now a snowbird. My husband and I have been going to the Salton sea California for over 20 years now. Me I would love to stay home now and enjoy the beautiful winters here and hibernate. But hubbys bones love the heat so we will continue to go.

Rick said...

@Barefoot from Heaven - hi Dag ! I only used a macro lens for the first one; the other 2 I shot with my 70-200 telephoto, with a 2X extender; you could try one of the lenses you used for portraits and try various apertures to see the effects on the background. And then do another couple of weddings and buy a macro lens ;-)

@Here I Am/Carrie - thanks Carrie. Yep - we're taking the plunge this year. Winter up north also provides great photo ops (we'll be back there for Christmas time) but we wanted to escape most of the snow and ice. and cold !