Category Archives: nature

conservatory orchids

orchid 1

Thanks to the gorgeous Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesotans can enjoy the tropics almost 365 days a year. Such a fun day trip to chase away the winter blahs, as the Como Park Zoo offers fun for kids, too! Here are some images of a few orchids they have scattered about the grounds.

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These were given a photo transfer feel using my Photo Art Blends (used set 1, #12 on Overlay blend mode), and some Simply Love quotes. An on-line tutorial is included with the Photo Art Blends sharing techniques and recipes for how to achieve differing results with the many blends included. See our Cottage Arts blog for a Before/After of an additional orchid piece.

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All were shot in AV mode, ISO 160, with my 70-300mm at about 180mm.

fyi…With the recent discovery that Mom’s breast cancer has metastasized to her liver, my focus has been on her and Dad, my clients, and Cottage Arts…posting on this blog as time allows. I’m creating and shooting more than ever, and hope to be able to share more with you soon!

Michelle

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liquid prayers

Stopping in quick to share an inspirational slideshow of friend Dewitt Jones‘ recent wave images. I want to look more into Animoto for creating slideshows after seeing this!

You can experience waves like these by visiting Molokai, or attending the amazing photography workshop at the Hui, Rekindling the Creative Spirit in April, 2010. I helped teach some photo art classes there three years ago, participated in the workshop, and found the experience life changing.

You can view Dewitt’s slideshow here (If you have high speed Internet, click HQ at bottom right for larger view)

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Enjoy!

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snowed in for christmas

For the second year in a row, a snowstorm kept us from traveling to Kris’s family’s Christmas celebration. All total, we received 12 inches of the white fluffy stuff. The bright side? Philip is becoming an awesome snow shoveler!

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While disappointed, we made the most of our days snowed in…playing games, reading, listening to classic Christmas carols…enjoying the quiet beauty at our cabin.

As you can tell, Alyssa loved the snow!

All shot with my Tamron 28-75/2.8, ISO 160, AV mode, f/4.0 , and since shooting into a mostly snowy background, I compensated by setting exposure +1.67.

The snow let up Christmas Eve so we were able to celebrate with our church family. The choir’s finale of Handel’s Alleluia Chorus was magnificent…goose bumps.

We hope to be able to make the trip a few hours south this weekend to see some of Kris’s family. More family pics coming in next post.

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flickr love

Working on an engagement session that I’ll share soon, and as always, am smitten by artists on Flickr. Below are some recent Flickr faves, as well as a collage of some of my blossom images. Click on the links below each mosaic to see the enlarged images.

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1. Untitled, 2. flickr.com/photos/21044391@N07/4028016224/, 3. zij zoenen elkaar in de overgang, 4. Beetle Mania, 5. rainbow umbrella #5, 6. Dream 007, 7. she 013, 8. a memory cherished, 9. Sunset Fog, 10. 129 | 195, 11. Untitled, 12. It’s Atutumn Time….., 13. Autumn in Nagano, 14. I think you don’t know I love you~, 15. peace begins with a smile. Mother Teresa, 16. Untitled, 17. a un passo dal possibile…, 18. R E A C H I N G . Y O U, 19. Faking summer, 20. Fall Feelings …, 21. it’s stormin, baby, 22. Untitled, 23. air, 24. losers and forsakers, 25. Dois Irmãos e Duas Irmãs., 26. Wonderful Twente, 27. you can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart., 28. R U F F L E S, 29. peapod, 30. lighthouse, 31. In autumn, 32. Untitled, 33. Sunflower and Polkadots Still Life, 34. Tomatillo, 35. L’oublie, 36. Soft sweets

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

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1. a rose is a rose…, 2. blowing in the wind, 3. a perfect pair, 4. oh how i love poppies, 5. sunflower photo blend, 6. sunny disposition, 7. tulip, 8. translucent beauty, 9. parrot tulip, 10. take flight, 11. touched by the light…, 12. cracklin’ petunia, 13. nature’s gradient, 14. lone iris, 15. a perfect pair, 16. reach for the sky, 17. tulip texture, 18. stand tall…, 19. hawaiian blossom texture, 20. hui flowers, 21. delicate…, 22. softly spoken…, 23. be open…, 24. softly the evening came…, 25. God loved the flowers and invented soil. Man loved the flowers and invented vases.

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i love you.

I sat down tonight to edit a few fall lovelies after attending a rousing St. Cloud State Huskies hockey game with the family.

Much to my surprise, when playing with this image I noticed a sweet heart cut of the leaf. Too fitting for this week of Thanksgiving.

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supplies and technique here

So thankful for my right hand man…husband for 22 years…best friend for 24…i love you. ..simple as that.

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new storyboards

Sorry so long since I’ve been around here. Life has been full of adventures with the kids home this summer!

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At CottageArts we just created some fun storyboards to showcase your images, so wanted to share them here…they come in 12×12, 8×8, and 7×10, each in five patterns/textures (cardboard, painted cardboard, painted paper, canvas paper). You can embellish them or keep them simple. Add text or not with your image editor’s Type Tool. Enjoy! Michelle

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