Classic Boats

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Two attractive shots.

Went out at 5:30 a.m. to capture the shots

before traffic started.

It was sort of fun to shoot something

a bit different.

Hope that you enjoy these images.

Comments are welcome.

Have a creative-kind of day today.

Helen.

Magical Rhododendrons

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Went out to shoot on an overcast day

with fog.

Took these rhododendron shots amongst

others.

Very thrilled with the level of colour saturation

and the glowing irridescent blooms.

I would love to install them on silk banners hanging

close together so that you walk through the colour

if you stroll through them. To be surrounded

by colour.

Hope you enjoy these images.

Have an everything-is-delightful kind

of day.

Helen.

Peony Garden

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Love these shots.The first shot looks
almost like a wild garden. The second shot is
more formal but shows off perfect blooms.

Hope you enjoy these images.

Have a summer's-here-kind-of-day.


Helen.

Iconic boats in fog

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Finding once again that there are shots to be found despite

dense early morning fog.

Find the second image above particularly restful and soothing.

Hope that you enjoy these images.

Have a discover-the-unexpected kind of day.

Helen.

Zoo series-tiger

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This looks like it is my last image

on my zoo series.

The series was conceived to honour my sister-

a vet interested in conservation.

At one time she wished to be a zoo vet.

As well, she considered training to be a Noah.

Noah's train on the Channel islands in England.
Once trained they travel the world for free

as volunteers trying to help the plight

of endangered species of animals.

Finally, she did a lot of fund-raising for

the World Wildlife fund.

I hope that you enjoyed the series.

Have an-altruistic-kind of day.

Helen.

Surrounded by Green

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In the last few days- driving around my

neighbourhood I have noticed the leaves out

in full now. They create a surround.

a surround of green- like being immersed

in the colour green.

I took some shots to try to capture this feeling.

As well, the green surround reminded me of

a quote from a book on British textile designer

and artist Carolyn Quartermaine. The book

is Carolyn Quatermaine Revealed (Rizzoli,

1997). See p. 30

"Able to isolate colours, to see their historical

and artistic resonances Carolyn Quatermaine

then spins them off in some startling new direction.

When she does something as innocent as placing

a cheap blue plastic bag behind lollipops covered

in an aquamarine-and-white scrolled foil, so that

the light shines through it, there is nevertheless

a colour-inspired association driving the choices

she makes. "for me, this blue is like a drink, it

is the colour of seawater in the Mediterranean,

a colour of sea so tempting I can never resist

diving into it-totally immersing myself in it.

When the light comes through the bag it immediately

makes me think of the sea, of the slow lapping of

shallow water onto sandy beach". She can evoke

a sandy cove, parasols and the heavy heat of the

Mediterranean with her choice of transparent,

watery blues".

This immersion in colour she speaks of is how I feel

righ tnowout and about with all the green foliage

of nature.

I hope that you enjoy these images.

Have an enjoy-nature-kind of day.

Helen.

Zoo series-2nd elephant

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Couldn't resist painting this image.

Like the lines of the piece.

Hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a good-start-to-summer kind of day.

Helen.

Panda- Zoo series

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This image charmed me.

The giant panda is one of the flagship

species of the World Wildlife fund.

(http://www.worldwildlife.org/)

As well, their logo is a panda.

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a do-a- past-time kind of day.

Helen.

White peony close-up

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Went out twice yesterday morning (Friday) to shoot

flowers at different locations.

Met 2 extremely pleasant horticulturalists

maintaining one of the flower beds I shot.

The gentleman actually pointed out a few shots.

Just including my favourite shot from this work.

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a help-strangers kind of day today.

Helen.

Zoo series-rhinocerous

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This is the 7th image from my zoo series.

Rhinocerouses are one of the World Wildlife

Fund's (WWF) flagship endangered species.

Apparently there are very few rhinocerouses

outside of nature reserves any longer.

The WWF web-site is http://www.worldwildlife.org/

I hope that you enjoy this charming image.

Have a caring-for-others kind of day.

Helen.

Poppy Vista shots

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I set out to capture some vista shots of poppies

in a flower bed near my home.

I am very pleased with these 4 shots.

On at least one of them (poppyvista022009)

early morning sun illuminated the petals.

The profusion of blooms makes the shots.

I hope that you enjoy these images.

Have a day full-of-sunshine.

Helen.

Gorilla-Zoo Series

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This is the 6th animal I have painted for my

zoo series. It was probably the most challenging

to draw and paint.

Apes are one of the protected species of the

World Wildlife fund.

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a no monkey-business kind of day.

Helen.

Polar Bear-Zoo series

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This is the 5th image in my zoo series. The zoo series
is an effort to honour my sister. She is a vet and
at one point wanted to be a zoo vet. She has
always been interested in conservation and has done
alot of fund-raising for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The WWF protects habitats for endangered species
and educates the local population about conservation
efforts.

The polar bear is what they call one of their
flagship species. The WWF focuses intensely on about
10 species and the polar bear is one of them.

The web-site for the WWF is
www.worldwildlife.org

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a devoted-to-a-cause kind of day.

Helen.

Rhododendron triptych

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This image lended itself to a triptych.

Rhododenron blossoms.

I'm returning today to try and capture

more images from the same spot/garden

if the weather permits.

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a restful-kind-of day.

Helen.

More Zoo series

This is the 4th image from my zoo series.

The series honours my sister-a vet.

Hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a honouring-friends-and-family kind of day.

Helen.

Recent Work

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Just sharing some recent work from earlier

in the week.

Hope you enjoy these images.

Have a satisfactory-kind of day.

Helen.

Starlet Flowers

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Well, photography is a puzzling medium with

which to express oneself.

Went out to shoot earlier in the week. Shot floral photographs

both in the studio and outdoors. Printed the shots out on my

home computer and was a bit shocked to see that I had nothing.

None of the shots worked.

Stubbornly I selected 2 vista shots of a local garden to

put on my bulletin board but they certainly didn't work

as fine art shots.

Yesterday I went out to shoot again and in my estimation

landed about 8-10 shots I was pleased with. I can't figure

out why one day was a complete bust and then a second

day I had some success.

I think I was trying too hard on the day

that didn't work. You can't force a shot.

In my opinion it either works or it doesn't.

Your eye either recognizes a great shot or it doesn't

as far as I am concerned.

The real talent lies in composing the shot.

So I have enclosed the floral photographs from my second day

that I am pleased with.

See what you think.

Have a hoping-to-have-success day today.

Helen.

Zoo Series-Ceremonial elephant

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This image represents an elephant beautified

for participation in a ceremony or festival.

It represents the 3rd image in my zoo series.

The zoo series honours my sister, a vet.

I hope that you enjoy this image.

Have a day-filled-with-beauty day today.

Helen.

Rhododendron Close-ups

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Went out today and took over 200 shots of flowers in

my neighbourhood.

I can definitely see an improvement in my work

from last year. I have a better eye. My compositions

are less straightforward and a bit more challenging

to the viewer. Friends and family have recently been

telling me the same thing.

Happiness or contentment is inherent for me as I shoot photographs

or paint a folk art picture. I feel purposeful and enjoy

trying to present beauty. Purposefulness and meaning

are important ingrediants in my life.

Above are my 2 best shots of the day.

Hope that you enjoy these images.

Helen.