Focus On You

We're winding down our month of spring flowers and word art. The Focus On Life gallery has been overflowing with spring beauty. Jonquils, daffodils, or butttercups, whatever you want to call them, are one the most popular spring flowers. Did you know that they symbolize friendship? Today's image is from Patricia Margaret (teragam). These beauties do make me want to sing an ode to spring!! You can see more of Patricia Margaret's beautiful photos on her flickerstream.

Thank you to all who participated in this month's theme! Next month's theme will be revealed shortly. 

Happy Spring to you!

Where's Waldo

by Linda

Have you ever felt like you've gotten off track and can't seem to find your way back? You know, you've lost your mojo, your inspiration, your focus.

Your get up and go, got up and left.

Happened to me. And it happened quite a while ago. I'm still searching for the magic bullet that will right this train. Somethings gotta give. I'm ready to go. It's time to rekindle creative energy. It's time to relish in capturing all the beauty in this world.

Vacations are always photographic opportunities. I always find a spark visiting different places. But then I come home and spark goes away. How can I keep it going?

I'm thinking it's time to revisit my simple surroundings, to give myself permission to take boring mundane photos of everyday life. But really not think of these things as boring and mundane, they matter. I should make a record of all the things that are good and all the things that are not so good because that is life.

Seeing beauty in small things, and making a record of it, that just might get me back on track. Of course this is something that I have known all along. It just got lost in the fog.

Everyday practice! Yeah, that's the ticket!

Who doesn't love looking at photographs and feeling all the feels again!

I should have started that 365! But I still can, who says you have to start on January 1, because I'm a rebel!

Where do you go for inspiration?

...

I Overslept But.....

by Deanna

Belonging to the Morton Arboretum Photography Society comes with lots of privileges, one being monthly photo trips to photo worthy places plus the added addition of being with like minded people who love photography as much as I do. The Chicago Botanic Garden was our destination of choice for the month of April and oh boy did we visit at the most opportune time. Everything was in bloom, our neighborhood is overflowing with the goodness that comes with Spring.

“She turned to the sunlight
    And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
    "Winter is dead.” 
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

We were due to meet at 8:00 AM at the entrance into the gardens, but Deanna fell back to sleep after the alarm rang at 6:00 AM. The drive is anywhere from an hour plus, so when I left the house at 7:25 AM I knew I was in trouble. No traffic, thank you God, and I sped along (yes, I was going over the speed limit) and pulled into the parking lot at 8:05 AM.  Eventho I made it in record time, my photo group had already began their journey thru the gardens, leaving me behind. OK, do I search to find them, or just enjoy my lone walk, knowing that eventually we would meet? I chose the latter, and sure enough we finally met at the walled English garden. So come along with me as I wander thru the gardens before I meet up with the rest of the group. 

Holy moley, what in the heck were these giant cone shaped plants bursting with blooms rising to over 6 feet tall right outside the wall? Resembles something growing in outer space or perhaps Disney World. 

These beauties are aptly named "tower of jewels" or Echium 'Red Rocket'.  According to Google (my go to for info) they are biennials which mean the seeds are planted one year and the next they bloom. Hopefully they re-seed and continue their beauty year after year. 

They also have the "Blue Steeple" Echium by the entrance which is just as dazzling.

I love the Morton Arboretum, but I LOVE the Chicago Botanic Garden. Flowers, flowers and more flowers everywhere you look.  As I wandered with camera in hand, I was breathless at every corner, every turn there was more and more beauty.

The ever faithful, ever beautiful Bleeding Hearts....

The harder than heck to photograph Hellebores because they always have their heads bending downward as tho they are praying continually. 

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.” 

― Marty Rubin

Another lovely that I am not real familiar with is this beauty called a 'Yellow Crown Imperial (Fritrillaria Imperaialis). This is another wowzer, standing at 2 to 3 feet tall. 

“I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.” 
― Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

Ranunculus in yellows, reds, oranges, and pinks are planted in various gardens and planters...sigh!.

And then there are the Lupines...magnificent in purples and pinks.

“Spring drew on...and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.” 
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

A trip to the land of beauty would not be complete without at least one image of a crab apple in bloom. Be it crab apple, cherry, or apple the blooms that later turn into fruit are in their eye-popping glory right now.

And for just a little something extra, I've added a black and white. I really don't know what this is, It was a bush of some sort with all these white berry blossoms. I wasn't swooning with its color so made the decision to change it to B&W.  I kinda like it.  You won't find me doing this too much with florals. I am such a color freak that removing it really goes against my grain. 

I hope you enjoyed our walk thru the gardens, I plan on returning very soon to continue to soak up the beauty of Spring.

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?” 
― Neltje Blanchan

Gotta Get Away

by Leigh

Sometimes you just have to get away....away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life....away from the constant cell phone ringing, facebook dinging and instagram pinging.  You have to get away from the noise of the everyday routine.  It doesn't have to be a week long vacation or anything that requires reservations months in advance.  It can just be a quick 48 hour trip to a nearby lake and a dear friend's cabin.

I always keep a fishing pole and tackle box in my car.  Really!  it's true!  stop laughing!  I always have it with me because I never know when I might pass by the perfect fishing hole.  Even though the fish weren't biting on this particular day the time I spent alone just listening and watching the birds was just what I needed to recharge myself.  

And even better than solo fishing time is time with girlfriends (girlfriends who don't laugh...too much...about my fishing obsession).  A day spent in our pj's, laughing till we cry while painting wooden boards with antlers and flowers!  Flowing glasses of wine, cheesy movies on tv and ruffles chips with sour cream & onion dip.  Perfection!  

We spent all 48 hours in that cabin just the three of us...except for the quick 10 minute beer run trip to Okay, Oklahoma (in our pj's no less!).  It was the perfect weekend.  Sunday afternoon I was back home doing the usual routine of laundry and grocery list making when my husband made the comment about how happy I was.  And it's true...all I needed was a little recharge to put a little pep in my step.  Moral of the story....take some time for yourself.  It doesn't have to be a two week vacation...it doesn't even have to be a 48 hour trip, but giving yourself the gift of time can last for a long while!

Morning Performance

by Carol

Having a 17 week old puppy is having a baby in the house again. A "sitter" (walker) comes at noon, outings are scheduled, and the kitchen is gated. The electrical outlets are covered, and nothing is left on the floor for even a second! Closet doors are closed and (obedience) school starts June 1st.. And sleeping in is on hold for a while. But there are unexpected joys to be found besides the adorableness of a puppy.

Among them is a renewed appreciation for early morning. I rise every weekday at 5:45, and have for years, but those weekday mornings are full of the time constraints that get me out the door and to work on time with matching socks, and food for noon. I always appreciate the light on the drive to work, but I don't have time to bathe in it and my mind is pre-occupied with the day's schedule. Since my kids left the house, I have slept in a bit on weekends (all the way to 8:30!!).  But now, I am wrapped in a sweatshirt, out on my lawn, walking my Lily by 6 AM. She is not old enough to leave the property yet, so I am getting reacquainted with early morning on my little homestead.

The east side of my house is the "business side." It's narrow and holds the propane gauge, the electrical connections, the hoses. The rest of my 1.9 acres spreads out to the west and behind. But Lily and I now walk the whole property, looking for as much variation as we can find, and watching the sunlight move slowly in from east to west has become a delightful way to wake up.

Fresh out of bed and just out the door,  it is a bit chilly. The grass is damp. The trees are grey. The deer feeding in my field are almost in the dark. But then, a glow develops behind my neighbor's barn.

Its low and pink. Soon, little tendrils of light are illuminating a single weed here and there. Then the rolling hills of my neighbor's perfectly fed lawn develop shadows and pools of golden light.

 The 100 year old house across the street suddenly has light on the front door that is worthy of a Wyeth painting.

The blossoms of my pear and apple trees begin to glow.

The green leaves and the birch stand begin to ignite.

And finally the light reaches  my emerging daffodils, low to the ground.

All this to the soundtrack of the morning birds. It's quite a stunning show - coming soon, to a yard near you. And there is a glorious repeat performance every day. And its free to all!

I recommend you attend a performance soon.

"Life is too short," she panicked, "I want more." He nodded slowly, "Wake up earlier."

                                                                                                              Dr. SunWolf

FOY

Does this image not speak Spring to you?  Yellow is the one color that truly echos the colors of spring, from the beautiful bokeh yellow in the background to the sweet yellow bird perched on a blossoming branch.  Janice Johnson clearly depicts the essence of Spring with her lovely image. Thank you Janice Johnson for your beautiful contribution to Focusing On Life.  You can find Janice's lovely images here on Flickr.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

By Cathy

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been spending some time outdoors doing a little yard work or preparing your garden space for new flowers or vegetables. As I was cleaning up one of my shade gardens I began to wonder about the history of gardens. What did ancient gardens look like? What did they plant? I did some research about gardens and thought I’d share a little with you. I’ve included a few links if you’d like more information about the garden features.

Medieval Gardens (middle ages to 1500) were mostly near manor houses and monasteries. The gardens consisted of raised beds for growing vegetables and herbs. They were enclosed with wattle fences (saplings woven between upright posts) or hedges. Trellis walkways and arbors provided shade and privacy. In the late 13^th century the rich began to grow gardens for pleasure adding trellises for roses and vines, dovecotes (shelter for nesting pigeons), fish ponds, and orchards.

The Tudor Gardens (1485 – 1603) were influenced by Renaissance Italy. The most recognized feature was the intricate patterns of the knot garden, geometric beds edged with low hedges. These gardens were designed to be viewed from above and filled with herbs like lavender and flowers such as carnations, violets, magnolias, and roses. Fountains were also popular and if there was enough space mazes and labyrinths were created as a source of entertainment.

Stuart Gardens (1600 – 1700) were designed to be symmetrical, proportionate, and balanced with long walks and great expanses of water that had dancing fountains, water organs that played music, or pleasure boats. They often contained water jokes where unsuspecting visitors were sprayed with jets of water. In the gardens topiaries were used to create formal shapes out of shrubs. (You should really follow the link and listen to a water organ. It's incredible!)

Georgian Gardens (1714 – 1830) were less formal layouts using box, yew, laurel, privet and holly along with hibiscus, honeysuckle, lilac, passion flower, and Virginia creeper. Flowers included roses, hellebores, irises, lilies, peonies, sage, tulips, and many others. The belief developed that gardens should be enjoyed by all not just the rich. Parks and gardens merged into one with lakes, grottoes, temples, and shrubberies. Circuit walks were created for touring around the park.

In the Victorian Gardens (1937 – 1901) returned to the more formal garden style with cast iron ornamental fencing and gates. Ornaments such as urns, sculptures, sundials, gazing balls, birdbaths, and man-made fish ponds were all commonly used. The obsession of plant collecting took hold and this style of garden could showcases their latest plants. Flowers beds appeared in brighter colors with asters, dianthus, chrysanthemums, ferns, hyacinths, irises, lilies, poppies, petunias, verbenas, and most important of all pansies and violas. Rockeries became the craze as well as wild gardens. Arboretums displayed the collection of trees while glass houses enabled the more tender plants to be cultivated such as orchids.

Early American Gardens during the colonial period were planned according to the owners way of life. In rural areas a fenced-in garden near the house was planted with vegetables and herbs. Flowers were also grown, some for their beauty, but mostly for food, medicine, fragrance, or dyes. There was no garden plan as such, flowers were mixed with vegetables and herbs. They were usually planted in raised beds for good drainage. In contrast, the gardens of merchants and townsmen were more formal, laid out in a symmetrical pattern on each side of a central walkway.

Modern Gardens became more relaxed again and many styles of gardens were created such as the garden room which divided the garden into different themes, the cottage garden that looked less industrial, woodland gardens, prairie planting, and of course the ever popular rose garden.

So, how does your garden grow? Is it wild or formal? Do you grow perennials or annuals? Shrubs or flowers? Beds or containers? Birdbaths or fountains?  However your garden grows I hope you find time to sit quietly each day and enjoy it!

Connection

by Judy

Just a few days ago I was sitting in a Doctor's waiting room, very much in my own head. Nervous and worried and gently rubbing my thumb back and forth over the tiny cross that my lovely neighbor gave me years ago, while staring at the crazy design on the carpeting under my feet. 

I looked up and I looked around at the other women sharing the waiting room with me.  I wondered - what are their stories?  Why are they here?  They all seem calm, but within their own heads, just as I was.  

I smiled at the older woman near me and I asked, "how are you"? A flood of words came out of her... about how she'd been cancer free for ten years now.  About how this radiologist was the best and had saved her life, but that she was still always worried that they might find more cancer. She asked me my story and I shared with her why I was there.  She asked me where I was from and about my family, and she told me about her oldest daughter just becoming a grandmother, and she a great-grandmother.  

When my name was called and I stood to follow the radiology technician, she reached out to me, touched my hand, smiled and said "good luck."  I responded with a smile and a "good luck to you too."  

That tiny bit of human interaction at a time that I really just wanted to withdraw into myself made me feel better.  And I truly think that I  made that woman feel better too.  I realized that I wasn't alone.  I wasn't the only one fearful and worried and needing a prayer.  

I'm not a big chit-chatter by nature.  I feel that I'm a friendly person, but find it difficult to carry on a conversation with a total stranger.  I am so glad that I looked up that day.  I'm so glad that I smiled at the woman and asked her how she was.  As she opened up I realized that she needed some human interaction.  We both needed that "we're in the same boat" feeling, and we're not alone with this.  

As children we are warned to not talk to strangers. I think we subconsciously carry this warning with us even as adults. But everywhere we go we are surrounded by people we don't know. Maybe the next time we're tempted to withdraw into our phones, or a book, or to put our earbuds in to prevent conversation, maybe we could just look around. If we took a second to smile and to ask "how are you"?, or to declare "nice day" it may be just the opening that a person needs to release some fear or worry, or to get something off of their chest.

Remember, these people we walk past every day, or sit next to in a waiting room, have names. They have families and worries and hopes and dreams.  Just like we do.  

 "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."  

  

Everyday Magic

by Kelly

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose

They don’t call it the magic hour for nothing.

It’s that special, fleeting sixty minutes before the sun sinks down below the horizon.  The light is soft and golden. And it transforms even the most ordinary moments and humble of subjects into something extraordinary.

Wandering the neighborhood, camera in hand, that’s where you can often find me during the golden hour… on my quest to try to capture a little bit of this magic to bring home with me.

During the golden hour, my favorite lighting technique to use is backlight. Turning my lens towards the general direction of the sun, the light fills frame and bathes the whole scene in a soft, hazy glow.

But, if I adjust my position just slightly, rather a having the entire scene evenly lit... now I have a little more shadow but with a thin outline of light, right along the edges of my subject.

Pure magic.

This effect is known as rim light for the way it wraps around and illuminates the edges of the subject with a glowing thread of light.  I love the way it sort traces the outline of a subject and lifts it right off the background. I find it easiest to achieve this look by positioning myself so that the light is coming in from the side of my frame.  Then I will underexpose my shot by one to two stops so as to keep the features of the subject somewhat in the shadows.

The thing to remember with rim lighting is that it’s more about capturing an overall effect rather than capturing the details of the scene.  And because of the high contrast, it's a great technique for adding some drama and mood into your images.

Playing with light.  It inspires me and fills me up in a way that nothing else does.  As always, I thank you for letting me share that with all of you.


Until next time,

Kelly