Time for more pictures

Just a few I like. I need to get out more though.

The butterflies are blooming

Every year at Meijer Gardens in March and April, the butterflies bloom. I love that time of the year. I head out there several times even if it is only for an hour or so (memberships are great). These didn't pop in exactly in the order I wanted but it really makes no difference.

This little guy seemed really intent on letting me take his picture. I think I took about a dozen.

I've only had one person be able to tell me what this is. I know. Do you?

Pretty cool flower. I think it is something new out there.

I tried a new "filter" on this one. It is called Posterization. Sure changed the original photo.

This one is probably my favorite one. It has gotten the most comments for the folks at work.

I have all these photos cycling through on my screens. It is so much fun to share my photos with others.

Photography is so much fun

Last month a friend of mine and I went to Frankenmuth, MI which is a Bavarian city on the east side of the state. I took lots of pictures. I'll only post a few. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

If you want to see more you can check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029778&id=1024935020&l=e7a387aa5a

Pretty Posey

I just love Gerbera Daisies. And this one after the rain is one of my favorite flower pictures that I've taken. And what makes it even better is that it is on my back patio. I only wish flowers would last longer.

Elements 6

While I was on vacation, my copy of Photoshop Elements 6 arrived at my office.  Today is the first time I've had time to play.  A lady I met at the photo weekend a few weeks ago had made up a book for Elements.  So today I've tried one of the exercises.   It took a couple tries before I got it like I wanted but I am happy with the results.  I can't wait to try some of the other exercises.

As you can see it is the same picture on both layers but the back layer is lightened and the top layer has more saturation.

This picture was taken at Meijer Gardens back in the Spring.  That place is a photographer's paradise.  And that reminds me that I need to make a return trip.

Trying to get artsy

While I was at the Photo weekend, I took 6 hours of Photoshop Elements 6. Once I got home, I decided to take one of my pictures that I took and see what I could do with it. I like what I came up with. Lots of fun.

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After ------>

Tulip Time in MI

Sunday afternoon and then again this afternoon/evening I spent time roaming the city of Holland and it's tulip gardens.  Talk about God being an artist -- Wow.  How did he come up with all those colors for the tulips and flowering trees... and daffodils ... and hyacinths... and even buffalo.  What a Creator He is!

 

I have no idea who these people are but I just had to  take the picture.  They were posing so nice for daddy.

 

 

 

 

I just love the beds of multi-color tulips.

 

 

 

 

  And lavender ones.

 

 

 

 

And enjoying the gardens along with so many people.

 

 

 

  Even the buffalo were enjoying the   scenery.  Oh wait, he was looking at me! I think it was a stare-down!  I won, cuz he left.

 

 

There was even an original windmill from the old country.  Each piece was numbered, it was taken apart, shipped over here, reassembled and it works perfectly.  They actually make flour there.

 

 

 

The windmill is located just off to the left of this Dutch village.

 

 

 

 

This really is a tulip.  It is a peony tulip.

 

 

 

Isn't this one cool!  I love the pointy petals.

 

 

 

 

 

And I just have to show another red tulip, fringed this time,  just cuz I can!

 

 

 

And then there are these variegated ones.

 

 

 

 

And then these here just got the tips gently bushed with white.

 

 

   And I can't forget the daffodils

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  I think these are are flowering crab. The one below is on Hope College campus.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  This forsythia is also on Hope's campus.

 

 

 

 

Between the two visits to Holland I took 340+ pictures.  Did I say I love digital?!?! These are just a tip of the iceberg.  But you get the idea.   And I'll be going again Saturday for the parade and a cookout.