Monday, June 28, 2010

Ferns and Gesnariads!




 
 Thank you everyone for your lovely well wishes on my birthday, last Thursday. I was, actually, really surprised and overwhelmed. Even still, I'm getting a bit misty eyed just thinking about it. Well, that's the truth! It's amazing how pleasant a kind word and gentle thought can mean to the one who receives it.

Could it be that, in our everyday lives, we take it for granted that the people who are always around us just somehow magically know how much we're glad that they exist and don't, often, give them the gift of really telling them (and, vice versa)?  It's possible that I say more kind things to my friends when they're online (I mean, the opportunity is there).

I know, I know - some of you have mentioned it in your blogs lately. It's just sinking in. I'm having my own [re]epiphany about this matter, now.








Now, I suspect that some of you just think that I am modest when I say that I'm struggling with a situation. Some of you live with me and know all about it. =] Some of you are new friends and are thinking something like, "uh, oh! Troubles......?!?"

Well, for those of you who have been following along quite regularly, you might just maybe recall me mentioning some troubles with my camera.

You know, Monty Python and the "Holy Grail"? (Some of you are shocked, I know, that I would even be interested in seeing such a movie. Let's just simply say that it was a dare.) You know the knight who, even though he's losing life and limb, every moment declares, "I'm not quite dead, yet!" He and my camera must be related.


Have any of you picked up on the fact that, I was complaining vociferously enough about my dear old dratted camera and, then, suddenly, was taking some pretty okay photos? Well, I'm sure you've all guessed where I'm going by now. Indeed, some of you already know because I couldn't help but 'spill the beans' to quite a few of you.








You guessed it.


I got a new camera for my birthday!


Just look at what it can do....










Isn't it lovely???


It's not just a point and shoot, this time! I got a Canon DSLR! a.k.a. a real camera!


I don't know if anyone can really define a 'photographer'. Honestly, the word has so many different connotations, it seems. There's everyone from Ansel Adams to the man who took the lovely photos for our wedding. For me, this camera is an outlet to record and share maybe a little bit of the loveliness that I see around me all of the time. I don't know. I'm not sure. Something seems to have taken a hold of me. Each photograph seems to be an opportunity to have a window into a little world. 

I am smitten!!!










  
































You can, actually, pin point and share the moment that I got the camera. I spent about an hour checking it out and reading a little of the manual and, then, decided that I needed to go out and just figure out where the clicky - take a picture button was. (YES! of course, I'm joking! Well, I mean, I know that it's called a shutter button.) That day, I walked in my heavenly meadow and had the time of my life. The result was the post entitled 'Grass' and I was overwhelmed by your responses to my quiet walk!


All of the photos in the post today were the first time that I've ventured into the creative modes on my camera. I've finally had a chance to play with aperture and shutter speed for myself. All of this on a truly darkly cloudy day!


Then, on my birthday, my sister, Suzy, spent the evening giving me art and composition lessons. We spent several hours going through a beautiful blog of nature photography, 'In a Soft Light'. I got a good lesson in why Mary's photos are not only lovely but emotionally moving. Then, taking what I learned, I put together this mosaic of 'practice' shots. Thanks, again, sis for coaching me through this! My mind and vision feel extremely expanded.


Sooooooooo, of course, I am going to join in Mary's regular get together, 'Mosaic Monday' at the Little Red House!

(Watch out! I've caught a bit of mosaic fever, also!)








Well, what does one do when they want to 'click' away with their new camera? They get their ferns and gesnariads together! A 'gesnariad' is basically a plant that belongs to the 'African Violet' family. They are, actually, a South American herbaceous plant. I love them. I love ferns. You know, I didn't realize how many different kinds of ferns I have, until today. Until I started blogging and putting photos of gesnariads here, in the sunny spot - photos that I can zoom in on - I didn't realize just how beautiful they are. It makes me think of the maxim that my 5th grade art teacher drilled into our heads:



The more you look, the more you see!









Love,
Katy Noelle





15 comments:

  1. You are going to love your new camera. I have a Canon Rebel with a Tamron lens and it is such a source of pleasure to experiment and capture images. Have fun!

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  2. So you have a new "baby" to play with ! I am sure you'll enjoy it.
    You did a good work with it for this post.
    Have a nice, sunny, busy, funny, friendly week.

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  3. Oh how lovely Katy. I am so pleased you got one (despite my useless help on that topic!!). Have a great time playing with it won't you xx

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  4. Congratulations on getting a new camera! And a Canon ~ lovely ~ I have a Canon as well! And your photos are so lovely. A new camera just gets the ol' creative juices flowing doesn't it? Click click away my dear ~ all the more beautiful photos for us to see! :)

    Have a Happy Day Katy!
    xo Catherine

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  5. I am happy for you! I know, how wonderful it is, to have a new camera- I enjoy mine, too.
    Your photos are really beautiful!
    Enjoy your new feeling of photographie!
    Hugs and kisses- Ines

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  6. Katy, what a neat birthday gift, and I'm so happy that you are having such fun with it. NEAT!

    Keep celebrating, and that's the type of great gift that can help you do just that!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  7. P.S. Happy Belated Birthday! I didn't know, but I don't think you told us. I'll try and remember next year, but you need to tell us the date, silly! ;-)

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  8. A belated happy birthday, Katie! So happy that you received a new camera - your violet photos are absolutely lovely. A camera is certainly an important tool for your craft as an outstanding blogger/photographer...LOVE your blog and always looking forward to more. How are the puppies doing? Cassandra ♥

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  9. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment on my blog. Happy Birthday and congratulations on your new camera. They are such wonderful things. Take care.

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  10. Belated Happy Birthday and congrats on the camera. The photos are already impressive! You are such a good girl to have read the manual :)

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  11. My dear girl, good things come to those who wait (and hint :0) The photos are awesome! and I will be on the look out for the results of your "mosaic fever" It's still a few months for my b-day but I may start "hinting" ever so subtly, what do you think? Enjoy your camera! XOXO

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  12. You go girl!!! Yeah, you got a new camera! Isn't is so fun??! I love photography and it's nice to see someone else having so much fun with it too :) And Katy, your photos are really good...I mean really good!!! Great job, especially considering you just got your camera, wow! Happy belated birthday, I'm sorry I missed the actual day!

    Hugs ~

    :) T

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  13. Dear Katy Noelle!!!!!

    What a LOVELY mosaic (and ALL the other pictures too!!!!) - isn't it FUN????? So pleased to hear HOW pleased you are!!! But you ARE naughty! You are supposed to have a little hoilday - NOT that I mind AT all :)!!!! - So, I will keep this short (no need to get back to me!!!! I MEAN it!!!!). Have a lovely summer break and I am looking forward to seeing MORE!!!!!!! (I have actually booked myself on a little photography course, just a one day thing - SO much to learn, isn't there! - but am also about to check out 'In a soft light" Thank you for the tip!!!).

    Love

    Nicola

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  14. Oh, how did I miss this?! Happy belated birthday, dear Katy! Your photos are GORGEOUS!!! I'm still slowly working on my photo "class." By the time I get it done you will be ready to teach one yourself!

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