Daylilies are in bloom now and the bank of naturalized blossoms along East Street are putting on a good show!
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 200, f/3.3, 1/4000″ exposure
There’s an unnamed brook that cascades down from Taft Road to the Huntington River. There are a series of small waterfalls and cascades along it all under the cover of a mature hemlock forest. This falls had no name so I took the liberty of dubbing it “Hemlock Falls”.
While scoping the site for the best angle, I noticed the tiny mushrooms growing on a hemlock trunk. I framed the shot and cranked down the aperture to get everything in focus. The lighting was tricky for this shot as well. It was just past midday on a partly cloudy day, and a hole in the dense canopy was allowing sunlight to fall directly on the water and right side of the scene. I had to wait for clouds to cover the sun to get any kind of worthwhile shot.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 14mm, ISO 100, f/22, 2″ exposure.
Fragrant rugosa roses are blooming in many locations around our property. This hearty and aggressively spreading perennial shrub can sometimes be a bit invasive, but I’ll take the sweet smell and bright blooms!
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/16, 1/1600″ exposure.
If you slow down, take your time, keep your eyes open, you just might see something special…
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/4.8, 1/2000″ exposure
I’m always amazed at what is revealed when you get in close to a subject. From a distance (and without my reading glasses on…) these rye grass stems (please correct me if I’m wrong on the ID) don’t look like much. But on closer inspection, the tiny flowerettes reveal themselves. A shallow depth of field blurs the irises that were blooming behind.
I’ve been using my full frame Nikon again recently along with a wonderful Sigma 105mm macro lens. I’d kind of forgotten what wonderful photos this setup can take, especially with the magic bokeh!
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro, ISO 800, f/11, 1/100″ exposure.
Bleeding hearts are in bloom now in our ornamental garden. Though I usually photograph wildflowers, these showy cultivars couldn’t help but draw my lens!
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 1250, f/4, 1/1000″ exposure
The ostrich ferns are unfurling along Fargo Brook. It wasn’t until I processed this image that I realized it suggested the letter “F”
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro, IOS 1250, f/4, 1/500″ exposure
We have quite a number of wild apple trees in our front field and down in the back yard along Fargo Brook. My guess is that, over the years, deer have propagated the trees by muching apples from one and depsoitig the seeds elsewhere. We’ve pruned a few of these trees, and they provide us with apples for cider and apple sauce. This looks to be another good year if we can avoid a late frost.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2500″ exposure.
I couldn’t resist the juxtaposition of these lovely bloodroot blossoms and the rusted tin can that we came across the other day while walking along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in St. Johnsbury.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 81mm, ISO 800, f/9, 1/250″ exposure.
John Hadden Photography 