A Garden Variety - Hydrangeas

Tried to get this to post last night but Blogger was down.

Troll Skin
© Anna Chipman

Venusian Paradise
©Anna Chipman

Images from the day that I discovered that the other side of the apartment complex has hydrangeas.

I think I know what my favorite flower is until I discover that almost every time I am photographing a flower I fall in love with that kind and it is my new favorite. Growing up my favorite flower was always a daisy. During school I fell in love with calla lilies and tulips. I think I would still have to say that daisies are my favorite but I must say also that calla lilies and tulips offer more unique possibilities for photographing.

And what about you? What would you say your favorite flower is?

Figuring it out!

I have been starring at this image for, what seems like, forever. I have tried to work on it and will do a little then close it back down because it just isn't working right. Then I tried adding a texture to it and it came to life! I love ah-ha moments just allow work to finally come together!

Monkey's Tail
©Anna Chipman

So here also is the before and after so you can see the difference. I have found quite a few photographers on facebook that show their behind the scenes or give examples like this, before and after. I love their courage to show their work unretouched and I find it very inspiring.

©Anna Chipman

A Garden Variety - Ringing June

Life has been pretty low key this week which has been really nice. I just discovered a great new group Escala, which is a string quartet, and have been listening to this cd nonstop. I find it really motivating to edit to!

Ringing June
© Anna Chipman

I thought I would include an image of how I work now...wearing Myles while photographing. Not as easy as it was before but totally worth it and kinda fun!

A Garden Variety - Purple People Eater

Not too much to say this week. Suffering from a few nights in a row with very little sleep.

One of the things I enjoy so much about this project is that I can go back and forth between abstract and literal. Getting to switch back and forth allows me so much freedom and expression.

The March of the Blue Men
© Anna Chipman


Matter Eater
© Anna Chipman

Until next week...

Saturday in my garden

Saturday was a very nice day in the Bay Area. It was cool with cloudy skies but not like it was going to rain. I know interesting, huh, not what I typically talk about with my photography. My husband, son and I were out picking strawberries from our garden when I noticed a beautiful dark purple iris. Once I put Myles down for a nap I grabbed my camera and ran over to photograph it. Our garden is on the other side of the apartment complex so while I was over there I thought I would see if there were any other flowers. It turns out that that side has a completely different set of flowers than our side! They have solid color iris (our side has white ones with lavender centers), hydrangea, tiny little white flowers! Oh man, I got so many new photos! So just to give you a sneak peak, with words, I believe that this weeks photos are going to be of a purple theme...since I seem to be having themes as of late. So just a few short days away and you get to see the purple variety of flowers I found yesterday! Have a good rest of the weekend!

Week 7: A Garden Variety: Troubles!

We all come across thorns and thistles in our lives. The last few weeks have been rather stressful as we were trying to sell our car. Tonight my car of seven years has left our household and is making a life with a new family. I am gonna miss that car but having a child really doesn't fit well with having a two door car.

Anyhow, I have used my images this week to demonstrate two different aspects of the last couple weeks. First, trying to sell the car is certainly where the thorns and thistles come in to play. Reading email after email and meeting with people night after night, that was all done by my loving husband, you get worn down and the thistles seem to get you more.

Then comes the light at the end of the tunnel...a serious buyer! That is the other aspect of these thistle images. Even though these plants aren't something you want hold they are beautiful. My thought in all of this is that you need to make lemonade out of lemons...or more to the point...beautiful images that truly represent something to you.

Trouble
An image of a thistle

Double Trouble
An image of two thistles

Butter Creme Ocean

Butter Creme Ocean
A photograph of a rose.

Today's post doesn't really fall in to either the Intimate Abstractions or A Garden Variety series, though of course it is similar. I was working on this image and just finished it up. I wanted to get this one posted before I fall in bed. Again I appear to be inspired by yellow!

Sweet dreams!

Week 6: A Garden Variety

This time around I have been aching for summer to get here! You may notice that reflected in the images as well as the names. I adore the weather in the SF Bay Area however it is June now and today I wore my pea coat. The weather could stand to be a touch warmer.

Anyhow, aching for summer to get here....yellows have been on my mind. I finished the first image and thought on I need another one, then I saw an abstract image, also yellow, and had to include all of them in my post for today. All of them are a little different but I hope you will enjoy all of the images this week.

Summer Lovin'

The Golden Mean

Summer Moon Shuteye