Tag Archives: macro

Looking closely

Over the past months, I have taken a lot of photos of landscapes and seascapes. They will start to appear in my photo gallery.

But this post is about taking the time to get close up to things, taking a very intimate approach to photography… 

Queen Anne's lace seedhead, macro photography by Andrée Fredette

Ordinary things hold mysteries, and those are revealed by the lens. Like Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota), that very common wildflower, at the end of the season, all curled up.

Belly feathers of an American Goldfinch. Macro photograph by Andrée Fredette

Or the belly feathers of an unfortunate American Goldfinch, which died after flying into a window.

Condensation on the side of a Brita filter. Macro photo by Andrée Fredette

Or the abstract condensation pattern on the side of the Brita filter.y.
 

Fiddlehead ficus leaf, detail. Macro photo by Andrée Fredette

 
Or the back of a Fiddlehead ficus, all dried up and revealing its patterns in the afternoon sunlight.

Macro shot of kelp on a beach in Ucluelet, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Or the otherworldly creature-like appearance of this kelp bit of flotsam, on a beach in Ucluelet, BC.

Apple, after rinsing. Macro photo by Andrée Fredette

And the drops left on a McIntosh apple, after a rinse in the sink, and before the apple pie baking session…

Bloom portraits

Getting down in the grass, I discovered a Lilliputian world…

Lilliput world in the grass. Photo © Andrée Fredette

Springtime flowers are so fresh to winter-weary eyes…

Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) with rain drops. Photo © Andrée Fredette

Above: the sun shines on recent rain drops. This is the back side of a Fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum), a wildflower blooming on the shores of Saturna Island, BC.

 

Rosemary in bloom. Photo © Andrée FredetteMy rosemary has been blooming for months, and I keep trying to get the perfect shot of its fine flowers.

 

Garden bloom. Photo © Andrée Fredette

I forget the name of this spring beauty, its white blooms just punctuate the garden right now.

Muscari and daffodil corona. Macro photography © Andrée Fredette

Contrasting the vibrant blue of grape hyacinth (Muscari ) and the orange corolla of a daffodil.

White bloom, macro photography © Andrée FredetteAn azalea blossom, in close-up.

Daffodial corona detail shot. Macro photography © Andrée FredetteThe edge of a daffodil corona, almost abstract.

And to close this post, a portrait of a tiny visitor in the sedum:

Pacific tree frog. Macro photography © Andrée FredetteSay hello to the Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), enjoying the sunshine in the rock garden. It’s been a long winter.

Looking closely – Photo Wednesday

Above:A jewel-like line-up of mosses in the glorious late afternoon light at the Lyall Creek Trail, on Saturna Island, BC.

Practicing with the close-up views of the world around me. It is a very verdant and natural world at the moment: it rains practically every day, and all this “wet” nourishes the greenery.

Have a look.

(Psst: if you find that I have incorrectly identified one of the following tiny denizens of our forest, feel free to use my contact page to let me know. I will be very grateful to make a correction!)

Moss outpost in my rockery, Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Those are the blooms (or capsules) of a new moss colony in my rock garden. The sun showed up that day. It is gone now.

 

British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristadella), Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And in the forest around here, little treasures on the forest floor, in the mosses… if you look really closely. Above: British soldier lichen (Cladonia cristadella).
British soldier lichen (Cladonia cristadella), Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Another view of these interesting tiny lichens. It looks like when they bloom, the “mouth” of capsules opens. Just my observation, and I am not an expert by any means.

 

Pixie cup lichen (Cladonia chlorophaea), Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Above: some Pixie cup lichens (Cladonia chlorophaea) sometimes find it useful to grow on top of each other. I guess the space available on the right side of rocks is getting tight. Location, location. Competition!
Liche colonists in the moss. Photo by Andrée Fredette

A new lichen colony, standing up in the mosses.

Leafy lichen on a fallen branch, resting in the mosses. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Above: on a branch that had fallen in the mosses, some really leafy lichen. No idea about ID (my middle name!). Admire the texture.

 

Liverwort with bloom capsules. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Above: Grand foam lichen (Stereocaulon grande),  with bloom capsules. Our forest floor is full of little treasures, you just have to look closely.

 

Freckle pelt lichen (Peltigera aphthosa) with capsules open. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Above: another very common lichen: Freckle pelt (Peltigera aphthosa) with its capsules opening.

 

Little treasure in the moss. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And I leave you with the above delicate little treasures: mosses sending up a couple of “beaky” seed capsules. Had to hold my breath to get that shot.

Happy trails.

Water Moods – Photo Wednesday

Above: Header photo of the quick flow of water across a forest path, over pebbles, reflecting the sky.

Today’s theme is brought to you by the rains, which have fed all manner of ponds, seasonal creeks, and riverlets flowing around the wood paths, and the roads.

Surface tension, grasses bent by the water. Photo by Andrée Fredette

This is a macro shot of the surface tension of blades of grass, pushed by the water flow on a forest track.

 

Reed Abstract. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And more play with reed reflections on pond water. Amazing magic happens when you throw a stick into the pond! Sinuous waves.

And to conclude, I leave you with yesterday morning’s moonset, around 7 am, over Pender Island… Moody blues and pinks.

February 23, 2016 moonset over Pender Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

It pays to look out the window, early in the morning!

 

 

Flowers, intimately – Photo Wednesday

Above photo: winter clematis in bloom. A real winter treat. Scented too!

Today’s garden visit is an intimate one. Up close and personal.

Meet crocus.

Crocus blossom. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Should you need to get closer, I am glad to oblige.

Crocus stigma. Photo by Andrée Fredette

That is the stigma. I had to look it up.

 

Crocus with visitor. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And the bees are out… in February. This is certainly a mild winter!

 

Bee on Winter Heather. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Time to get out in the garden and do some weeding. And enjoy the buzzing activity.