Amaryllis

These plants are popularly but erroneously known as Amaryllis, an African genus of the same family. They are correctly called Hippeastrum, regardless they are a popular indoor plant that blooms in the winter. It is about this time of year that my wife starts her bulbs and these ones bloomed in January 2007. They are a varity knows as Candy Cane, for obvious reasons.

These were photographed with my K10D and Sigma 105mm macro lens. Light was from the dining room window and bounced back with a white mat board.

Bird Feeder

It's that time of year and my wife has the bird feeders out. She puts them on the trees on our front yard so she can see them from the dineing room window. Photographing birds is not easy, you need some high end equipment ...like long lenses that cost as much as a car.

Regardless, I tried some shots with my DA* 50-135 but had to crop the images down. A flash with a flash extender would be useful also. I am not happy with these shots, it was cold and I didn't spend a lot of time working the subjects. One needs Patience as well as big glass for shooting birds. Birds do make a great subject though, and I will try some more when the weather is milder and I will use my Sigma 100-300 f/4 lens and use a tripod.

Ice Patterns

The snow has gone, at least in town, but the weather is colder. As I was going to work, the other day, saw this frozen puddle in the drive way. Ran in grabed the camera and the DA* 16-50 lens and snapped off a few shots. I kinda like this one, a bit abstract, but then this is not ment to be a documentary photo.

First Snowfall

The month stated with some snow ...but it didn't stay. Here are some pictures of our first snowfall. These were shot from my drive way while waiting for my wife to get ready for a drive we were taking.

Pictures taken with a Pentax K10D and DA* 50-135 Lens.