It all came together for me today, my dream of getting to another level with my photographs in the midst of all the chaos and anger boiling around us in our troubled world.

Photography has changed my life, opened my heart and soul, and given me a way to brighten my days, sharpen my art,  and bring light to others. Today was a big jump forward – my new mirrorless camera, tripod, Sigma macro lens, and a gift from Maria all worked together to get me closer to where I want to be.

This was a major step and risk for me creatively. It was an expensive and uncertain move; I had to give up my Monochrome Leica and my Q2 Leica to get the new camera and one or two lenses. Today, I was sure it would pay off.

I wanted to get to the next level, and I’m getting closer. Pictures and words are great partners for me; I’ve always done the one but never did the other until I met Maria a decade ago. Funny how love works.

I was low this morning when I woke up; this healing process from my surgery is more disruptive, wearing, and confining than I thought and is taking its toll on me, even though the bandages and stitches are scheduled to come off out this coming Thursday.

I am fortunate to be healing so quickly.

It was beautiful to be sitting there in the cold and rain; I couldn’t stop looking and experimenting.

I don’t care to be so confined and restrained as I have been; this is the first time it’s been for so long and left me so dependent. Maria has been an angel every day.

I woke up to a gray, rainy day and decided to rest quietly and grow strong. I have to be still and rest the wound for a few more days. I was getting stir-crazy and depressed, reminding myself I was among the most fortunate.

As to healing, it’s happening, but not just yet. I couldn’t go out and walk around today.

I couldn’t even go to the Farmer’s Market; Maria went alone. I had to wrap my foot and boot in plastic to dry the wound.

Maria took this picture of me lost in the picture taking.

Ever the most thoughtful person I have known, she came home with a fistful of flowers. I had mentioned that I needed to use the tripod to capture the true beauty of flowers, even as I waited for warmer weather to grow mine.

That camera is heavy. I was worried the tripod would topple over.

I haven’t charged for these photos and won’t. They are my thanks for all your support over the years, to me and from the Army Of Good.

I also wanted to learn how to use my new Sigma Macro rented lens, a keeper. I love the way the lens picks up different colors and mixes them. How dreamy, how beautiful.

I couldn’t run around much, so I decided to put the flowers on a table on the back porch, drag a chair a couple of feet away, and set up the tripod so I could move the camera up and down, back and forth so I could try and get the photos I’ve been thinking about all winter.

 

I’ve been focused on our hardy pansies, my only hardy flower. Now I had different colors to look for, I spent a wonderful hour experimenting and shooting. I kept the exposure still, right in the middle. But the Macro lens is wonderful.

It captured the soul of flowers in a completely different way.

A wonderful flower person is at the farmer’s market now that it’s Spring; I don’t recall her name. Maria bought a vase full of beautiful flowers. I can only recognize poppies, Tulips, and Daffodils; we can’t name the others.

I gathered all of my tools and weapons – m new mirrorless Leica SL2-S, the right camera for me –  my Peak Design Travel Tripod, so easy to move around and open and close – and some beautiful fresh flowers in a vase.

I took the flowers to the back porch, hobbling on my plastic-wrapped surgical boot to keep out the rain. I didn’t even have decent light. But I guess I did.

I loved the rich and creamy look and the way the lens pulled in color and softened the background. I can highlight any flower I want, and the environment will be softened and give way.

 

I moved the flowers into my study. They are most welcome there. It was a most wonderful gift today, and it turned the day around.

My Raven, my newest muse, lit up to greet the flowers and thank them.