Marty E

Wow, fantastic shot, Michael! Thanks for sharing & also offering your confidence in your Olympus EM5-2 for its options. Good to know, I’ll check it out!

Thanks for your thoughts, Rob! I’m learning it’s nice to have options & am glad I hung onto my old equipment. I don’t have an iPhone yet, but will keep it on the list of options for my future. Traveling light is a definite advantage!

Brilliant shot, @michael! I remember this beach well with its Na Pail coastline. One of my favorite memories of Hawaii. Thanks for sharing

Congratulations on your moody portrait for POTW, @r1ch! Great example of how a well-composed & executed portrait shot can capture the essence of personality. Well-deserved!

A funny story to tell. Years ago, I asked my CFO boss to give me time off to go on a road trip to see the wildflowers blooming in Hill Country. He said, “Yes. But boy, am I glad I’m not married to you!!!” So I asked him what he did in his free time, and he seriously replied,”I follow the stockmarket.” (To which I silently thought, “And boy, am I…[Read more]

I love this strange Texas widflowerflower, antelope horn milkweed. It makes a great host for the colorful milkweed bugs & hairstreak butterflies.

Correction! Dahlia’s spelling is correct, they are opuntia.

I googled these cactus flowers. You’re right, Dahlia, they are optunia macrocentra. Also known in Texas as prickly pear. Fun Fact: Both pads & pears are edible & considered delicacies in Texas!

According to master gardeners, “…prickly pear cactus is a perfect addition to the landscape. The fleshy pads (“nopales”) of this plant (including the…[Read more]

Evening rain lilies were abundant everywhere, the pure white accents to the landscape were unforgettable!

Lovely flowers, Dave! I hope they spread & take hold on your property to give you some bigger shows every year : )

Gorgeous flowers, I especially love your Petzval len shot!

Thanks, Diane! It was so exciting to find this unexpected treasure everywhere we looked. : )

Thank you, Dahlia! I haven’t had a chance to try to ID them yet. But they were in full bloom everywhere in the state park we stopped at taking the back road home. So glad we did, a lucky photo op! Some cactus flowers just like these also had deep pink centers.

Thanks, Diane! I love trying new techniques

Thank you, Dahlia! : )

Cactus Flowers

I agree, slow explorative road trips are the best! Too much can be missed if you rush. I found an awesome new place called Devil’s Waterhole in a Texas State Park this weekend. I had to hike in 100F degree heat to find out if Devil’s Waterhole lived up to its name. I was intrigued when I heard children streaming & laughing with dogs barking in the…[Read more]

Thanks, Dahlia! I took along both + my cell phone 🙂

Love your title & you are so blessed to have this natural skyline out your backdoor! Do do do!!! I can hear it now, thanks for the memory 😀

Simplicity is always riveting! Great capture, Dave & love your subtle bokeh as well as detail on the grass seed head. Would love to hear more about your old lens!