In anticipation of summer...

[zhenya]

It was such a great day today, and few flowers were already in bloom, that I decided to snap a few shots and post them here for you. Hope you enjoy and please do post some if you have any.
I apologize in advance for some of the pix being noisy, just didn't have time to use noise reduction software.

[zhenya]

And of course there are more... I used ISO 1600 for all of this images hence the noise is quite evident, even in the web resolution.
Oh, almost forgot, the lens is Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro, plus some were taken with EX420 flash.
Should I stop now or continue?

[charlie]

It snowed here yesterday morning, use your judgement.

[Poseidon]

Boy Gene, those sure look good to me! I used 1600ISO for a whole bunch of wedding pictures once, I thought they turned out GREAT!

[zhenya]

Thanks Mike!
I took all those shots handheld and I think if I had used ISO 100 most would be a blurrrr..
Here's few more that I think turn out pretty good, all things considered.

[zhenya]

It snowed here yesterday morning, use your judgement.

I here you there, buddy, you can always post some later on...like in August when it will be around 60 degrees in your area ...

[charlie]

I here you there, buddy, you can always post some later on...like in August when it will be around 60 degrees in your area ...

I didn't know they sold a sense of humor at Walmart!!!

[zhenya]

I didn't know they sold a sense of humor at Walmart!!!

Can't complaint becouse it was cheap...

[Poseidon]

LOL!
first picture
You guys are NUTS!

Hey Gene, any chance you have a different composition of the first picture in your 3rd set? I really like those colors, but you chopped off a flower right in the center, I think it would be better if there was less open space on the top. Great colors, and excellent detail!

[zhenya]

LOL!
first picture
You guys are NUTS!

Hey Gene, any chance you have a different composition of the first picture in your 3rd set? I really like those colors, but you chopped off a flower right in the center, I think it would be better if there was less open space on the top. Great colors, and excellent detail!

Well, he started it...

On the picture, unfortunately I goofed up on that shot and this is how it was framed. The plant has all those flowers bunched up real tight so it is hard to frame a shot with the macro lens, plus, I rally goofed on this one.

I have another shot of the same flowers, though, a bit different but the same plant. I too like those blue colors.

[charlie]

Ok, regardless of your cheap sense of humor , those are some great pics Gene. We can't even plant yet!!! On a brighter note, I did mow the lawn for the first time today. It's actually 60 today, and SUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Poseidon]

WOW! Charlie made it to 60! We have had 2 days of 80 so far!!!! Today is only 70 though. Here is a scary thought though, my CHILLER was running yesterday. YIKES.

[charlie]

Yeah, I feel as tho I am in the banana belt.

[zhenya]

Ok, regardless of your cheap sense of humor , those are some great pics Gene.

Thanx! You haven't seen dark side of my humor yet, so I would hold off on putting a price on it for now...

[zhenya]

Some more pix, few were taken with the Tamron f2.8 28-70mm lens and few with the macro lens...I'll let you figure out which is which.. ;)

[zhenya]

Well, this are for Mike and his critique...
It was such a beautiful evening today and finally got my old fountain going in a small garden.., so I decided to take few pictures as light was changing. Specifically, the sunlight was hitting that fountain so I figured I'd practice some with different light. Let me know what you think, Mike.

Direct sun( somewhat)


And progressively less light as sun kept on going down...




and of course, just to stay on topic one picture of the flower...

[jetaero]

Great pics!

-Josh-

[almostdiva]

I love all that bleeding heart! And the pansy shots are great too. The buds that are the middle two pics in the first set (maybe the second...) rhodies, right? Are they open yet? Some of them here are just getting geared up, and you're just about an hour north of me, so I'm guessing they look pretty nice right about now... (hint, hint...)

I'm going to be planting my deck this and next weekend myself. It's TIME!

Rebecca

[zhenya]

...rhodies, right? Are they open yet? Some of them here are just getting geared up, and you're just about an hour north of me, so I'm guessing they look pretty nice right about now... (hint, hint...)

Hi Rebecca,

Those are rhododendron and yes, they are in full bloom right now.
And here's couple more shots of the bleeding hearts. Most unassuming plant I ever had a pleasure to plant. ;)

[Poseidon]

Those look quite nice Gene. I can't say that I see anything wrong with that lens under those conditions. I remember you posted some pictures that did not come out so well using that Tamron, but it looks like you resolved those issues very well.

I guess I am going to have to go searching for some flowers soon. THis weekend is already shot, I have a wedding today and tomorrow too!