
“Laughing in the face of danger doesn’t negate the fear, it simply enables you to smile at it.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich
I really wanted to title this “Get off my land!” but, “Alarm!” won out.
This is very typical behaviour for male red winged blackbirds, especially during nesting season. They are very protective of their shoreline nests. The female will also join in with rapid chirps and tail fanning, but the male squeals out loud alarms and puffs itself up when agitated. I’ve seen some dive bomb and peck at people who have inadvertently or deliberately come too close to the nest . This guy was happy to sit on his perch and vocalize his dissatisfaction without getting too aggressive.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @300mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“The world is a beautiful place, you just don’t see it all the time.”
― Phil Mitchell
I generally go to Lynde Shores to photograph birds or make lakeshore images. When I approached the viewing platform, I saw a bunch of ducks taking off and surveyed several trees filled with noisy, smelly, cormorants. As I stood there, movement from the corner of my eye attracted my attention. Here’s what I saw: a yearling fawn, winter colours just coming out, wading and grazing along the shore. If you look closer, you will see where it has eaten the tops off of the cat-tails behind it.
I made several images of this one, as well as three other deer that were lurking in the weeds. Of all the images, this one was the best, since it shows almost the entire deer. At no point did it offer me an unobstructed side shot but this one is quite nice, given the circumstances offered. Nature generally does not offer poses.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @300mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Our green valleys will be greener once we fully grasp the infinite vitality of the green!”
― Mehmet Murat Ildan
Despite the clouds of mosquitoes that call this forest home, I enjoyed, with the help of a good bug repellent, observing all the fresh new growth emerging from the brown litter of last year’s leaves. There is still a lot of brown showing interspersed with rapidly expanding carpets of foliage, like the Oak Ferns above.
The Secord Forest is a conservation area close to my home and provides me access to a very diverse forest setting. The circle hike through this lovely forest takes me through grassy meadows, cedar swamp, hardwood ridges and rolling farmland, all along the 4-5 kilometer distance of the trail itself.
Until recently, I had no idea how many varieties of fern call this place home. I’m just starting to be able to recognize the subtle differences in leaf form that distinguish the varieties. I did observe that mosquitoes are particularly fond of almost every variety, as the swarms are thicker in fern patches than in other places.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 165 mm
1/25 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.”
― Patrick Süskind
As the days warm, aromatic flowers prevail, attracting bees and insects with their sweet perfumes. Pollinated flowers give way to fruits and green leaves darken as they mature from their pale spring forms.
The above photo was made of plants along a local walking trail. I liked the way the sun shone through the shadows, illuminating the grape leaves and honeysuckle blossoms, as well as the range of light within the composition, from the bright white of the blossoms to the darkness in the shadows.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @140mm
1/60 sec, f/14.0, ISO 1100
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
― Ray Bradbury
Spring flowering shrubs and all their awesome scents are now on. It’s good to see so many bees out and about, including this carpenter bee, one of many enjoying the fragrant flowers of a local Russian Olive. The ornamental trees were planted along walking trails a few minutes away from my home and the air is thick with their sweet smell.
These shrubs and the many dogwoods and honeysuckles in the same area provide ample food for the bees and lovely blossoms for me to enjoy and photograph, for a short time at least.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom- @300mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Therefore, a search for God’s will should begin on your knees. He will meet you there. Remember that Jesus promised, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).”
― James Dobson
I made this image the same day as my last post of teh Munk School of Global Affairs. The two building as quite close together on Toronto’s Bloor Street West.
As with so many other doors I am now photographing, I have walked past them many times, admiring the elements that make them unique. With these particular doors, the bright red paint is the first thing you see, then the orange columns, etc. The thing that amazes me, when reviewing the photos is just how many interesting elements the eye misses on first impressions.
The “No Parking” sign annoyed me, since I could not ‘frame it out” in my composition, and I considered editing it out. But, it’s because of the sign that I was able to make a photo of the doors, without cars blocking the view. So, it becomes important to the photo. It also adds some interesting messaging.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/50 sec, f/16.0, ISO 6400
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others.”
― Susan Sontag
Another day, another plant found and identified. With the heat this past weekend, many plants blossomed early and the mosquitoes that accompany them were more than plentiful. I do tend to stay out of the deep woods this time of year and focus my attention on rivers and lakes. This spring, however, I donned my bug spray and headed into the woods on a more regular basis.
I have ventured into the world of late spring flowers, with hopes of coming across some flowering plants I have not yet seen, including some native orchids, which are not blooming yet.
The specimen above was discovered in an area where I hope to see orchids soon. Truth be told, when I came across the plant last week, before it blossomed, I thought it might be an orchid, based on the lush leaves. It’s not an orchid, but a lovely plant, nonetheless. Then, as I looked the plant up, I realized that I am familiar with the fall aspect of the plant, also known as “Bluebead” because of the deep blue berry the plant bears.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/50 sec, f/16.0, ISO 6400
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” – Mark 1:7-8
Existing light photography offers its challenges and rewards. This wonderful statue of St. John the Baptist, in New York’s St. Patrick’s cathedral is a good example of how existing light can enhance the image. The light is soft and warm and produces a sense of peace, at least for me. The light falls off a bit near the top of the image, bringing out the details of the face.
That’s the benefit, the challenge is having to use a high ISO often introduces unwanted noise, which used to be a significant issue with 35 mm film, but is less of an issue with our modern DSLRs and editing software.
I made several other images while visiting this great metropolitan cathedral, which I will share over time.
Nikon D300
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/60 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Imagine having a city full of things that no other city had.”
― Bill Bryson
Old meets new in this view of Toronto’s Front Street, near the St. Lawrence Market.
The area reminds me of Europe, with it’s old buildings and storefronts. It’s sad to think that much of Toronto looked like this till the wave of “Urban Renewal” in the 70’s demolished most of the old buildings to make room for…parking lots!
Yup, apparently, parking lots were what people needed and the wonderful architecture paid the price. There are still some vestiges of Toronto’s architectural past remaining: the Annex, Front Street, and the Distillery to name a few, but they are few and far between.
I imagine the original builders did not ever expect the building to become a coffee shop, in fact, I had clients in this area who used upper floors as office space and it looked like these would have been warehouses at one point in time, based on the thick floors and heavy wooden beams inside the buildings.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 145 mm
1/125 sec, f/5.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years, but of moments. You must experience each one before you can appreciate it.”
― Sarah Ban Breathnach
As with its yellow blossoms, many people mistake the coltsfoot seed heads for those of the dandelion. That is, until you take the time to look closer.
I’m finding more and more that people are just not taking the time to actively participate in the world around them. If something can’t be observed quickly or looked up on-line, it gets left behind. Our natural world beckons us to be part of it. When I take hikes to make photos, my world slows down, the business of life slips away, and I can be ‘in’ nature, not just a silent observer. The sounds fill my ears, the smells trigger memories, and the ever changing light dances through my vision. Some call this living in the moment, and I like that term, because that ‘moment’ lasts only briefly and then, becomes memory.
One of my greatest satisfactions in making photos is that all the images I make represent ‘moments’ which I have borne witness to. I take that as a gift, especially if I am able to effectively convey the ‘feeling’ of that moment through my art.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“The first problem of living is to minimize friction with the crowds that surround you on all sides.”
― Isaac Asimov
I wanted to capture the hustle and bustle of this Montreal intersection with an experimental long exposure. It was interesting to look back on it and see the woman in the foreground moving quickly across the frame, while the car is stopped.
This was also an experiment in light where I was trying to cover the whole spectrum for white to black.
Interestingly, growing up in Toronto, I really would not consider this a ‘rush’. For that, I could set up at Montreal’s Gare Centrale (about 18 million people pass through there every year) at quitting time. Perhaps on another visit?
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/10 sec, f/22.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.”
― Michael Shermer
OISE is the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, part of the University of Toronto. This is where people study to be ‘educators’ or ‘teachers’ as we know them. It is also where trends in education are studied and public policy, regarding education in Ontario, originates. I have several friends who are teachers and they have shared some interesting OISE stories with me. In the parlance of ‘teacher speak’ such gems as “Oracular Device for Conveyance of Knowledge” aka ‘a book’, came from this building.
Despite the reputation for over thinking the obvious, the building is quite interesting, architecturally and I was particularly drawn to the patterns of the windows in the mid-afternoon light as I walked along Bloor Street looking for new material. I tend to enjoy old buildings and complex stonework, but I did find this modern image interesting because of the repeating patterns and limited gradations of shading.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 145 mm
1/320 sec, f/9.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
― Aristotle
Art is everywhere. Sometimes, in the most surprising places, and with unexpected elements. Case in point, this algal bloom on a local pond. It looks a bit like a satellite image of some tropical forest and smells just like a horse stable. In fact, I was wondering if the local trail riding association was having a meeting close by.
In any case, these wonderful layered patterns in various shades of glowing greens and dull brown were a sight to see and it would have been interesting to watch them form.The bloom was likely caused by the sudden heat up we had this past weekend and the waves and layers caused by winds blowing from the east and forcing the progressive layers of the bloom into one end of the pond. It’s also quite thick but I had no desire to touch it to check consistency.
And that, is why I enjoy nature so much; there is always something new to see and discover that is beyond the imagination.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

Walking along Toronto’s Bloor Street West, I came across these wonderful doors. The Munk Institute is part of the University of Toronto campus and I’ve admired them often, as I walked past. Today the light was just right. Much to my surprise, I had never noticed the details in the stonework above the door and topping the pillars. Have a closer look.
Interestingly, many of the compositional elements that enhance this image are subconscious when I make the photo. It’s one of those scenes that appeal to me, but I can’t articulate the ‘why’ till I look closely at the final image.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke
A final visit to the magnolias of Edwards Gardens in Toronto, at least for this year. I so enjoyed my day of walking the grounds and enjoying all the wonderful flowering trees. This is a great time of year. There are splashes of pinks, purples, whites, and purple among the new foliage in its multiple shades of green. The world around me is fairly glowing with new life, and I love it!
The tree above stood out above all the others I saw that day. Delicate blossoms cling to teh dark leafless branches in a spectacular display. The blossoms almost seem too big for teh slider tree to bear. All this against teh backdrop of new greenery and a slightly cloudy blue sky. It just says, “Spring” to me.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 82 mm
1/160 sec, f/46.3, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Most European nations identify themselves with eagles or lions, with some predator or creature of the air, ascendant and belligerent. I would like to visit the country which adopts the groundhog as its mascot, somewhere peaceful, some place that curls against the secrets of the earth, a little Belgium of the imagination, tables piled high with cakes, the Sunday bells ringing (not too loudly), the light falling on rolling hillocks studded with salad greens.”
― David Brendan Hopes
Groundhog day in May, you say?
I have not seen a groundhog in years. They used to be so numerous that my parents used them as a drive-time distraction when travelling to the cottage. “Hey kids, count how many groundhogs you can see on the way.”, was the common starting dialogue on our trips. A good tactic back then, as we would see hundreds in the fields along the road.
I know these burrowing creatures have been the bane of cattle farmers, as the cows would break their legs when they stepped into a groundhog hole. There are many who took great pleasure sitting in farm fields with their 22’s, picking off the groundhogs as their heads popped out of the ground. I suspect this was far too common and the population was pretty much wiped out in my area.
So, it was very nice to see this fellow on a rock-garden wall, posing so nicely for me. In fact, we was a bit too friendly and came right up to a few watching children, who had no idea what kind of animal he was.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“The columbine and iris bowed down to make way for bolder sprays of red valerian, and a mingled profusion of clustered Canterbury bells and sweet william, pale blues and pinks intertwined, danced at the feet of more stately spears of deep-purple foxglove and monkshood.”
― Susanna Kearsley
On the trend of pinks and pastels, yet another beautiful native spring flower, the Wild Columbine (aquilegia canadensis), is found on rocky outcrops in the Bancroft, Ontario area among emerging ferns, jack-in-the-pulpit, and a few late trilliums. I really enjoy finding these little jewels on my walks in the woods. A little splash of coral catches my eye, then another. They seem to favour cracks in the rock over flat soil. They are such delicate plants and seem almost fragile compared to their thick stemmed and fibrous companions.
The only shortcoming of getting out to enjoy these lovely wildflowers is the ever present company of black flies, the bane of Canadian forests in spring time. However, based on the very warm weekend we just had here, they should be gone in short measure and their associates, the mosquitoes, will take their place in the stinging insect category.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/60 sec, f/2.8, ISO 500
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

A small-man made cascade on Wilket Creek, which runs through this botanical gardens in Toronto. This is only a small section of an extensive walking / cycling trail system that runs through the Don Valley, a reminder of Toronto’s natural past.
This was really just an opportunity to do a long exposure to show off the gentle flow of the water. I’m enjoying having a lens that allows me to do this without the use of a tripod. Technology has come a long way.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/60 sec, f/2.8, ISO 500
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Spring returns, resplendent in pinks and white. Trees and shrubs glow in the sun, bedecked in bright blossoms and pale green leaves. The world awakens; the eternal cycle repeats. – Ed Lehming
As I mentioned in my last post, I have not been to this botanical gardens since I was a young child. It was so nice to see all the blossoming trees. I was especially surprised to see redbuds, since I was not aware that they could survive this climate. However, there were many specimens thriving here, including this trailing variety, artfully draped over a stone wall.
The soft pink blossoms against the gray stones are what first drew my eye to the scene and then it was just a matter of framing the shot effectively.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“You saw a fluttering fan before her face and magnolia blooms and sleepy lakes under the moonlight when she walked.”
— Zora Neale Hurston
The last time I visited Edwards Gardens in Toronto I must have been about 6 years old. It used to be a favoured destination for my family, as both my father and grandmother were avid gardeners. I vaguely recall the place, remembering only the amazing patches of colour of mid-summer blossoms.
I went back yesterday, with my wife, as part of our 25th wedding anniversary celebrations. My goal being to conjure up old memories, and make some nice photos, as well as taking her to a place from my past that she had not visited yet. Not surprisingly, there were lots of tulips and daffodils but I was pleasantly surprised at how many of the park’s numerous magnolias were still showing off many healthy blossoms. Most of the trees in my neighbourhood had already shed their blooms and progressed to leaf.
The subject above was just starting to fade in patched but for the most part was still in glorious bloom. Having visited so many years ago, and in summer, I was not really expecting to see this wonderful colour and I am glad we dropped in here for a stroll among the trees and flowers.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.”
― G.K. Chesterton
The St. Lawrence Market in Toronto is marvelous for its sights, sounds, and smells. It hearkens back to markets of old, with vendors selling their wares in the hustle and bustle of a busy market.
When thinking of a title for this image I was going to call it “Everything Comes with a Price”, as I found the large price tags on every item on display extremely distracting. THis particular vendor is more of a ‘self-serve’ shop, where all the cheeses are on display and you can just pick one from the bin. The other cheese shops in the market have some cheeses in bins for purchase but have opted for the merchant model, where the cheeses are behind a counter and the cut fresh what you want and charge according to price and weight.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/60 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

Morrice Hall, McGill University, Montreal.
Yes, I have a thing for large old doors. So, I am drawn to Universities, public offices, and cathedrals for my material.
Nikon D300
Nikor 24-70mm f/3.5-4.6 @ 28mm
1/160 sec; f/6.3; ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“If you want a happy ending, it just depends on where you close the book!”
― Orson Welles
A final image of trilliums for the season. This has been a fine year for them. Moderately warm days brought on a slow bloom and cool nights preserved the delicate blossoms. As I roamed the forest a few days ago, I could not help but make a few more images to look back on later in the year. This pair, with the dead log in the background, offered a nice composition and good light. Now the season progresses and other subjects await.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“For the newborn and wise, everything begins small.”
― Suzy Kassem
Once more, the unexpected, on a very familiar walk. I’m not sure where this little fellow started out from, but he’s about the size of a quarter and looks to be freshly hatched. He was sitting on a gravel walking path and eventually made it to this grassy section. One thing is for certain, he has a long and perilous journey ahead of him, as sea gulls are always on the prowl for turtles after the spring hatch and it was a long way to the safety of the pond. Hopefully, he made it.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.”
― John Lubbock
The wonder of spring, as the forest explodes in greens and yellows, never fails to impress me. Tiny buds burst open and within days, full sized leaves adorn the branch. What I like most is how pure and unblemished these new leaves are. They glow with health, but only for a few days and the cycle towards the inevitable winter begins again.
So, I drink it in while it lasts and I save these moments, in photographs, to enjoy at times when I need to be reminded that the cycle will repeat.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“See that path in front of you? That path has been laid before you, the one that you’re supposed to take, the one you’re told to take through life…just like everyone else. If you follow that path, you’ll be following all the rules, you’ll always know that you did what everyone wanted you to do and you’ll make it through…
See that path in front of you? I dare you to step off and make your own.”
― Travis Culliton
Looking out my home office window yesterday, as the dark clouds cleared and the sky brightened, I could not help but get outside for a few minutes to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. There is a nice trail system 5 minutes from home. So I took my camera to see what this day offered.
I’ve walked this path hundreds of times and there is always some slight variation in light, foliage, and viewpoint that makes each walk unique. I’ve also photographed these poplars on numerous occasions, including vertical pan shots like this.
However, this day, that slight play of light, new growth, and the bright green grass (including dandelions) made the element s align for this lovely spring image. It seems far too long since I’ve created one of these ‘painterly’ images, which I enjoy so much. Hopefully, this image of a bright spring day brightens someone else’s day.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/4 sec, f/32.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“Oh, the wonder of it! The outrageous beauty! God didn’t have to give us cherry blossoms you know. He didn’t have to make apple trees and peach trees burst into flower and fragrance. But God just loves to splurge. He gives us all this magnificence and then, if that isn’t enough, He provides fruit from such extravagance.” – Lynn Austin
I was not expecting to see cherry blossoms this year. All indications were that this would not be a good year for them and I believed the time to see them in bloom was past. Thus, I was very pleased to find this lovely display along the way. I recall there being a cherry tree here but I have missed the bloom for the past few years and did not really consider looking for it. It certainly was nice to come around the trail and see the tree decked out in a resplendent coat of white.
Even sitting here writing this post, I can smell the sweet fragrance of the blossoms filling the warm air as I notice all the fine details and rich colours that are often missed in the broader view. That is the reason I decided to isolate this single cluster, to allow me to look at it, undistracted by the larger show the tree had to offer me.
Nikon D800
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/125 sec, f/13.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“In a rich moonlit garden, flowers open beneath the eyes of entire nations terrified to acknowledge the simplicity of the beauty of peace.”
― Aberjhani
Can you think of a more appropriate name for these delicate spring flowers, in tones of pink and purple? The Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) in my area seems to prefer the bases of Beech trees as their habitat, yet some small patches grow in the open. Most of the plants I came across ranged between nearly white to pale pink and patched with striped fuchsia. This particular specimen was light blue with purple tinges in the flower buds, thus the photo.
I enjoyed the slight ‘glow’ of the stems, as the filtered afternoon sun lit up the forest floor. The light this day was spectacular and really showed the colours and textures well. Apart for their unique colours, this small colony sat apart for others and allowed me to isolate them for other plants, which are becoming more abundant as temperatures rise in the forest.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com

“If you feel you have to open a particular door, open it, otherwise all your life that door will haunt your mind!”
― Mehmet Murat Ildan
I could not turn down the opportunity to photograph this bright display on a downtown Montreal street for this week’s Thursday Doors submission.
Mind your step 🙂
iPhone 5s back camera 4.15mm f/2.2
1/120sec; f/2.2; ISO 64
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com


Recent Comments