Cold & Gray - Day 94

Tree Silhouette - Day 76

Day 16 - Yellow

Caught these bare winter trees and their harsh shadows against a bright yellow wall in the late afternoon sunlight.

Framed - Day 92 #CY365

The morning sun rises behind a thin layer of clouds silhouetting a still bare tree. The entire scene was reflected in the window of Fitness Together Norfolk and nicely "framed". Olympus OM-D E-M1, 1/2000 sec @ f/13, ISO 800.

It's Still Winter - Day 41 #CY365

Yes it's still winter here in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This bare parking lot tree illuminated by a single cold street lamp conveys the gray, cold and dreary days we've been having lately. Canon G1X, 1/20 sec @ f/5, ISO 800, converted to black and white using the Silver Efex Pro plug-in in Lightroom 5.

Upset - Day 20

Upset - Canon 5D Mark II, 1/320 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 24mm focal length.

Nest - Day 3 #CY365

Winter arrived today with our first temperatures down in the mid 20's. I know that doesn't seem cold to many but for temperate southeastern Virginia, it's cold. This abandoned Mockingbird's nest in a bare tree pretty much captures the feeling of a gray, cold and windy day for me.

Canon 5D Mark II, 1/320 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens.

Tree Lights

Up lit trees with fall colors still inplace along Monticello Avenue in Norfolk Virginia. Canon 5D Mark II, 3.2 seconds at f/11, ISO 100.

Reach for the Sky

These aspen trees reach for the sky with their bright yellow fall leaves and white bark contrasting nicely with the blue sky. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/320 sec @ f/14.0, ISO 200, 24mm focal length.

Aspen Glow

The aspen trees just glow in the fall afternoon light near Vail Colorado. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/100 sec @ f/22.0, ISO 400, 65mm focal length.

Pink Powder Puffs

Some see the Mimosa tree as an exotic tropical while others see it as an invading weed. Whatever your opinion is, you must concede it has beautiful delicate pink powder puff blooms. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Night Sleeper

- The leaves of the tree widely known in the U.S.A. as the Mimosa tree but more correct is the name albizia julibrissin or Persian silk flower. Its leaves slowly close during the night and during periods of rain, the leaflets bowing downward: its modern Persian name shabkhosb (شب‌خسب) means "night sleeper". In Japan its common names are nemunoki, nemurinoki and nenenoki which all mean "sleeping tree". Source Wikipedia. Canon Digital Rebel, 1/320 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Winter Sunset

- While it has a mild winter so far in Southeast Virginia, the bare trees set the season for last evening's beautiful sunset. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400

Twilight Tree

- The bare tree says winter but today's temperature in Norfolk Virginia reached 68 degrees. Took this twilight photo from the car with the top down. Back to reality tomorrow, afternoon high around 42. Canon G11, 1/200 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Tree of Light

- The tree of light at the Garden of Lights display at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This section of lights was sycn'd to the holiday sound track broadcast on a low power FM radio station. The light show is worth the trip and the $10 buck a car admission. Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Silver Palm

The Silver Palm tree is what the locals take to weave their baskets, placemats, hats, fans, artwork, portfolios, handbags, and other straw work designs. Canon G11, 1/50 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

Paradise Gardens

- I received some advice a while back that a photographer should look up, down and all around. I stopped one evening at the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Church Street in Norfolk Virginia and looked up to see this tree illuminated by the street lights. The tree stands next to McCullough Paradise Gardens an apartment complex owned by the United House of Prayer for All People which is located directly across Church Street. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

Crepe Myrtle

- Crepe myrtle trees line countless streets in the City of Norfolk. They kindle found memories of my childhood visits back to Norfolk each August to see my grandparents. Even today as you fly into the Norfolk airport, the streets appear as double pink and red lines from the sky. The crepe mytles were one of Fred Heutte's many contributions to the beautification of Norfolk beginning during the depression and continuing for four decades as superintendent of Norfolk Parks. Canon 40D, 1/13 sec @ f/16, ISO 400, 100mm macro, mounted on a tripod, LED Litepanel.

Pretty Invader

- The mimosa tree is often classified as an invasive plant. Outdoor cultivation has lead to prolific and unchecked expansion of the plant in many areas. This is one of several located along a ditch bank near my house in Virginia Beach Virginia. Invader or not, the delicate flowers are quite exotic, beautiful and photogenic. Canon 7d, 1/100 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens.

Waning Winter

- The past week of spring-like temperatures has caused the trees to begin budding out. I hope the that winter is truly behind us because if we have an extended cold spell now it will be hard on the trees and other plants that are starting to wakeup. Canon G11, 1/125 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100.