TOADSTOOLS AND NAKED LADIES

Toadstools SOOC- 2011 (Straight Out of Camera)

In my late 40s I attended several photography workshops in New England and won a work scholarship to a multiple craft workshop in the Blue Ridge Mountains for which I received college credit. I completed two home studies in my 20s and 30s for which I have certificates. None of these accolades make you an artist; photography, in my opinion, is an art form where technology continues to implement improvements in  the "tools" of the artist, like cameras, lens, etc. 
Today the digital camera gives us options and editing programs which often save an otherwise disposable shot for snapshooters. But do not be deceived-- professionals use ADOBE PHOTOSHOP or similar programs, too, often to create special effects, but occasionally to salvage a photo.

Two Toadstools 2011 (not quite sharp focus)

However, it still takes an "eye" for the great shot, not just a technically good shot. Every workshop photographer/instructor emphasized they expected to keep only 1-2 shots from a shooting of several rolls of film.


Today we hit "delete' or "wastebasket'" instead of discarding "shots." And that is what today's post is about, as you will see as I continue this dialogue.

Most of you have been subjected to my maladies, particularly a soon-to-be 75 yr. body that resists bending and kneeling, twisting and turning as in my youth, even my 40s. Heart patients are supposedly not to bend down so that their heart is below their waist. I am only 4'10". If I bend down at all, my heart is below my waist. Some of this stuff I think is 'old wives' tales.

Two Toadstools 2011 (top view)

In my 40's I laid on my stomach to take ground level macros of flowers, mushrooms, bugs, kids, etc.

Blogger Abraham Lincoln, some generations removed, yet kin to Pres. Lincoln, is an award winning journalist and photographer. His knowledge of his varied subjects, too, is very impressive.


He often gives  photo tips, and is kind enough to endure this old lady's questions. He and I have lovely spouses who endure our propensities to photography and writing. Unfortunately, he and I share the maladies of COPD.


Sometime ago he wrote a post about putting your camera between your feet and taking ground level photos if you could reach your shutter button.

4 Toadstools 2011
almost SOOC

The toadstool photos in this post have used a modification of this technique, and hence I deleted a GREAT number of shots. I placed my brand new lens ( same as Lincoln recently purchased with a new camera) on  brown mulch mounds and aimed it at the toadstools. I deleted so many shots I lost count. Some of these are not up to my best criteria, but with persistence, I garnered several I have scattered throughout the post.

4 Toadstools 2011

Toadstools and mushrooms are used interchangeably. I always called this particular variety toadstools. I refuse to get in the debate of which are edible, etc. as I have develop allergies to the most common ones in cans or fresh.


The shots of 3 or 4 toadstools  are the same toadstools. The shots of two toadstools are the same, also. I found no toads, frogs, gnomes. fairies or other netherworld characters living in or near them.

Naked Ladies 2011

But in another part of the yard, those naughty, brazen darlings of bawdy vaudeville have finally made their late summer appearance parading in their nudity up and down my side lot line.

I have a monopod and know there are some right angle viewfinders, too. I also have a remote control for my shutter, so with practice I think I can improve on this ground level technique. The lower back and leg muscles are aching from my bending in this experiment.

Naked Lady Buds
[kind of remind me of
the Girl Scout Salute]

Another technique I am practicing is called zooming with long exposure. It is pretty neat, but can be overdone. When I have something respectable, I'll post.


Around Christmas I hope to buy a new camera body that makes movies. and has some other neat features. My husband approved my buying  one on Internet at unbelievable price--so was the dealer, so I passed. Always read the bad reviews; they really tell the true tale.


Now that weather has dipped below 100 deg. here I hope some or all of you can get outside, at least early a.m. and late p.m. I have seen a couple of photo reflections when the sun and clouds come together at just the right time....I am waiting patiently.......

4 Toadstools

God on the mountain is still God in the valley"