Skywatch Friday

I haven't done a Skywatch Friday in a while.  This was a cool 22 degree halo around the sun.  I didn't realise there was a name for this until I tried looking it up!

Please click on the link to see beautiful photos of the sky taken by people round the world.

F Number	18.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/800
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Regalia

Just sharing a bit of the regalia at the HVCC graduation.  The professors in the construction classes wore different coloured hard hats rather than the traditional mortarboards.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

I want THAT one

Walking through the greenhouse, looking at all the flowers.  I have to admit to being pretty much overwhelmed, when my eye alights upon this scene.  An expanse of white flowers in flats... and this one open space.

I giggled at the thought that someone looked these over and deliberately chose that one over all the others.  Mostly because I couldn't tell the difference between the individuals. I don't know whether to envy the discerning ability on the purchaser or pity them for being that particular.  I'm still giggling...

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Tulip from above

The tulpis came and went quickly.  The weather was very warm, then we had a week of chill and they didn't care much for that.  I did manage a snap of this one from our side yard.  How it came to be there is a funny story.  My last workplace had a company that cared for the grounds of the building.  With each new season, the groundskeepers ripped out the earlier flowers and planted new ones.  I couldn't bear to see all these tulips just tossed in the trash, so I asked and was given a bag full of plants.  I planted them all in my yard and the squirrels had a buffet!  Of the several dozen or so I planted, only a few yellow ones survived the ravenous squirrels.  Or so I thought, until I found a lone red one in the far corner of the spot behind the garage.  Apparently one squirrel thought he should bury his find!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Graduation day!

My oldest, walking in the procession to his college graduation.  

I'm inordinately proud that both of my adult children have college degrees.  I never had the ambition to go to university and I'm glad that hasn't rubbed off on them.  Not being a college graduate myself, I really didn't know much about academic heraldry.  The green and white ribbon (the college's colours) and gold tassel is for honours work, and the orange cord is for his membership in Tau Alpha Pi, the engineering honour society.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Bumblebee

Inside one of the greenhouses, a bumblebee does her job.  They are so cool!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Flower shopping

It's become something of a tradition in our family to take Mom and her Mom out to a local greenhouse and buy flowers on Mother's Day.  It's about the right time of year to put plants outdoors, so buying flowers and acclimating them on the porch for a week makes it almost risk-free.  Rick?  Why, frost!  We got down to 35F two nights ago and last night was below freezing, so we had a light frost.  Delicate flowers fresh from the warm greenhouse would not care for that, but they're doing fine on the porch.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Urban greenery

When I was downtown at the first outdoor Greenmarket of the season, I couldn't help but notice the plants on the window ledge.  The house plants are enjoying some time in the sun.

F Number	8.0
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Moss

So I have this weakness for plants.  I can't bring myself to throw them away even when they're simple flowers in pots.  This particular pot was in a shady location for most of last year, and moss grew in it.  Well, it's spring and even the moss is flowering.  At least I think that's what is happening.  How cool!

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	2.8
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Everyday flowers

I was at a loss for what to title this one.  These flowers weren't deliberately planted, but they aren't exactly wild either.  They're next to the playground in Vale park.  Simple dandelions and violets, planted here by the wind, or birds or even the feet of children running to go play.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

First snake

The weather has been warm and dry the past week so it wasn't a surprise to see this garter snake sunning itself by the path in Vale Park.  I have to admit we did pick it up for a few minutes, but it was relaxed enough afterward for me to take its portrait, so I didn't feel too bad about handling it.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

First bullfrog

Our youngest was very excited to discover that the bullfrogs have emerged from hibernation this week!  I had to stand on some stones in the middle of the creek to take this handsome fellow's portrait, but I think it was worth it.  Hard to believe he lives in the middle of the city!

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	2.0
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Cherry blossoms

Washington DC is famous for the cherry blossoms.  Some day I'll get to see them.  But for now, I can enjoy these beautiful trees on the grounds of Temple Gates of Heaven.  I hope the people know the joy these trees bring to those of us who get to drive by, walk by or bicycle by them every spring.

Thank you!

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Red trillium

It's early spring, and that means these are out.  I don't know why, but the red trillium always make me happy.  They don't flower very long and they don't smell very good, but still, they sure are beautiful.  Three leaves, three petals, one flower.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	f/2.8
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Monthly theme day - The Creative Artisan

On the first of each month, the City Daily Photo community choose a theme and many of us post our interpretation.  This month, the theme is The Creative Artisan.  Please click the link to see the photos from around the world which realise this theme!

This is a difficult one for me.  I don't take many photos of people, and I was sorely tempted to post a photo of the unusual but beautifully green skunk cabbage and post it as Mother Nature The Artisan.  But I felt that would be not really in the spirit of the theme.  So I started looking back through the archives until I found this.  It was taken in April of 2012 at the Schenectady Greenmarket.  Several of the vendors there are crafters - artisans in the classic sense.  This is Christine, and she works in glass.  Mosaics, to be more precise.  I love to look at her work, which she does between customers.  I never took a close-up of her work because it feels rude to me, but perhaps I should make a point of asking her.  She does large work like the chess set and mirrors, and she does some amazing small work too; real works of art, like paintings done in glass fragments.  The posting here is a crop from a larger photo.  I didn't have my Minolta lens adapter, so I'm afraid it's a bit grainy.  But somehow, that seems fitting for someone who works with mosaics!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	3200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire