A Fall Walk in the Park

October 24, 2020October 23, 2020 / Donna Robinson Photography / 7 Comments

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year. There is something so wonderful and special about the cooler weather and changing colors of the leaves. In the Fall, Mother Nature has a way of nudging us to slow down and pause.

And so, with Mother Nature nudging me to pause last week, I couldn’t help but combine a little bit of exercise with a photography outing. Even though we live in the city we are surrounded by several county and federal parks with the Chattahoochee River meandering through and alongside most of them.

For my exercise/photography outing I was hoping to capture some of the wild birds camping out on the river. But, it was high that day and the rocks where they normally rest were completely submerged. So I had to settle for some landscape opportunities instead.

This particular park is loaded with several little creeks which the deer and other wildlife feed from. This stream is about a mile into the park.

I was just making the final turn of the path and had to go back because the path was flooded. It wasn’t deep and I’ve used the stepping stones before (with Michael’s help, of course), but since I had my camera with me I didn’t want to risk being thrown off balance.

I’m actually glad I had to turn around, because I was able to get this great shot of the inside path loop. Don’t you just love how the trees frame the path?

It may not have been a good “bird siting” day, but I did manage to get a little bit of wildlife into my photos. This little, fuzzy caterpillar was just hanging out on the ragweed (at least I think it’s ragweed).

As I mentioned earlier, there are several creeks running through this particular park.

As for the exercise portion of my outing, the path is a 3.52 miles around and my Fitbit tracked me with 4.5 miles. I’ll take it!

Here’s to the Fall!

~Donna

For the Love of Photography – Sunny Sunflower

July 12, 2020August 20, 2022 / Donna Robinson Photography / 8 Comments

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you may remember a post from a few years back titled For the Love of Photography “The Accidental Sunflower Garden” . The post was about two (2) beautiful sunflowers growing wild in our backyard thanks to a few leftovers from our backyard critters. They were so much fun to photograph that summer. One photo even managed to make its way into my Etsy Shop as both a greeting card and matted print.

So, you can image my delight when the same thing happened this year! Lucky for me, this time they were growing on the lower section of our yard and within easy reach of my macro lens.

When I discovered them, there were three (3) scraggly little stalks each growing at different heights. From a distance they weren’t much to look at except for a few buds and one (1) bright yellow flower standing tall with its face pointing towards the morning sun.

As I moved closer to the tallest stalk, I noticed the brightest flower was surrounded by a few other buds each waiting for their chance to shine.

Macro photography of a sunflower

Macro photography of a Sunflower

Rain droplets on the Sunflower petals

Clearly, the sunflowers had another purpose in their short lives. The garden insects quickly found them and began to nourish on their sweet nectar and delicate petals.

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Green bug devouring the Sunflower petals

Fortunately for me, the bees didn’t seem to mind my camera lens snooping around them.

Bumble Bees gathering nectar

But my favorite shot is the one below with the detail of the disk florets beginning to take shape. Don’t you just love the geometric shape growing from the middle outward?

Disk Florets beginning to take shape

It’s been a few weeks now and the flowers are beginning to shrivel up and the stalks are slowly drooping towards the ground. I’ll miss my little sunflower garden once the blooms have all faded away. Hopefully, if they’re left undisturbed, they’ll dissolve into the earth and will come back bigger, stronger and brighter next year!

Donna

Website: Donna Robinson Photography

🛒Etsy Shop: Donna Robinson Photo

Bring Your Passion With You

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 / Donna Robinson Photography / 7 Comments

I love the beginning of a New Year. The fact it is a new decade makes it even more exciting. Some may look at the turning of a calendar page as just another day or month but to me the New Year brings a sense of self reflection and renewal for all things possible.

2019 definitely brought the opportunities to follow my passion in oh so many ways. As I reflected on the events from last year I pulled together a few of my favorite photos to remind me of how fortunate I am that God has me in a place where I can immerse myself in doing the things I enjoy and spending time with those I love.

I am truly grateful, humbled and blessed for those who reached out to me for help with their photography needs (along with all the great help I had along the way) and look forward to what 2020 has to offer.

Speaking of 2020, I came across a great quote which seemed so appropriate for staying focused on the things you enjoy. The quote is by Mike Rowe and it goes like this…

So, I leave you with this thought. Whatever your passion may be, whether photography, writing, painting, pottery, singing, needlework, helping others, parenting, etc. don’t just chase after it….. LIVE IT! DO IT! BE IT! BRING IT WITH YOU EVERY DAY!

Here’s to 2020 and a new decade of “Bringing Your Passion With You!”

Donna

Peggy’s Fried Chicken

September 2, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 6 Comments

My husband comes from a LARGE family. When I say large, we’re talking 11 kids (8 girls and 3 boys). They are all wonderful individuals and I couldn’t be more fortunate to call them family.

Both parents have long since passed away, but they handed down many wonderful memories, traditions and gifts. Lucky for me, my husband received the gift of making a great batch of fried chicken. His mom, Peggy, on the occasional Sunday would spend hours in the kitchen preparing a fried chicken dinner for the family. A tradition which in later years would prove to be one rich in memories.

Michael will tell you he learned to make her fried chicken through osmosis. Peggy never really gave him any instructions. Piece by piece and batch by batch he would simply watch as she cooked. I’m sure she came by it the same way, too, spending time watching her mother (a Kentucky Southerner they fondly called Mimi) as she carefully prepared and simmered the chicken. The tradition (so I am told) always included lima beans, rice and gravy, mashed potatoes and a batch of Mimi’s special biscuits and fresh chocolate pie.

Cooking fried chicken is a true labor of love especially for such a large family. Although it’s a simple process with simple tools (a cast iron skillet, tongs and a brown paper bag) and simple ingredients (chicken, Crisco shortening, flour, salt and pepper) it requires time and patience……..a LOT of patience. The perfect batch of fried chicken hinges on two (2) things: 1) chicken, evenly coated by using the brown paper bag and 2) a perfectly heated cast iron skillet. Batch after batch and for hours on end it has to be cooked at a low heat and very slow pace, only turning each piece once it reaches a golden brown color.

Being the one dish I relinquished to Michael (a story for another day) many years ago, he really has mastered the process. So much so, it’s not unusual for friends to frequently request a “fried chicken night.” And yes, in keeping with Peggy’s tradition, all of the sides are prepared as well!

When family comes into town you can bet they will ask Michael to make a batch of fried chicken. What will start as a small family gathering can easily turn into a major event once the word gets out that fried chicken is on the menu!

As the family begins to gather and Michael begins the process, it doesn’t take long for our kitchen to be filled with laughter and chatter as they each reminisce about family memories and the childhood reminders of Peggy’s fried chicken simmering in the pan.

A Wink, a Smile and a Wave Goodbye!

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 8 Comments

If you’ve followed me for the last few years, you know I’m easily entertained by Hummingbirds. I have two (2) feeders hanging in our garden just above the bicycle, surrounded by plenty of color from the knock-out roses, petunias and the butterfly bushes.

I could literally sit for hours watching these little fairies feed! There is just something so magical about them. Perhaps it’s their small and mighty stature. Most likely though it’s the challenge of getting the right shot before they speed away!

So imagine how excited I was to see our granddaughter’s hummingbird feeder and all the activity around it. Our son and daughter-in-law purchased a new, all red glass feeder this year and hung it just outside their kitchen window to better watch them feed. They said it didn’t take long to attract the hummingbirds and it quickly became a non-stop feeding frenzy!

It seems the consistent bright red color of the feeder draws them in. This little guy put on quite the show for me that afternoon. Literally, just when you thought his feeding was over he reappeared dancing around feeder taking quick little sips of the nectar.

It was almost as if he knew I was watching him, because just like that he turned and peered into the window as if to give me “A Wink, a Smile and a Wave Goodbye.”

Thoughts – Staying Focused

June 30, 2019August 20, 2022 / Donna Robinson Photography / 8 Comments

My 52 Week Photography Challenge took a detour…….well it pretty much stalled. I have no clue why except that I just grew busy with life and other activities. It’s really ok because it served it’s purpose for jump starting my photography in 2019. And, it definitely gave my father something to do this winter when it was just a little too cold for him to venture outside and tinker in the yard (read my post here 52 Week Challenge: Week 2 – “My Everyday”). The remainder of the challenge list has some fun/interesting topics coming up so perhaps I’ll get inspired and hit the reset button…..we’ll see ;-)!

Photography Challenge or not, I am still (err) focused on my photography and continue to find other outlets and opportunities to broaden my skills. I finally pulled together my website (Donna Robinson Photography) and I have shot a corporate event and a newborn photo session, too! Plus, I have a part-time job helping a friend of ours (a personal trainer) with his social media, shooting his instructional videos and shooting other content for marketing purposes. So, yes, I’m still actively following my passion!

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And then there is always our backyard. Between the garden, the birds and the critters there is always something to photograph. The camera and “the big lens” as my husband refers to it, comes out every evening as we sit on our patio and catch-up about the day.

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This beautiful blue tipped hawk was out shopping in our yard one evening.

The squirrels are always entertaining at how nimble they are. But, we had to scale back on the bird feeders because they were devouring our supply too quickly!

My husband moved the bird bath to the front of the flower bed and the activity has definitely picked up! This little guy spent 2 – 3 minutes cleaning up!

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Let’s Ride!

But our favorite critters are the chipmunks! They are fast and efficient in how they gather their food. We’ve actually given three (3) of them names because of their consistent patterns for gathering food: “Lefty” because he comes out from the rocks on the left side of the house; “Malcom” because he comes in from the top middle of the wall; and the “Righty” because…….well you get the point.

IMG_1910 061119 Chipmunks in the Garden copyright

This little guy found water in the base of this lantern.

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Seriously?!?! When have you ever seen a chipmunk in a tree? Needless to say, he didn’t reach the bird feeder………but, he found the stash we left on the ground for him.

Michael’s convinced that he can get them trained to eat out of his hands by the end of summer. He may be right……one little guy is getting brave and comes closer to us every night!

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Now I know why some of my petunias didn’t make it!?!?

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The “Little Begger!”

How do you “stay focused” on your passion?

Until next time, Happy Summer!

Donna

Peddling Into The Weekend

May 3, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments

Happy Friday, everyone!

Dad’s Backyard

April 7, 2019August 20, 2022 / Donna Robinson Photography / 8 Comments

Spring has arrived in Atlanta and it looks like it may finally be here to stay! Cool morning temps are leading to warmer afternoons. The tree pollen is EVERYWHERE and flowers are starting to bloom.

My Dad has been in the same house for 40+ years and his backyard is covered with red azalea bushes. He lets them grow naturally (no pruning or fertilizing) and they have become quite large but make a very natural backdrop around his driveway and swimming pool. They started blooming this week and since I’ve been looking for new images for a Spring collection of my greeting card line (“The Art of a Handwritten Note”) I decided to take my camera with me on a couple of my daily visits.

These were taken on Wednesday. It was late afternoon and full sun everywhere so it was difficult getting the right exposure. Look at all of the unopened buds!

There must be hundreds of blooms on this one plant

He’s had this ceramic pagoda for 50+ years. He purchased it for another house we lived in when I was a young child. I remember going with him when he bought it at a local garden center.

This plant is growing on the backside of the fence. A little bare and scrawny, but I love how the blooms look against the weathered wood.

Another perspective of the azaleas growing up the weathered fence.

The Dogwood’s are also in full bloom!

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Despite the ivy crawling up the trunk, this Dogwood is still thriving!

An upward shot of the Dogwood. I love how the pine needles and pollen peak through.

This next group I took yesterday. I couldn’t believe how much more they had bloomed in just a few days.

We’ve had a lot of fun in and around this swimming pool growing up!

A different perspective of the pagoda.

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Confederate Jasmine growing wild through the fence.

A Macro shot of the Confederate Jasmine bloom.

Growing natural intertwined with the ivy.

Macro shot of a cluster of blooms

As far as it goes with images for my greeting cards here are a few I may use. What do you think?

Another perspective of the azaleas growing up the weathered fence.

Happy Spring!

Donna

2019 Lunar Eclipse

January 28, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 7 Comments

Last week’s Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moon brought a great opportunity to challenge both my photography and photoshop skills. Even the bitter cold (27 degrees) and wind couldn’t stop me. Although, I’ll admit because of the weather I wasn’t as diligent about planning and setting up my equipment (no tripod and I stayed indoors only to step outside every hour) as some of the other more skilled photographers.

After a few days of editing I finally landed on the following collage which depicts my view for the evening.

This was fun and challenging to pull together and I learned a lot both working in camera and in photoshop.

If you didn’t get a chance to experience it in person you might want to check out Space.com to see additional photos from other photographers around the world.

Donna

Week 3 Photo Challenge – Out of Focus

January 21, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 7 Comments

I have to admit this wasn’t my favorite theme and it’s probably because I’m always trying to get really crisp photos. Yes, I have seen some incredible images where the subject matter is distorted. And yes, there are various techniques you can use both in camera and in photoshop to make an image dramatic and really stand out.

For the assignment, I started with a favorite photo I took several years ago on a very cold, rainy, winter day. This was actually taken from inside our car on a trip in the North Georgia Mountains. My husband spotted the building as we were driving past it, did a quick U-turn and pulled into the parking lot so I could get the shot.

I have been wanting to try the technique of shooting through a plastic bag, so I started with the basic approach of auto focus, a few extra lights (no flash) and a zip lock bag over the lens (I also used a tripod). As you can see, it was “just ok.” If I were to take this one again, I would definitely add a bounce flash.

Auto Focus

I then moved to manual focus (still using the zip lock bag), but kept the image blurry.

Close Up, Out of Focus

From there, I decided to adjust my white balance settings inside the camera. I left it on AWB, but applied a bracketing technique for white balance compensation.

0 Bracketing; White Balance Compensation A4, M2

-3 Stops Bracketing; White Balance Compensation A4, M2

+3 Stops Bracketing; White Balance Compensation A4, M2

Then, I opened the images into Photoshop and merged them into one (1). I also used the perspective crop tool to take about the mat. Funny thing the photo now looks like an old photograph that has faded with time. I use white balance compensation frequently, especially when shooting sunrises and sunsets. So it was fun to try the “photomerge” technique with these images.

I’m still not convinced that “out of focus” is a technique I will use in the future. But, you never know what photo lies ahead where this would be good to apply.

I’m looking forward to next week’s theme, “Shadows.” Fingers crossed the weather holds up and I’ll be able to get outside for some really fun shots.

Donna