Sunday, January 10, 2010

BRRR!!! And, goodbye, old camera.

It has been so cold here. The most conservative estimate I've heard is that it hasn't been this cold in 15 years. Others say since 1989. Many things that never have a problem surviving winter here, such as pansies, lettuce, and parsley, are on the brink of death. Many marginally hardy perennials appear to be gone for good. Everything in the garden looks so sad and pitiful that I haven't wanted to take any photos. Turns out I couldn't have anyway, because we dropped and broke our camera! Thankfully it was a fairly inexpensive, simple point-and-shoot digital, and we got three good years of use from it. But of course, it wouldn't be replaced with the same! I don't know enough about cameras to buy a DSLR, so I bought a "bridge" camera today - a Canon Powershot SX20 IS. Here are some of my favorite pictures taken with the old camera. R.I.P., Casio Exilim! Above: This Kwanso daylily got lots of comments on the blog, even though these grow wild on the roadside in Mississippi.

Below: I love this photo of a black-eyed susan (grown from seed) preparing to open up. It looks almost alien or something!
I also love this photo of the same flower in bloom. The thing about the Exilim was that sometimes I would get amazing pictures, but it was almost impossible to do so on purpose, or to replicate them.
Is it hard for anyone else to photograph tomato plants with an auto-focus? I must've taken 15 shots to get this picture of a sucker for a post on the blog!
My mom gave us the old camera for a (awesome) wedding present, and we took this picture on our honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. I love the colors, and how the creepy iguana blends in with the foliage!

It was way too cold to play around much with the new camera this afternoon, but I got three quick shots. Keep in mind I haven't read the manual yet!
Above: black-eyed susan seedhead. Below: holly berries (looks better blown up, so click on it!).

Gingko tree taken through the window at full zoom:
It has potential, I think, if the operator reads the instructions!
Stay warm, and stay tuned for a giveaway later this week!

9 comments:

Randy Emmitt said...

Ginger,
Sorry about the older camera! But I bet you'll enjoy learning to play with the new one that replaces it. Those photo look pretty darn good!

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

New cameras are fun to explore! I got one for Christmas and have been having a good time trying to figure out how to use different features. It came with a disc...maybe I should play it? Sorry you broke your old camera. It did take some great photos.

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

RIP old camera but you should have a lot of good shots with your new one. My sister-in-law, who's a professional photographer, has a similar Powershot which she loves. So you know it must be good!

Fingers crossed we'll all have a few plants that survived this crazy weather!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Have fun with your new camera. My old one was the same, good pictures just by luck.

Christine B. said...

That's a great idea for getting an upgrade. I need to drop my cell phone! Love your "roadside" daylily, too. I'm afraid our roadside plants in Alaska are truly weeds....

Christine B.

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

Ginger... don't tie yourself with the operating manuals, just go, play and snap. Again and again... and be creative!! ~bangchik

Victoria Williams said...

Sorry about your cold weather!
Congrats on the new camera.

Dirt Princess said...

You will love the new camera! You just have to tinker with it, take pics on each of the settings, and see how they turn out! I can't wait to see what you do with it! That daylily is awesome

victorian inn bed and breakfast said...

These are all the very beautiful flowers which are in blossom and looking great with all the different colors and lovely horticulture environment.