Dogwood tree flower/s...for C&C if you want...

[IzzieK]

My husband called me the other day because he wanted me to take a photo of his beloved Dogwood Tree which is flowering profusely at the front of the house. I said I know. I can see it from the dining room. "Well, take a shot or two of it for me then!" says he, like as if I was just sitting down on my butt doing nothing…men! The tree will die if I don't obey him, so off I went with my camera, shot different views for his viewing pleasure. I'd like to share some of my shots here.

1. Overview: This is the second day of the flowers coming up so it is still a little bit on the green side. I decided to use a B/W adjustment layer here just for test on my ability to see/transform in B/W if it will suit. I like it.



2. Bill doing the weeding with Roxie, the mandatory dog every man must have out with him. Inside the house, the dog is mine, outside or when going somewhere even without me, she is his. (Roxie is a pup in constant training at the moment.)



3. Another play with Nik Collection this time I used Color FX Sunlight as a filter on Roxie. Look at her tail…Before she was conceived, a raccoon got in her Mom's cage. She is the result. One day, a neighbour across the road happened to look out of her laundry's window and she called us up to tell us that there is a raccoon at our back gate. Impossible! Says the master. We have three dogs and no one gets passes them. With phone in his hand, master decided to go to our backyard and was laughing his head off. He then told Marcia that it was Roxie and that she has the raccoon-like tail.



4. Close up of flower. I decided to play with Silver FX Pro here…this is the first time I have used this filter…quite cute I think…

[Mike Buckley]

The last one is quite nice!

[Ziggy]

Nice looking dogwood tree in the first one and the dogs tail is cool.

I like #3, different.

Jim

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, that ColorEfex can be addicting. I think the color version is more vibrant, the mono images were converted nicely.

[John 2]

Nice captures, that ColorEfex can be addicting. I think the color version is more vibrant, the mono images were converted nicely.

+1 to john's comments Izzie (the verticals in the first image would benefit from a straighten though).

[Barbara Ponder]

Is that tree is beautiful! You must take more pictures of it! Such a great subject as is Roxie. The close up of the bloom is lovely!

[IzzieK]

Thank you for looking, Mike and Jim...'appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

Nice captures, that ColorEfex can be addicting. I think the color version is more vibrant, the mono images were converted nicely.

John I have been doing my conversion with On One and just discovered Nik on my filter window...I like slidy options and now playing with it got me some overcooked images, underdone shots and some can be really touchingly beautiful...I am hooked...I've had Nik for quite sometime and besides trying to learn it outside of Photoshop, this is the first time I've played with it in real time...thank you for looking and commenting...'appreciate it very much...

[IzzieK]

+1 to john's comments Izzie (the verticals in the first image would benefit from a straighten though).

Will correct that image as soon as I can find time in between house work, garden work (it's spring!), Cesar Millan and Color Efex.. .thank you very much for passing by and commenting. 'Appreciate it very much...

[IzzieK]

Is that tree is beautiful! You must take more pictures of it! Such a great subject as is Roxie. The close up of the bloom is lovely!

Barbara...much as I want to photograph this tree, I think one session a year is enough for me...I put this post up to break the ice between bug hunting and the rest of my day...thank you for commenting and the suggestion. 'appreciate it very much.

[deetheturk]

Nice series Izzie, you might have got Bill to move the weed bag

[Stagecoach]

Hi Izzie, I think the first pic of the tree would have been preferable in colour to show it to its full advantage, but I'm biased as I don't get to see any dogwoods here

Maybe if you cut the grass before you photograph Roxie next time we will get to see a bit more of her, sorry, I just had to get that one in She's a big pup, how old?

Good job on No 3, that's two wall hangers you have now

Grahame

[Whistletown Wilds]

Beautiful family and home love the dogwood bracts in b&w!!

[KimC]

Hi Izzie. I like #4 the best. The tree is beautiful in #1, however you would need a different composition to make it stand out. Roxie is adorable!

[JohnRostron]

Izzie, your narrative reminds me of the British comedian Ronnie Corbet. He would begin a story and then go off into fascinating side-stories before, eventually, getting back to the punchline.

I do like your final pic of the Dogwood flower, but I think that I would probably prefer a colour version (even if it is a white flower!).

John

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel, my fav is #4 and I find the tint in #1 a bit too strong, I would reduce it a bit

[IzzieK]

Thanks twin bug-o-graphers David and Grahame...impossible to get into Bill and his weed bag, mate... I am not going there...

Grahame...our front lawn is mowed only down to 3 or 3" each time and that is two days a week. As explained by Bill he does that so that the ground doesn't get too dried up in summer. He maintains these grass very well along the front, so any dog like Roxie finds it cooler to lie down on too.

I will upload the original colour version...I still have it. I only processed on a psd copy.

[IzzieK]

Beautiful family and home love the dogwood bracts in b&w!!

Dear Sherwood..I appreciate your kind comments.

Thank you Kim...I am not really making it stand out much. I just shot an overview of it to show that it is really a tree, but I discovered I have Nik Software in my filters so I used it...and overdid it. I should had stuck to the original shot...thank you for your comments.

John...thank you for your comments...I just thought that since it is just black and green middle it will be nice to practice my black and white, a media I am not too familiar with but you are right...I should have stayed with the original because they are more beautiful actually...

Thank you for your comment, Binnur, you are right of course...I find it too blinding myself...I will do something about it soon...

Thank you all for looking and commenting and advising. I do appreciate your feedback for my improvement...

[Rebel]

Nice shots Izzie, especially #4.

Your house is on the wonk btw

[IzzieK]

Nice shots Izzie, especially #4.

Your house is on the wonk btw

What does that statement mean? I have to straighten it all right...I will do so later on...
Oh crap! my storage disk is downstairs and i am here upstairs...