Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Front Yard Pear Tree

Sometimes I have to remind myself... I don't have to travel far to find things to photograph. Case in point, the pear tree in our front yard (I'll call it a Bradford Pear, although there are many varieties of flowering pear, so this is just my best guess) is putting on quite a show this year with prolific white flowers!
So here's my attempt to get a slightly different angle on the tree... photo credit goes to my daughter.  I think she did a nice job framing it up, wouldn't you agree? I look like a knuckle-head, but that's OK!
Fully stopped down lens (f/22) for max DoF; 1/25 second exposure; ISO 200; focal length 23mm
 My head was literally pushing against the tree trunk as I shot these straight up toward the sky. I like the white flowers against the blue background.
B&W version
Close up of the flowers... these are really common trees in S CA
A crop from my second photo... I used "Topaz Simplify" to make this stylized version of the pear tree flowers.
Finally, I couldn't resist this sky shot with the wispy cloud in the background. Linking this shot to Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from all over the world!

 In a couple weeks, when the flower petals start to drop, it will look like snow in S CA! Hope your week is going well.
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30 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlFebruary 6, 2013 at 5:52 PM

    nice job! worth a neck cramp or two! :)

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  2. Gail DixonFebruary 6, 2013 at 6:50 PM

    Oh wow, I love your perspective in the second shot. Looks great in b&w as well. The last one with the bright blue sky is gorgeous. Bradford Pears are quite common in Texas. They look beautiful in full bloom, but only last a couple of weeks - maybe three. Wish they stayed in bloom longer.

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  3. you-wee becauseFebruary 6, 2013 at 10:59 PM

    Your pear trees already are in full bloom at the beginning of February???

    Lucky 'n' blessed girl! :-)


    We got snow again last night and I had to fight against slippery roads on my car drive to work this morning!


    Regards from snowy Germany,

    Uwe.

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  4. From The HeartFebruary 7, 2013 at 1:50 AM

    Beautiful pictures. I like the"straight up" ones.

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  5. s.cFebruary 7, 2013 at 2:01 AM

    Also a nice way to photograph a tree. Beautiful pictures here. Like it

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  6. desertsandbeyondFebruary 7, 2013 at 5:13 AM

    Oh, I like the Topaz Simplify effect! What program is that? We have a storm barreling through here this weekend...snow forecast down to about 3,000 feet. Are you going to be here? Do you have a 3 day weekend?
    ~~Cheryl Ann~~

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:20 AM

    You sure do live somewhere with beautiful weather. Love your perspective! I too like the straight up ones. Happy SkyWatching!

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  8. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:35 AM

    How utterly gorgeous, especially that second shot!

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  9. The Write GirlFebruary 7, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    I've never seen a pear tree up close. Beautiful view and composition. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Our Neck of the WoodsFebruary 7, 2013 at 5:57 PM

    I love your photos, especially the ones you took while lying down! Such a neat perspective. I love bradford pears and we have a lot of them here in Missouri. I always know spring is here when they bloom!

    Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting!

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  11. LeaFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    Interesting viewpoint!
    I think the last one is my favorite, and I like the close-up of the flowers, too!
    Happy Sky Watching!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  12. Yogi♪♪♪February 7, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    Great example of finding a new way to photograph something familiar.

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  13. Sylvia KFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:11 PM

    I agree with Yogi and what delightful captures! I love them! Definitely worth a neck cramp or two or three!! Have a great weekend!

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  14. Photo CacheFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    cool shots.

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  15. Small City ScenesFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:49 PM

    Beautiful shots. I cannot wait until our fruit trees start to bud out but that won't be for a few monthes. I like the Topaz pic too. MB

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  16. BraComFebruary 8, 2013 at 12:58 AM

    beautiful series and nice photos

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  17. Pearl MapleFebruary 8, 2013 at 1:31 AM

    fun collection of photos and shows the lenght we will go for a great angle

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  18. eileeninmdFebruary 8, 2013 at 3:41 AM

    Your pear tree and blossoms are lovely. And I love the view looking up at the treetop and sky...Beautiful photos..

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  19. SRQFebruary 8, 2013 at 6:52 AM

    These are beautiful. I particularly like the last shot. A tip of the hat to your daughter for capturing you in action. The positions and sitations we photographers endure to get the perfect shot. Bravo!

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  20. Martha ZFebruary 8, 2013 at 9:24 AM

    Blooming already? I think we will have to wait a bit here though the apricot looks close to bloom.
    I like that stylized image.

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  21. HeatherFebruary 8, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    Some interesting photos--I like the second one. It'll be a few months yet before we see flowering trees here.

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  22. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    Cool shots! The pear trees around here are really stinky when they bloom. I'm not sure why.

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  23. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 12:32 PM

    Great shots today, love the "How this is done" view from your daughter!
    The Topaz Simplify looks like a Japanese Wood Block print of the Pear tree, very nice work.

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  24. Photos by StanFebruary 9, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    Super set of images -- the straight up views make the tree look like a couple of spiders doing battle. The B&W and 'Simplify' images are most effective -- very well done. Kudos!

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  25. A Colorful WorldFebruary 9, 2013 at 11:14 AM

    Wow! Wonderful tree & such gorgeous photos! I hope the snow storm hasn't affected it!

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  26. NatureFootstepFebruary 10, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    love all shots. It is a beautiful tree and the photographer, well, that´s what we do sometimes. :)

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  27. JudyFebruary 10, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    I love the photos looking straight up into the tree!!! But when I do it, I stand, leaning on the trunk so I don't fall over, and tip my head way back... But I have lain on the bike path to get a shot of a flower...

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  28. EbieFebruary 10, 2013 at 5:59 PM

    One goes beyond norm to get this great shot! Pretty tree, hoping more blooms with the rainfall we have!

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  29. LizFebruary 14, 2013 at 9:39 PM

    Gorgeous shots! I love those delicate little blooms!!

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  30. LaloofahFebruary 17, 2013 at 5:25 AM

    What a magnificent tree! And yes, your daughter did a lovely job of framing that photo... obviously, the blossom didn't fall far from the tree. ;-) My favorite photo is definitely the second one, of those beautiful flowers against that azure sky. Wonderful perspective, thanks for jamming your head agains the tree trunk to capture it! You can tell when someone is really into their photo hobby - we're not ashamed to look like "knuckleheads" or contort ourselves like yogis (or yoginis) to get the desired photo. :-)

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