Studying the Subject - Peach Trees

I have found some really beautiful flowering peach trees on Peachtree Road in Atlanta. The trees are new to me and intriquing. Their color is amazing; the petals are hot coral, white and pink mixed and a white. So I have visited these trees three days in a row to capture their essence.

By doing that, I have discovered what shots I want and what time is best to take them. Each day I have studied my pictures from the day before deciding what I like and what works and doesn't work. By returning multiple times, I am improving the final photographs. I am not leaving as much up to chance and getting that "lucky" shot. Here are a few of my photographs.

Sara Evans Sings after Braves Win

Sara Evans is absolutely my favorite singer. Why? I do love the twang; she's country. Also, I guess in part because I heard her Cryin' Game after a particularly bad breakup, and it just settled me some how... And, I love her rendition of I Could Not Ask for More, an Edwin McCain song. In my opinion her version blows his out of the water. This photograph below (of mine) is named after this song.

The concert was perfect at the Braves. My youngest said, "This is boring. I've heard all these songs thousands of times." Which really made me smile.  But he was lucky to be there. His young friend happened to know all the words to Cheap Trick's "I want you to want me," which Sara closed with. She played two songs she doesn't usually play at a concert:  Backseat of a Greyhound Bus (which is a sad song about a woman/girl falling in love with her baby she births on the backseat of a greyhound bus) and Coalmine (I love this because my grandfather was a coalminer, and I so wonder if my grandparents might have... in this song, which is very hard to imagine). Here's the list of song she sang tonight 8/7/2010..

As if
Perfect
Born to fly
Backseat of Greyhound Bus
I Keep Looking
Saints and Angels
Coalmine
A Little Bit Stronger (New single written by Hilary Scott to be released 9/20)
Suds in the Bucket
Real Fine Place
I Could Not Ask for More
I Want You to Want Me

But when Sara sang Coalmine I was hopeful she might sing Pray for You, which is my favorite song. This is a sweet song about going back to mom's. I did not have that, so imagining it in the song is so wonderful. And, I hope my children will feel this way.... Sara is one of 7 children, so she probably had the whole porch thing. Here are the lyrics. Take a listen too.

Sometimes I wish I could run home to mama's lovin' arms

In the springtime, when the weather's fine
Sittin' with her on the porch, glass of tea and nothin' more
Than her smile, for just a little while
And when I don't know where to go
I think of home and how she use to sing to me, she sang
---Chorus---
Que sera, sera, life goes on
Whatever's meant to be will always be
And baby what don't kill you, will make you strong
Just love the journey that your on
In all you do, I'll pray for you

Wild horses and fairy tales sometimes turn into somethin' else
That you never saw comin' at you at all
So I guess I'm callin' just because he wasnt who I thought he was
And I can't believe he stopped lovin' me
So, when I'm feelin' all alone
I think of home and how you used to sing to me

---Repeat Chorus---

I got babies of my own
And I'm the one that they're countin' on to be here
For every little tear, and I'll sing

---Repeat Chorus---

Ok... so did I take my camera to the Braves game? Of course. And, I did pay attention to the game. We are now big Wagner fans. I think he pitched nine strikes in a row to seal the shutout. By the way, A camera lens needs to be smaller than 5 inches for entry in Turner Field, so these were shot at some distance with a 200 mm lens. Search stadium bag rules to find out before you attend the game. The Tampa Rays allows a 12 inch lens.

 

 

 

My Favorite Holiday -- July 4th -- Independence Day

I absolutely love the 4th of July. I created this new photograph for 2010. You can buy Stars and Stripes in my Etsy shop. In my shop, there is another pretty flag image from a baseball game, and I am working on more this weekend.

Most years you will find me at the Decatur, Georgia 4th of July Celebration because there is so much going on. Large crowds pack into the old-fashioned square for music and fireworks. The parade begins at 6 PM. Children and adults line up at 5:30 with their decorated bicycles and scooters. The path is a short one around the square. Afterwards, the callanwolde concert band entertains until just before the fireworks begin at dark.

I like preparing food for our picnic and having all my kids close by. My salmon recipe holds its flavor long enough for these kinds of events. It is so sweet to lean on each other on our blanket, eat delicious food and relax. The music reminds me of weekends in Bar Harbor, Maine or Chatham in Cape Cod. Chatham and Bar Harbour have music every Saturday night during the summer as part of their home town flavor. To me, the square's activities make a summer vacation special and memorable to see all the residents mix up with locals. Last year we were in Hyannis on the cape.

The celebration at Decatur also reminds me of attending a concert at Chastain park, but there is no admission. An added bonus at Decatur is the ease of which everyone leaves because the parking lots are spread out over the city. There are many ways to exit in all directions. Hope to see you there!

Mag, which means Great! Amazing! and Spectacular! all in one word!

I thought it fitting that the sign, for such a beautiful tree, be in black and white. A green street sign will not work. And, here I have illuminated the red, stop light, so you take time to stop and look at the Magnolias. Just for the record I only saw one magnolia on Magnolia Street in Roswell, Georgia. Where did all the Magnolias go?

I began taking photographs in Brookhaven at 5:55 PM and finished at 6:37 PM in Brookhaven. I moved to three locations, which were all a few minutes apart. Here are my takes.