Weekly Photo Challenge – Evanescent

ev·a·nes·cent [evəˈnes(ə)nt]
adjective
1. Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

This week’s WPC theme is evanescent.  So many things can be thought of as fleeting; even life if you think about it. But today I am using a seasonal sort of fleeting, the quickly fading colour of Autumn leaves as they turn and then fall to the ground. To be picked up on vagrant winds and tossed around, or children picking up handfuls and throwing them into the air with glee, or the new buds blooming in the last rays of Autumn sunshine, only to bloom and die in the harsh Wintery winds, all things change, as do the seasons.

As the last of the leaves fall, I am reminded that Winter is nearly upon us and to enjoy the last sunny days while we can. But soon, Spring will be back with new growth and sunny days, fresh green grass and brightly coloured blooms; and I will be there with my camera to capture it all.

~ Julz

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Gardens

I really like Cee’s challenge this week for CFFC – Gardens, I have just visited a new garden on the weekend, one I have been wanting to visit for some time. The Gardens of Tieve Tara at Mount Macedon. I will only showcase a few for now and leave the rest for a post, once I have finished editing all my images.

This is a cool climate garden and it is currently Autumn, although Winter is almost upon us and the leaves have all turned and mostly fallen to the ground, but there was still just enough colour to make it a worthwhile visit.

~ Julz

Regular Random – Last of the Hydrangeas

On a recent trip looking for awesome Autumn colour I came across this almost spent Hydrangea bush, refusing to give up on the last fragments of blooms, almost devoid of colour.

I spent at least five minutes and took way too many photos of this stunning plant, for it truly was with it’s subtle blues, pinks, mauve and cream set admit a riot of Autumn red, orange and yellow. You can see it just on the right of the below photo, it was quite large.

So I thought I would use this as my Five Minute Regular Random this week. Such a gorgeous spot in Mount Macedon, at The Gardens of Tieve Tara. I will post more images on these gardens soon.

For more information or to join us in Regular Random, check out Desley Jane’s page

~ Julz

Share your world – 23th May, 2017

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? Apart from travel to various places (Egypt, Cambodia, Vietnam, Jordan, Istanbul………more, more, more), I don’t think there is anything I have left undone. I am the Just Do It girl, remember? If I want to do something I do it, I wanted to exhibit in galleries, done it (about to have my third this year), I wanted to be published in magazines, done it, now been in lots. Flew in a helicopter. I guess the only thing I have not been able to do is lose weight and get fitter.

How often do you get a haircut? Whenever it is annoying me, I have gone years without getting it cut, then get sick of it and cut it short, then get sick of cutting it and ignore for a year or two……..it’s a constant cycle.

In regards to puzzle what’s your choice: jigsaw, crossword, word search or numeric puzzles? Not a big puzzle person to be honest. I don’t mind a word search, but I get awfully frustrated with jigsaw puzzles and crosswords (unless they are ridiculously easy), occasionally I might play sudoku on an easy level. I like things to be straightforward and uncomplicated.

How many cities have you lived? You can share the number of physical residences and/or the number of cities. I’m a Melbourne girl, sure I have travelled a lot, but Melbourne has always been my home, and probably always will. I have not even really moved around much, since I left home, I have lived in 6 different houses, this current one for 16 years.

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

Update from last week on Hayley, she is home and doing really well. I am sure she will be back modelling for me soon. Thank you for all your wishes.

I had a super fun weekend, went to the movies twice with my Hubby, caught up with a friend for coffee. We visited Tieve Tara Gardens and Hanging Rock up at Mount Macedon. I launched three Still Life Workshops and all are fully booked, with request for more. I have another two new models coming in for a shoot soon.

I have another new gallery exhibit starting next week, I have two fun photo shoots on Saturday, one with Jess and Mel (always so many laughs). I run my first Still Life workshop for the season on Sunday……..so a big weekend!

I hope you all have a terrific weekend, and I hope everyone stays safe and well, with horrible events happening in the world of late. I will spare a thought of goodwill to those involved, but I will not dwell on them, that is what THEY want. PEACE PEOPLE

~ Julz, xo

P.S. for more info, visit Cee’s page

Monday Musings…

Wow another Monday already, the weekends just vanish too quickly. I spent Saturday working on finalizing things for a new exhibit, starting shortly; but more on that later.

Sunday we met some photography friends at Mount Macedon to visit the Tieve Tara Gardens, I have been wanting to go, but I always seem to forget, it is truly stunning in Autumn and Spring, in fact that is the only times the gardens are open.

We then went into Mount Macedon for a lovely lunch and to visit a few galleries and shops.

We then drove through very low cloud (not fog) and made out way to Hanging Rock, finally…………we tried to do this a few months back, but alas………poor timing.

One of the locals at Hanging Rock

You will have to wait to see some pictures of the Rock. We then drove back home, had coffee with a friend and BAM! time to get ready for work again.

View over Melbourne from Bolte Bridge

This week I have two concept shoots on Saturday; another themed shoot with Mel and Jess in the studio and I get to work with one of my new models for the first time, so that will be exciting and exhausting. And then the First of my ever popular and always full – Still Life Workshops; this time we are doing Dark and Moody! I may need a holiday.

In fact I am pretty much booked up solid with photography things for the next couple of months. So many exciting things coming up.

Anyway that is it for me for now, I will try and get some pics done for posts, later in the week. Til then I hope you all have a fabulous week…

~ Julz

P.S. All pics from today’s post of the Smart Phone………will post good pics later 🙂

 

Tuesday’s Texture…Little Red Riding Hood

I have mostly been featuring some of my art on Tuesday’s Textures, as opposed to actual textures. In saying that most of my images have textures applied or at least interesting texture in the actual image.

So recently I wrote a post about our Awake Aust & NZ get together, on Day Four I ran a workshop with Models Jess Ami and Meellisa Jade; Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Today I thought I would just showcase some of the images from each shoot

Little Red Riding Hood – Jess Ami

Behind the scenes

So much fun and such a natural backdrop at the gorgeous Glen Harrow Gardens, the Reds popping up against the deep lush Autumn greens, late Summer/Autumn berries and blooms.

~ Julz

WPC – It IS easy being Green

While the Northern Hemisphere is going into Spring, downunder we are in Autumn, most of the countryside is brown and dry and there is not too much green around. But if you look hard enough you can find little pockets of verdant, lush green; for this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge – it IS easy being green

New Zealand

Til next week, happy snapping…

~ Julz

Regular Random – Yucca Carnival in bloom

Every year my yucca carnival blooms about this time, I adore it….so pretty. So I thought for this weeks regular random I would feature it (it’s not like I can move  it). Also shot on my new smartphone….sooc no edits. I got the latest Samsung S7….camera us awesome!

Visit Desley’s Page for more info and to see her stunning silver pear, and join us for a touch of regular random; just 5 minutes and it’s fun!

– Julz

Early Evening Geraniums…

I decided to take the new Olympus Camera out for a spin in the gardens, it was early evening, twilight almost and the crickets were singing. Sitting in the back corner of the garden, enjoying a cuppa, I picked and placed some geraniums for the pop of colour. Of course my girl Chloe was there to keep me company.

I love Summer evenings and wish they would never end. So the camera performed adequately in low light, hand held on F/2.0 aperture. I think I am starting to get the hang of it…..still very different from my big Nikon DSLR, and the images are a little grainy. I certainly would not use it for a Wedding or Newborn shoot, but I think for things like still life and holiday snaps it is actually quite good.

I hope you have an amazing weekend…

~ Julz

WPC – A Good Match

I missed last week, no excuse, just never quite got around to it…….so now it’s time for this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge – A Good Match

They always talk about “birds and bees”, shouldn’t it be bees and flowers? Glorious little worker bees, they do such a good job, without them no flowers (or fruit) and no honey..now there is A GOOD MATCH

Another good match……….a rare pic of me and hubby, I love this photo, it is real, it is us, no pretense, no fake smiles and that long suffering look (and smirk) at my smart arse comments is probably on hubby face more often than he realises!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend, I know I plan on it!

~ Julz