Reminiscent

It being Sunday and me being sick I turned to photography! At first I didn't know what I was going to photograph but then I went to the terrace and saw this cute little pot with blooming flowers in it. It was the perfect candidate even though it was a little windy and as we all know when it comes to macro photography, the slightest puff can ruin your photo.

For this particular flower photo I had decided to upload it in color but when I viewed it on the computer I didn't like what I was seeing much, so there goes the black and white conversion.

I don't know what this type of flower is called, all I know is that it was small, cute and pretty!

This photograph was shot using a Canon 40D with a 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens. Photograph was edited using Photoshop CS4.

In the Heart

Digging in the archives once again and I came across this photo that I shot back when I got my 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. I think the photo was shot in Nacogdoches, Texas. 

Once again I don't know the name of the flower and really would like to know so if you any of my readers know what kind of flower it is, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Someone asked me why I am not posting these close up photos of flowers in color. There is a simple reason...I always thought that black and white photos look more dramatic and have a more abstract feel, which I really love.

Also for those interested in buying my prints, I will be opening a store on Etsy very soon. More information coming soon.

This photo was shot with a Canon 40D and a 60mm macro lens. It was edited and converted to black and white using Photoshop CS4.

Almost Erotic

Sometimes unplanned things turn out to be nicer than planned things and here is a perfect example. After watering my plants I grabbed the camera and was playing around with some settings when I accidentally hit the shutter. I didn't even bother to look at the preview.

Later when I was home I was looking at the other photos I snapped and saw this and my jaw almost dropped. I only cropped the photo to remove the unnecessary things that were in sight.

I came up with the title because when I first looked at the photo I thought it depicted something erotic. I don't know what, it was just how my eyes perceived the photo.

The plant is an Umbrella Tree that I bought a few weeks ago. It's been growing like crazy and is one of my favorite plants to photograph (together with the Peace Lily)

The photo was shot with a Canon 40D and a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, it was then edited and converted to black and white using Photoshop CS4.

Wrapped up in Love

"A kiss is a rosy dot over the 'i' of loving." Cyrano de Bergerac 

Lately all I seem to posting are flower close up photos...I guess it's just a phase...or maybe not. Since I have been exploring my macro abilities I found no better subject than flowers so far. So yeah, I will be posting flower photos for a while. :)

I would like to learn the names of the flowers that I photograph but my brain can't handle all those names but it's a work in progress.

This photo here turned out to be one of my favorites on this blog. Very soon I have to pick out 36 photos published on my blog to be printed 4x6 and they will all be hanged on a wall in a 'heart' formation. It's going to be a tough job but it's a job that will be interesting.

Photo was shot using a Canon 40D with a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. It was edited and converted to black and white using Photoshop CS4.

Star Flower

"Beauty is but a flower, which wrinkles will devour." Thomas Nash

Right now I am going through a phase in which I am enjoying macro photography and when it comes to macro photography what is a better subject than flowers?

I have been walking past this one flower for a few days on my way to work and I always notice the star pattern on it. Recently I just grabbed my camera and went out to get a few photos. I thought if I am going to wait any longer either someone will pick it up and it will die. Up to today it was still there and I hope it stays there as every time I see it, it always makes my day better. It's amazing how nature can be so beautiful and perfect.

This photo was difficult to get as it was windy and we all know the closer you get to your subject the more stillness you need so I just sat there waiting with the camera in hand for when the wind shows some mercy.

I shot this photo using a Canon 40D with a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and edited/converted to black and white using Photoshop CS4.

Pride

"Don't quack like a duck, soar like an eagle." Ken Blanchard

This photo is a couple of years old and when I found it on my hard drive collecting dust I instantly remembered the pain this photo caused to get one that is in focus.

First of all the eagle was not flying in the wild, but it was at a bird park. When it was it's turn to fly and show off everybody suddenly jumped off their seats to the front with their cameras. That was the beginning of a near impossible task. Then came out the eagle and believe me when I say that they fly way too fast and these were still my early days of photography so I was not sure what I was supposed to do.

Finally when it was taking a break I captured this photo which in my opinion turned out great. I was quite happy with it. Once again I faced the dilemma...color or black and white. I picked out the black and white and decided that from today onwards most of the photos I upload are going to be in black and white.

This photo was shot with a Canon 40D using EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens and edited in Photoshop CS4.

Peace Lily

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." Max Muller

Lets just open this paragraph by saying that in my opinion Peace Lillies are the nicest plants. I have seen them several times but only recently I learned what was their name. I was shopping for indoor plants for my new apartment and came across them and bought one. I've been hooked ever since and it will be no surprise if I fill up the place with them.

I have been trying to take photos of it for a long time but none make me really happy or do the plant any justice. Today I tried again and came up with this one. In the photo we see one beautiful flower that bloomed from the plant.

I was torn am the plant. It's shot at close up range and since I had no tripod I had to try several times to get the photo I wanted. I was torn when it came to convert it to black and white or leave it in color and as you can see I decided to convert to black and white. I like the feel that it's a little abstract yet clear enough to see that it's actually a plant.

The Peace Lily photo was shot using a Canon 40D with a 60mm Macro Lens and edited in Photoshop CS4.

Tiny

"A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine." Anne Bronte

This photo was shot on the same day as Float Like a Butterfly, therefore it has been sitting on my hard drive for ages and I totally forgot about it. Finding a photo on your drive after many years has more or less the same feeling as finding money in your coat the winter after.

I remember it was pretty windy that day, so capturing a photo like this was pretty difficult, but persistence paid off. I don't know what kind of insect I have on the flower but it was pretty small judging by the flower to insect ratio.

This photo was shot my a Canon 40D and post processed using Photoshop CS4.

Float Like a Butterfly

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Muhammad Ali

Here comes another photo that sitting in the archives for way too long. It's always fun to look back through the years and see what photos you have stored. 

Even though this photo was shot a long time ago, I still remember the day vividly. It was a very peaceful walk through nature and I am glad it was peaceful otherwise I would have never gotten the patience to wait for a butterfly and shoot it close-up!

I have tried hard to get the wings in focus being that close to the creature and it looks pretty clear but now I am wishing I also got it's head in focus too. A lesson learnt for next time! By the way this photo was shot using my Canon 40D with a few minor adjustments in Photoshop CS4.

Fire and Water

"Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody." Mark Twain

Since I was a little child I was always fascinated with water...and this was way before I knew my star sign was Scorpio, which is a water sign. I used to spend hours playing in the bathtub and after a hard working day I still prefer nothing but a hot bath waiting for me.

The most hypnotizing moment is when the tub is actually filling up. I never get tired of looking at the gentle flow of the water. A few weeks ago I realized that the light reflection on the chrome looks like fire and hence the birth of this photo.

I tried several times to capture the photo using my iPhone but I was feeling miserably mainly because of having no control until finally I gave up and brought out my Canon 40d.

Staircase

The Stairs

"I do have a blurred memory of sitting on the stairs and trying over and over again to tie one of my shoelaces, but that is all that comes back to me of school itself." Roald Dahl

I couldn't have found a more appropriate quote than the one included with this photo. In this photo we have a stairway, a stairway at the school I teach at. Looking at the photo makes me wonder how many times I've been up and down those stairs in the last few years.

I don't know if it's just me, but lately I've started to realize that school is not the same as when I used to be the student instead of the teacher. We had more respect towards teachers...we were actually scared of them and discipline was actually a good thing. Today it's frowned upon. I also realized that school, for most parents, is that institution where you can send your kids to to get rid of them for a few hours.

Anyway back to the photo. This school is one of the oldest in Malta and a lot claim that it's also one of the best on the island. When I took this photo I had to do it quick as I had students with me and I had no time to take an elaborate picture...I just had to literally point and shoot.

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV.

The Girl Waiting For the Bus

Midtown Manhattan

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" Carl Sagan

I was never particularly good in shooting candid street portraits mainly because of the fear of someone snapping at me and embarrassing me but often times I can't resist. This was the case in this photo.

This young woman was waiting in the same bus shelter we were waiting at. She looked like she just got up from her bed and rushed out but she looked beautiful nonetheless. It always fascinates me how some women, even if they try to look bad, they still look amazing, while others no matter how hard they try to look good, they still don't. Some or blessed than the others I guess.

Anyway this photo was shot very close to Macy's which in my opinion is even more chaotic than Times Square but I just love the area. If you have an artist block just head down there and you will quickly overcome it.

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV.

Serenity

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

"Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence." Buddha

 

From the very first time I've seen this statue I felt enthralled to take a photo of it. I've tried several times only to be disappointed but then I realized that this statue was so beautiful that it takes a master to be able to photograph it up to its standards. So I settled to this one which is much better than the previous ones I've shot.

The light falls beautifully on the statue and it almost makes it feel that it's real. I could not stop staring at it. The shadow that the light is creating behind it looks like wings coming out from the back. It looks exactly that way if you see in real life...the same as you see it in the photograph.

Of all the Buddhas I've seen, for some reason or another I prefer the slim and slender ones. In my opinion they look more serene and graceful. I have nothing against big-boned people, it's just a matter of opinion when it comes to Buddha.

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV.

The Door

Valletta, Malta

"Knowledge of what is does not open the door directly to what should be." Albert Einstein

Today I am posting another photograph of my Valletta by Night tour. This photo was shot just opposite the location of my previous photo. 

Today the building is where the Parliament meets but it has a lot of history. It was built by the Knights of St.John and it was their residence. It's simply enormous inside and full of grandeur. The Knights sure did have good taste regarding architecture and location. 

It was recently restored too and it looks nicer than ever. Add the night ambient to it and you have some eye candy. It always baffles me that a building that was built around 1560 is still standing there and has a purpose. I always try to imagine the lush life that those Knights lived back then.

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV.

The Way of Light

Valletta, Malta

"Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?" Maurice Freehill

I have always thought that the night is more colorful than the day and I tend to enjoy sightseeing more after the sun sets. Sometimes you can see things that you can't see during the daytime.

This photo was shot in Valletta at the newly refurbished square that's by the Parliament. A few years ago it used to be sitting there in pitch black but now it's really breathtaking to just walk over there at night.

It was one of those moments where I wished I was carrying my professional camera but since I only had my iPhone with me I had to do the best I can with it. The photo is raw, no editing, no light metering...just a simple point and shoot. It was shot using the Hipstamatic app and converted to black and white using the iPhone.

In Dreams

Zabbar, Malta

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." Oscar Wilde

The first impression I got when I see this photograph was 'dreams'. Not the kind we experience while we are awake, but the actual dreams that we experience while we are asleep. The blue border contrasted with the dark background and a lighter sky all for some weird reason or another remind me of a dream.

The church in the photograph can be found in Zabbar. While it's not one of the nicest churches in Malta, I believe there is something around it that makes it all worthwhile to visit. Right in front of the main door (which is the lower middle one in the photograph) there is a street that stretches almost 1km straight down (0.6 miles.) While I have never seen this myself I have heard it several times. If you are standing at the very edge of the street and the main door of the church is open, you can see the altar. The main church door is right in the center of the street and seeing it from a distance is quite impressive.

Even though it slightly resembles (I repeat, slightly) Red Square in Moscow, this church has basically nothing similar to the Kremlin. It's the effects I used on Hipstamatic that are making it look alike.

For this photo I used my iPhone 3G with the Hipstamatic app. Settings were random and I don't really remember what type I used.

Right Turn on Broadway

Manhattan, New York City

I can't believe that we are about to celebrate another Christmas Eve. It only feels like yesterday that we were celebrating the last one. How does time go by so fast?

Yes, I have not been uploading photos everyday. This month has been a chaotic one with work, a new apartment and lots of shopping. The blog has been on my mind all the time and it now looks like I am pick up its pace again.

I took this photograph last December in New York City. Nothing really out of the ordinary. I just like the contrast and feel to it. 

This photo was shot using my Samsung compact camera and this is the first photo on my blog that hasn't been edited at all.

One last thing before I close this is that I wish a very big HAPPY CHRISTMAS to my followers and readers and I hope you will have a wonderful time.

Chaos

32nd Street, New York City

"Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth." Tom Barrett

You know how they say a picture can say a million words? Well this is one of those pictures. In this frame we can see all of New York City. Yes all of New York City can be seen in this picture.

If you look closely you can see all New York City has to offer - high-end shops, restaurants, the famous taxi-cabs, skyscrapers, architecture, adverts, the Subway, pedestrians and lots more.

One of the places you can see this scene in New York City is 32nd Street exactly by Macy's. In my opinion it is even busier than Times Square and I always found it more interesting than Times Square itself. Some people hate New York City because of its chaos and fast pace living and those two reason are exactly why I love the City. 

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Left Standing in the Rain

72nd Street, New York City

"A car is useless in New York City, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners." Mignon McLaughlin

When I found the quote to go with this picture I wondering how many New Yorkers actually agree with it. The first part I am sure a lot of us agree on, but what about the second part? I haven't been to many places in the USA apart from California, Texas and New Jersey and I can honestly say that people in New York City are very well mannered compared to the states I mentioned. Now I don't want to offend anyone, I am just making a remark about the second part of the quote!

To get an idea how competitive New York City can be, try hailing a cab. You will get the picture right away especially during rush hours. You'd think that a cold rainy day it would be easier but apparently not for this woman in the picture. If you full view the picture you can see her holding up her arm to stop the cab but it was already loaded. She was there for some time before eventually her dream came true and she managed to get a ride.

The area in this picture is one of my favorites in Manhattan. It's 72nd street and I remember the very first time I saw it I fell instantly in love. Don't ask me why, because I don't have an answer. 

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Carry Me Home

5th Avenue, New York City

"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." Michelangelo

I have no doubt that every New Yorker has seen this statue and I have no doubt that no matter how many times we walk by it, we always give it a look, whether it is a long stare or just a glimpse. Every time you walk by it, you will use a lot of tourists capturing memorable pictures of this famous statue with the name 'Atlas'.

In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan who supported the heavens Usually one could see him carrying a planet but in this particular statue he is carrying circles that represent the planet. It's location is a beautiful one. It is situated right opposite the world famous St.Patrick's Cathedral.

I always felt that there is something mystical with this Atlas statue in New York City. Every time I look at it I sense of a feel of relief. I don't know exactly why it happens but maybe it's because it reminds me that sometimes I am not the only one that is carrying more weight on my shoulders than I need to.

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV