Up close and not personable

For my birthday earlier this month, my family gave me a new toy: a Nikkor 40mm micro lens.

I developed a hankering for this special glass after my friend Mari at My Little Corner of the World posted a picture of the inner workings of a snowflake. 

A single snowflake! I drooled. Not over the snowflake, but over the sort of lens that could photograph a snowflake and make it worth your while.

Never mind that I have no snowflakes to photograph. There are other things in nature that bear up very well indeed under close photographic scrutiny.

As in, you almost feel you've never seen them until you see them this way!

I speak of flower petals and stamens and tiny budding things and raindrops hanging like jewels from the edges of leaves, and of the purple veins of ground cover no bigger than a fairy's pinky fingernail.

In search of these types of photo opportunities, and the weather being particularly lovely, I set out a few days ago for a stroll around my yard.

Out front, to the left of the garage, I concentrated on the infinitesimal tightly-wrapped magenta-colored buds swaying in the breeze on an azalea bush.

Next I crossed the yard so as to invade the inner life of our lush twelve-foot-tall viburnum (snowball) hedge, the creamy faces of which only nodded vaguely to acknowledge me.

From there, I got a bee in my bonnet to capture the breathtaking beauty of our fluffy pink dogwood tree, which stands sentinel at the point where our road makes a sharp dogleg curve.

(Our white dogwood, closer to the house, had a rough spring due to the vagaries of the elements and only produced flowers on the tallest branches. The lower ones are bare.)

I don't know why.

But across the street from our heavily-laden pink dogwood is a white dogwood with so many snowy-showy flowers, it's basically a blizzard of blooms.

Having been under the weather lately but feeling very happy and good in the gentle sunshine, I crossed the street to get all up in that dogwood's grill.

I looked both ways. There was a car coming but its driver was in no hurry and I had plenty of time.

Stepping fourteen inches, give or take, past the curb and into our across-the-street neighbors' yard, I found my nose in the white dogwood branches.

I lifted my camera to my eye and zoomed in on a white petal. I snapped but it was breezy and the branch was moving so I waited.

It was then that I heard the car approaching. And stopping. Behind me.

An unfriendly female voice said: Can I help you?

Not nice! She did not say it nice. You can say Can I help you? nice but she did not. She said it aggravated and annoyed.

I turned around. Can you help me? I answered her question with another question, because I was truly confused. Did I look as though I needed help?

My neighbor (to whom technically I've never been introduced and to whom I have never before spoken, although both she and her husband know TG) glared up at me. 

You're taking pictures of my house, she said.

Uh, no, I corrected her. I'm taking pictures of this here tree.

She declined to respond, only powered her passenger window back up and proceeded into her driveway.

Sorry if I offended, I said to her right-rear bumper.

I should tell you now: The lady's not from around here. Hails from way, way up north. And not in a good way.

Sorry not sorry.

So I took my devious skulking trespassing self back across the street and up my driveway and into my house. I closed the garage door. I may have pouted for a moment or two.

I wished I'd said: Ma'am, if you knew anything about photography, you'd know that I wouldn't stand in a tree with flowers practically up my nostrils to take a picture of the house behind it.

I wished I'd said: Ma'am, I can look at your house any time I want by glancing out of my front window or stepping onto my porch. I have no need for pictures of it.

I wished I'd said: Lady, what if I WAS taking pictures of your house? How exactly could that harm or even affect the house, or you? What could I do with those pictures? Do you think anybody would want them?

I wished I'd said: Lady, I go to great lengths when taking photos in my yard, to make sure your house is never in them. So why would I lurk in the dogwood at high noon to capture your domicile in digital?

But I shook it off. Consider the source, I said. Some people aren't happy unless they're unhappy.

I went out back where I gathered a flossy not-quite-blown dandelion and some tiny purple ground cover with its green accoutrement. I also took pictures of the inside of a riotously blooming hot pink azalea.

The stamen tips look as though they've been dipped in mercury!

The next day, it rained a lovely spring rain.

Afterwards, I went into the back yard to capture dripping ivy leaves, that same azalea full of raindrops, and the ruffled petals of a rain-spangled dianthus given to me earlier in the week.

If you come over, I may have to aim my new lens inside your eye! So look out. We'll find just the right light.

And if I trespass by attempting to photograph the brain behind your pretty eye, I'm sure you'll let me know.

And that is all for now. I'd better remind Mr. DeMille that I'm ready for my closeup.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend :: Happy April

Comments

[Mari]

Grrrr! Why do some people have to be like that! You can skulk around my yard anytime and take pictures - and if I was in yours you know I would do the same.
Now - I am drooling over those gorgeous photos and I need a new lens!!!

[Barb]

So, Jenny, I'm thinking you took these photos handheld? They're amazing! I have a macro lens that I rarely use because it's always so windy when I want to take photos. However, even inside, I find it hard to hold the camera still enough. I have a tripod, but it always seems like too much effort to set it up. I love the bud shots and the stamens which are so intricate and lovely. The bokeh is also special. Perhaps your neighbor is running a meth lab and didn't want any incriminating photos floating about? (Just kidding - I hope...) It seems like the occasion called for smiles and introductions rather than reprimand. I wonder if she even appreciates the beauty of her dogwood?

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... I know I could wander for hours taking pictures in your beautiful yard! xoxo

@Barb ... What can I say? She's from New Jersey. I am probably more bothered than most when people confront me about taking a picture of something OUTSIDE. I'm respectful, quiet, and mean no harm. What is it about that, that calls for any sort of confrontation? She could have ignored me, maybe even kept an eye on me -- by the time she had gotten out of her car and gone inside, I would have moved on. Instead she had to be all territorial, haaahaha. And yes, we both missed an opportunity to be friendly but I guess that just is what it is. Definitely handheld photography! I sometimes have to hold a branch still but it turns out all right. I always feel the camera shake but I think there's built-in compensation for that. Good to see you! xoxo

[Cheryl Arment]

This whole post makes me crazy! Not because of the rude lady across the street, not because you got a new camera lens, not because you didn't yell at the lady, no, no, no. Here is the scoop! I have one of those lens and I take awful pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There. I said it!

I liked Barb's comment "You took these photos handheld?" Ditto!!!!

What stinks even worse after showing Alan your photos, he says, "Your camera can take pictures like that!" auuuugh! It is a time like this that I wish I could see better. However, he says that the instructions are on line and that I can magnify them and learn that way.

I am so happy that you got this new lens. I know how much enjoyment you will get from using it.

As for the lady next door. #1. She probably has a dead spirit. We are not made alive until we receive the spirit of Christ. Have you ever reasoned with a dead person? It never works out. #2. She is from New Jersey. New Jersey is a foreign country. Enough said. #3. I am glad that you kept your tongue. You have nothing to ask forgiveness for when you say your prayers tonight.

I have missed you! You said that you have been under the weather. I hope you are much better by now and able to get out there and take more pictures of your neighbors. Hee! Hee!

[Jennifer]

@Cheryl ... Girl you make me giggle. I do have a nice camera. That's the main reason for the clarity of these photos. Nikon or Canon? Nikon. That's just my opinion but I doubt I'll ever change it. Nikkor lenses are the best. But you keep trying and you'll get some lovely closeups. Double Ditto New Jersey! I know from personal experience, it IS a foreign country. I'm shooting you an email. xoxo

[Judy]

Now--why don't you frame one of the best photos of her dog wood blossoms and take it over to her and explain. She might like it.

[Jennifer]

@Judy ... That's actually a very good idea. However, I didn't have time to take more than one picture, and it wasn't good. After our encounter, I went straight home. What I could do though, is go back over when her car is gone, take more photos, frame one for her, make some muffins, and go back and make a friend. I'd better act quickly though, because the dogwoods will be all leaves in a day or two! xoxo

[sally]

Yes, I see that I missed this post. I'm sorry.

Wow, girl, you went to town with that new lens - these photos are awesome (not that you've ever shown one that wasn't). I'm happy you're enjoying it.

Hey, one thing; not wait, two things:
Our dogwood did not bloom even one this year, and the people next door had a beautiful showing!
2 - I have two good friends from New Jersey and they're both very nice people, but I get it about that neighbor of yours. How rude! I just don't get people like that!

When I got my new (to me) car last year; my neighbor and I were talking and I said: "Hey, how do you like my new car?" You know what she said "Well, I haven't seen the inside!" What was that all about? Of course, I let it go; that lady has more troubles, real ones with two adult kids on drugs, and raising her two grandchildren.

Well, I don't know why I said all that; you'd think I don't have anyone to talk to. LOL

xoxo

[Jennifer]

@ Sally ... Haaahahaaa yes I know you have someone to talk to but that doesn't mean you're not welcome to babble on here as much as you want. And in fact, I know some nice people in New Jersey too. xoxo

[Luna Crone]

OHHHHHHHH WOWWWWWWW!!!! What gorgeous, fantastic, beautiful, lovely, amazing photos! Add Breathtaking to that list! -happy sigh-

You can come over and take pictures of my eye balls any time. -grin-

The weirdo neighbor is from "up north" hu? One of those "Damn Yankees" I presume.... Ickkkk....

But, I am a "Damn Yankee"... And I'm not like that!

But! Maybe she is from The Coastal area, up here. That area where they pour "The Kool Aid" into the drinking water. And all the citizens are a wee bit Batty, and a big bit Liberal. Yeah, maybe that's where she is from.

Where as, this Damn Yankee, is from farther in..... More like those, in the famous Fly-Over-Land-Of-The-Deplorables!!!!!!! -evil grin-

Hugs,
Luna Crone

[Jennifer]

@Luna ... You got it! She's from the Kool-Aid loony part of the USA but I'm sure she's not a bad lady. I probably need to break the ice. I'm glad you like the pictures. More to come! xoxo