Much to the chipmunks’ delight, our Kousa Dogwoods are producing a bumper crop of fruit this year! I’ve heard the unusual fruit has a mildly sweet taste similar to an apricot, but we leave the eating of ours to the chipmunks. Here on our wooded hill in this beautiful month of October, we find the remnants of the chipmunks’ meals on garden benches, big rocks, and paths. The cherry red crumbs always make us smile!
I enjoyed using the Lensbaby with the Sweet 50 Optic to capture this image. Getting that sweet spot of focus right where I wanted it was a bit of a challenge, especially since it was windy; but it finally happened!
@olivetreeann Thank you, Ann! Yes, we will taste them sooner or later. I read that they make a delicious jelly, which is on my list of things to do some day!
@lhart Thanks, Lynne! The skin on the fruit is a bit leathery, so it's not something we're drawn to; but the fruit is so abundant this year that we find ourselves admiring and being tempted by it!
We have something similar called salmon berries-same coral color. I use to see them on the hiking trails, but we leave them for the wildlife. Very pretty capture. Love the soft colors they produce.
@milaniet Thank you, Milanie! I love the sweet spot of focus surrounded by blur that is created by the Lensbaby. Using this unique lens is getting a bit easier with practice. The branches of the Kousa Dogwoods are heavy with this colorful fruit, so I thought it was time for some Lensbaby practice.
@pej Thanks, Paul! The Lensbaby with the Sweet 50 Optic creates unique images with a sweet spot of focus surrounded by blur. There are other creative optics and accessories available, too. I have a lot fun with it!
Had to stop back and tell you how much your comments meant to me on the Memories Collage I posted. I was really overwhelmed by your kind words. I taught for 37 years - 35 in the same school - and there were so many wonderful memories. It's nice living in a small town (3900) where I still see many of these same kids now in their 50's and got to teach many of their kids. Love 365 for the many cyber friends you get to know.
Such a wonderful photo, Janet. I've been wondering what those fruit are -- and even tried to get a photo or two. None of mine turned out as well as yours!
@milaniet Thank you for stopping back, Milanie! Your career was certainly a blessing for you and countless others! I'm glad our journeys brought us together on 365 where we can share our love of nature, photography, and life! :-)
Gorgeous! You definitely found the 'sweet spot' with the focus (something I didn't exactly do in my pumpkin picture) and I love the way you've framed this image. Very artistic.
@lyndemc Thank you! I struggle a bit with the sweet spot, but it is getting easier. I find that using the tripod with my Lensbaby helps me a lot. I also really like focusing the Lensbaby while using the Live View feature on my Nikon D7100. Thank you for noticing the frame. Framing is new to me; and thanks to 365, I'm having fun trying new things!
@janetb Turns out my struggles this weekend with the Lensbaby were due in part to the diopter somehow getting bumped or turned and the view not being set for my personal vision. I put a regular lens on, hit the back button focus, put the lensbaby back on and realized it wasn't clear until a little adjustment was made in the dial. Have to say I can see much clearer now! I've used the Live View option on occasion; perhaps I should be more often.
@lyndemc I'm glad you figured that out...I would never have thought of the diopter. I think your pumpkin photo was absolutely fabulous! The sunlight on those pumpkins...magical!
