Magic Meadow by taffy

Magic Meadow

UJim had told me the lilacs were even more beautiful than earlier in the week so I did an early evening relatively quick photo shoot to capture three sites -- Protar's home, Protar's Tomb, and the lilac meadow. At the meadow, the lighting was tricky as it was early evening and I was worried the sky would wash out or the lilacs would be too dark. I had my tripod so I gave bracketing a shot (manually - couldn't remember how to do it on the camera). Then, I used HDR to merge three images from f14 to f 5.6.

Additional notes for my benefit. Why photo shoot didn't happen til early evening.
1. The sky over the lake was boring -- not a single cloud all day, just gray
2. I had been weeding and trying to finish up the container gardening all day so took no photos.
3. After planting the last container, I was brushing dirt off the deck and managed to stab myself with a 3 inch splinter through my glove.
4. Pulled splinter out -- except I didn't get it all.
5. Wanted to go to emergency room (which is closed on the weekend as this is a small island, so we'd have had to call 911 and Jim said, "Really? For a splinter? On a Sunday night? Are you serious?" So of course, the only answer is, "uh, no, I was kidding..." but I wasn't.)
6. Jim tries to remove splinter. Creates huge pain attacks as he digs around in my finger -- my shutter release finger (agh!!). He recommends letting it come out naturally.
7. I need a distraction so ask him to take charger off car (that is another story from yesterday's photo shoot) so I can drive to a few nearby places.
8. Watch Tony's and comment on people's photos while trying not to think about pain in my finger.
9. Finish choosing and working with photos and upload.
oooooh! Love it! fav
June 10th, 2013  
Seriously beautiful and successful merge. Looks like a painting. Very magical. Fav.
June 10th, 2013  
Fabulous shot and great processing!
June 10th, 2013  
And a Def Fav!
June 10th, 2013  
Awesome processing!!
June 10th, 2013  
Oh yes and a Fav!!
June 10th, 2013  
What an amazing shot. I hope your finger feels better soon.
June 10th, 2013  
This is a fantastic shot, Taffy - really beautiful.

I hope you get the splinter out. Be sure and use hydrogen peroxide if you have any to clean it well. I usually try and tease out with a needle.
June 10th, 2013  
Instant fav! This indeed, is magical! Love the composition, love the colors and the ambience.
June 10th, 2013  
Love the vibrancy Great capture.
June 10th, 2013  
This is a great shot, like a magical painting. Still need to give HDR a try. Fav. (When I have a splinter I try to soak the area for a a while then when the skin is very soft it seems easier - and less painful to get the splinter out - usually with a sterilised needle and/or tweezers!)
June 10th, 2013  
Fabulous shot, very beautiful and great processing.
June 10th, 2013  
you are very clever - this is stunning - big FAV! - my response to emergency for a splinter was initially the same as Jims' lol - but splinters can be tricky - love your notes to self btw
June 10th, 2013  
Gorgeous! FAV. Thanks for the info on the HDR - bracketing, etc. Must give this a try one day. So sorry about your ordeal. I hate splinters, too! I'm with Paula, try soaking it in salt water. It helps to soften the skin and disinfect too.
June 10th, 2013  
Jo
Ouch splinters are a pain, hope you get it out sooooon. Love this shot, its so full light and depth and rich colours, very good processing.
June 10th, 2013  
Gorgeous shot! fav
June 10th, 2013  
Beautiful capture of the field. I hope your finger feels better soon though!
June 10th, 2013  
This is gorgeous. Thanks for the bracketing info I need to keep trying this. I've had a few goes but I can't get that kind of HDR look. Try soaking your finger in really hot, as hot as you can manage, salt water. That's what I do for my daughter who is terrified of needles and so far it's worked.
June 10th, 2013  
I like the reflection of the cloud in the grass.
June 10th, 2013  
Beautiful! Good luck with that splinter!
June 10th, 2013  
Kim
Very lovely place. I love the pattern of the fresh mow and piles of grass clippings. The processing is remarkable. I hope you finger feels better this morning.
June 10th, 2013  
Superb fav! :)
June 10th, 2013  
I love this photograph it is so melodramatic. Great capture.
June 10th, 2013  
@jsw0109 @vankrey THanks Jeff and Michael, for the fav. And Michael, that's what I was hoping to convey - painting of a magical area.
June 10th, 2013  
@pamknowler @genesis_one Thanks Pam and Corrie for the comments and the fav! I appreciate it!
June 10th, 2013  
@steampowered Thanks Paul, for the comment on the image. And the well wishes. Finger not so great...but it gave me a chance today to photograph the Beaver Island Medical Center!
June 10th, 2013  
@jankoos Thanks Jan, for the kind words on the photo and the advice. I did the hydrogen peroxide treatment and it kept it clean...but more on what happened (unfortunately) when I post tonite.
June 10th, 2013  
@kareenking Thanks Kareen!
@nesspix THank you Vanessa!
@paulaw Thanks Paula for the kind comment and the advice!
June 10th, 2013  
@bizziebeeme @annied @pflaume @jo13 @elisasaeter @alia_801 @rachelwithey @yaorenliu @timandelke @kimshots @amrita21 @cathrinemitch
Thank you all for your kind comments, favs, and advice about the splinter! I wish I had read it before going to sleep. Will update tonite when I post (a picture of...the Beaver Island Medical Center...I do wish I'd gone yesterday!).
June 10th, 2013  
wow that is gorgeous!!
June 10th, 2013  
@nicoleterheide Thank you Nicole!
June 10th, 2013  
@taffy oh! Do take care, of your finger.
June 10th, 2013  
Lve it*)FAV*)
June 10th, 2013  
So sorry about the finger and splinter!! I'm hoping it's ok by now, but if there's still something in there, I believe soaking it in Epsom salt will draw it out. Well, in spite of the splinter you produced a beautiful shot.
June 10th, 2013  
Ewww, splinters are no fun! Lovely shot, lovely tones.
June 10th, 2013  
What a fabulous photo. This is your reward for being stabbed by that massive splinter! Hope it's soon better! It's a fav for me!
June 10th, 2013  
Very beautiful. I like the darkness but the bright colours xx
June 10th, 2013  
Beautiful shot. Fav.
June 10th, 2013  
I just have to look into that HDR stuff because it gives stunning effects. I like this photo. It radiates magic. I can feel Harry Potter standing around the corner ;)
June 10th, 2013  
@amrita21 Thanks for the good wishes, Amrita!
June 10th, 2013  
@katerinatina Thank you Katerina for your wonderful comments on my photos today! I really appreciated the time you spent and loved reading what you had written.
June 10th, 2013  
@olivetreeann Thanks for your comment on the shot and the advice re Epson salts. That's exactly what they told me at the medical center after only being able to remove some of the splinter (which is actually splinters). So, four times a day! Hoping it will work!
June 10th, 2013  
@archaeofrog Thanks Katie!
June 10th, 2013  
@busylady Thanks Judith -- a good way to think of the photo as a reward!
June 10th, 2013  
@psychographer THanks Lisa!
@jesperani Thanks so much for the fav, Jennifer!
@stimuloog Thanks Marloes! That's the look I was going for...if I were Harry, I'd like hanging out there!
June 10th, 2013  
Magnificent capture!
June 11th, 2013  
Wow this is so beautiful!!
June 11th, 2013  
@soboy5 @jeanbelleisle Thank you Danny and Jean! I appreciate you kind comments!
June 11th, 2013  
Beautiful
June 11th, 2013  
perfect title for a perfect photo. you rocked this one! well done
June 11th, 2013  
@kerristephens Thanks Kerry
@photodude Thanks Scott -- what a nice thing to say!
June 11th, 2013  
AMAZINGLY done. Love the processing.
June 11th, 2013  
Absolutely gorgeous! FAV FAV FAV!!! Love the colors and the processing is wonderful
June 11th, 2013  
Absolutely stunning. Gorgeous processing!
June 11th, 2013  
@amandal Thanks Amanda. I appreciate this!
@eyesmile Wow Gena -- you certainly made me feel great!
@masosy Thanks Kate. The processing is still new to me, so I'm glad that you and others have thought it 'worked'.
June 11th, 2013  
Gorgeous shot. Amazing colours and processing.
June 11th, 2013  
wonderfully atmospheric
June 11th, 2013  
Oh, this does look so magical. The finger though - yikes - hope it's feeling better by now.
June 11th, 2013  
I'm faving--had to
June 11th, 2013  
Fabulous! Fav!
June 11th, 2013  
@edie @northy @barbsmith @darylo @jetpics
Thank you so much for viewing and commenting, and for the fav Janette and Daryl. Thanks for the well wishes on my finger Barb.
June 11th, 2013  
lovely capture, love the tones in this
June 11th, 2013  
Love the dreamy and mysterious feel in this, such great colors.
June 11th, 2013  
Gorgeous composition and the early evening mood definitely shows through in this image. Congrats on PP!
June 11th, 2013  
this is just magical! beautiful atmosphere and mood! fav!
June 11th, 2013  
@wind_of_the_sothern_sea @kazlamont @susale @ness50 Thanks for visiting and commenting on this image! Arefin -- I appreciate the fav!
June 11th, 2013  
Beautifully processed,a lovely shot!!
June 11th, 2013  
Awesome capture.
June 11th, 2013  
Fabulous colours and mood
June 11th, 2013  
Congratulations with the PP!
June 11th, 2013  
@carolmw @grannysue @fueast @genesis_one
Thanks Carol, Linda, and Alison for your kind comments. Corrie, thanks for the well wishes!
June 11th, 2013  
I love that photo. Best capture I ever seen.
June 11th, 2013  
@38dcmoder Thanks so much Dawn!
June 12th, 2013  
ooooooo! Pretty! I love it
June 12th, 2013  
@espyetta Thanks so much MaryBeth!
June 12th, 2013  
It is gorgeous!!!!! Fav for me
June 12th, 2013  
congratulations PP -
June 12th, 2013  
Fav obviously. Fantastic colors and the detail on the tree stump and surrounding grass is to die for,
June 13th, 2013  
@colie @annied Thanks for the fav, Colie! And Annie, thank you for visiting and the congrats -- I appreciate it!
@danielwsc Your shots from Gary are what got me started in wanting to learn how to bracket and use HDR processing -- I'm definitely grateful for that!
June 13th, 2013  
Here's another fave to make up for your ghastly splinter episode! (Have just read ahead to make sure there was a happy ending and you weren't now fingerless ... ). Lovely magical scene.
June 16th, 2013  
@jankoos @rachelwithey @pflaume @olivetreeann @taffy

HELP! I'm hijacking TAffy's site here for help. I got a splinter under my nail last night. Figured out how to say hydrogen peroxide in German -- wasserstoffperoxid -- and bought some at the Apotheke but they asked me what % and I had no clue -- so they gave me 3%. My finger has been soaking in it and now it's all white, skin is peeling, but no luck on the splinter. Some of you say salt -- how much? I figured out that Epsom Salt in German is bittersalz but will regular iodine salt work or do i need to get back on my bike to go find Epson Salt? The finger tip is starting a dull throb so I know I need to get it out before I end up in the krankenhaus (hospital) again (last time for two broken bones)
September 3rd, 2013  
@jyokota poor you :( we just use table salt. Get a small bowl, soup bowl sized, and put about 2 tablespoons of salt in with very hot water. As hot as you can manage. And keep in as long as possible.
September 3rd, 2013  
So sorry, Junko! Splinters are the worst. We do as @rachelwithey said and just use table salt. Soak as long as possible, and repeatedly if it doesn't come out right away. Sometimes it takes awhile to work itself out.
September 3rd, 2013  
@rachelwithey @pflaume -- thanks . . . i tried all day but ended up getting ichtholan, a tar-smelly black ointment, kompression gauze, and plastic tape because the pharmacist said i might have to go to the hospital if it gets infected!
September 3rd, 2013  
@jyokota You have to know it takes a few days...and if it's throbbing it's likely to already be infected. Have you thought about going to the hospital to at least get some antibiotics while you let the salt do its thing?
September 3rd, 2013  
@jyokota I am so sorry to be responding to your request this late but I have been out of town for a few days. I looked at the bottle of peroxide that we have and it is listed at 7% (in case you need to know that in the future). As to table salt vs. Epsom salt, I have never used table to salt for a splinter, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. I hope by now that the ichtholan has helped with the infection and that the splinter is working its way out of your finger. That sounds so uncomfortable! But if you see it starting to push out, be brave and try to help pull it along with a tweezer if you can slide it under your nail (unless the splinter is too soft and will break off and stay embedded in your finger). Wish I could just pop over and help you out- but I will have to send my well wishes through the internet instead.
September 4th, 2013  
@taffy @olivetreeann -- thanks! still soaking and also using this tarry stuff. i think when the pharmacist said hospital it scared me a bit as i hated being there last time since i don't speak German,
September 4th, 2013  
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