Flower Photography

I recently made a trip to Gibbs Gardens in Ballground Georgia on a rainy Sunday morning. The weather forecast for the weekend was for a 40% chance of rain which did not seem to be threatening to me. I was hoping for cloudy skies for the photography; however upon my arrival it started to pour. The weather forecast had changed to 100% rain for the remainder of the morning. I had to make a decision to leave or walk around with an umbrella. I chose the latter and made some remarkable discoveries.

The Pros and Cons of Photography on a Rainy Day

The biggest advantage was that I had the gardens to myself. This was my fifth trip to Gibbs is the past year and I have never experienced the eerie loneliness before. I was in company with frogs, birds and a giant blue egret. I was the only human (except staff) on the grounds.

• Another big advantage was that the colors were so vivid. The rain seemed to accentuate the vividness which I could see with my bare eye. I did not need a camera to prove this.
• It was difficult to maneuver around with a camera on a tripod and a large umbrella, but I did manage. I set my camera to a 10sec self-timer so I could hold the umbrella over the camera while the photograph was being taken. It was a balancing act but it did work.
• Many of the flowers were droopy (as seen below) as they could not withstand the torrential rain, but I photographed them anyway. There is still beauty on a rainy day.

Message in a Petal – Inspirational Art Printed on Metal

The day has finally come. Ideas have been dancing in my head for the last five years since 2009. My left brain and my right brain have met for some very late night encounters. I have thought, worked and dreamed and cannot waste my dreams on something I can’t make happen. Ta da… I have married my love of floral photography with inspirational quotes for the very first “Message in a Petal” Inspirational Art Printed on Metal. I’ve dreamed, I’ve designed I’ve trademarked, I’ve copyrighted. Now it is time to introduce my new line of inspirational artwork to the world. Enjoy the little things in life that make you feel BIG.

I have over 25 pieces of inspirational and decorative artwork in two collections. Message in a Petal has inspirational quotes on each piece, but you can also order them without a quote or you can add your own personalized quote.  The second collection is The Simple Things which are still-lifes of ordinary items designed with a texture perfect for a kitchen or a dining room. My  new line of artwork is available to view at my store. 

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

If you would like to learn more about DSLR photography visit Studio 2.8

Duluth, GA . August, 13, 2014—A photograph created by Mary Buck of Lightscapes Photographic Artwork in Duluth has recently been accepted into the GENERAL Collection of Professional Photographers of America’s 2014 International Photographic Competition. Mary’s work will be on display at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee Feb. 1-3, 2015. This International Photographic Exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers and several photographic associations.

A panel of 45 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from nearly 5,000 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 1,800 images were selected for the General Collection and 918 (roughly 18 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Loan Collection” book and over 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press.

Titled “Ikebana” Mary’s photograph will be in the International Photographic Exhibition alongside other top photographic works from the competition and traveling and special invitational displays. These images constitute one of the world’s largest annual exhibits of professional photography gathered simultaneously under one roof.

About PPA:
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest international non-profit association created by professional photographers, for professional photographers. Almost as long-lived as photography itself, PPA has roots that date back to 1869. It assists more than 27,000 members through protection, education and resources for their continued success. See how PPA helps photographers be more at ppa.com.

To view more of Mary’s fine art photographs visit the Message in a Petal Website.

For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

To view my fine art photography site visit Message in a Petal.