nest building
Some closer looks at the robin’s nest which was shown here a little while ago. Birds are such amazing builders, wouldn’t you agree?
You are browsing the Blog for Photoworks Archives - Page 5 of 51 - Marja-Leena Rathje.
by Marja-Leena by Marja-Leena garden of lichens
the strange and beautiful lichen on walls and rocks in our daughter’s garden:
another of the wondrous seeds featured in the last post:
by Marja-Leena seed heads
Last weekend I had a chance to brush up my rusted skills in macro photography with interesting subjects in our daughter’s garden up in the North Thompson River valley. A touch of a breeze seemed to often come at just ‘that’ moment so only a few photos worked out well. I should have packed along the tripod.
by Marja-Leena Labour Day weekend
We have been away for several days in the interior of BC, enjoying long scenic drives to the Kamloops area, twice to Vernon, then down to Skaha Lake in the Okanagan before heading back home. We spent time with daughter and son-in-law. We twice visited a friend from long ago school days who is very ill and now being taken care of by his daughter. We were hosted by good friends whom we’ve not seen in 12 years. A weekend of much laughter, great food, and sadness too – isn’t that life?
The photos above are of a fallen robin’s nest my daughter found in her garden as she showed me around. I was excited to have the opportunity to take some photos of it, some in very bright sunshine, some in shade. There are numerous grasshoppers (pests really!) in her garden this year, and this little guy jumped in for a portrait, not moving even when I came very near with the camera. More photos to come…
by Marja-Leena late summer
the changing light and lengthening shadows beckoned for a backyard garden tour
a slight breeze meant only three images out of ten worked reasonably
a strawberry blossom, clematis seedhead, and seedpod of an unknown flower
named as New Zealand hibiscus after the friend who gifted the seeds
by Marja-Leena a fly?
on the studio windowsill, another tiny perished insect
pale delicate wings, long long thin legs
so plain to the eye, beauty revealed via scanner
is it a type of fly?
by Marja-Leena found stains
About to throw out this dirty stained strip of paper, I looked closer and became quite intrigued by the marks which look as if made by a brush in an artist’s hand. About 5.5 x 27.5 cm (2″ x 11″), it’s too wide to show well here, so I’ve cropped some details to show below.
I may be strange, but I think these are beautiful! Hmm, how might I use them?
Added 28th July: a suddenly recalled and found related object
by Marja-Leena variations
July’s long heatwave (often up to 35c with the humidity) has made me lazy
watering the garden mornings and evenings
much reading of books, from very good to some disappointing
a cooler weekend with a bit of rain restored some energy
and an urge to play a little more with a favourite image
here are a couple of variations on the black and white hand with magnolia leaf
now it’s back to hot weather and laziness and more books
sorry for being so quiet here – I’m on vacation time
hope you are all having a great summer!
by Marja-Leena another heterocera
Once again I find a tiny dead moth in my studio, wings perched as if ready to fly, as if still alive. Its rich colours, patterns and textures reveal themselves in their full glory in the scanner. Above is the top view, below the underside.
How come butterflies never come visit my studio, or even the solarium where the flowers are? They must be smarter knowing they may never find their way out again.
by Marja-Leena curdles
transformation of liquid to semi-solid
a little disturbing yet fascinating
a scientist would love it
to me it is art