3 Jan 2014

2013 Best Nature Images

by | posted in: Photography | 13
It’s time for my 2013 best nature images. Indeed 2013 was the year of macro for me. If it wasn’t lensbaby optics then it was extension rods on the 90mm macro lens or extension rods on my 50mm. Furthermore I loved being creative with my compositions. Moreover that also was helped along by being part of an artistic photography mentorship program over the summer.

 

This is the 2nd year for sharing my best nature photos with the yearly Best Photos Project. In addition you can view last years here: My Best Nature Photos from 2012.

 

2013 Best Nature Images

 

…brrrh

2013 Best Nature Images macro of an iced water droplet

We had the coldest spring in decades but even on the coldest of days I was out searching for patterns and shapes.

…blur

2013 Best Nature Images - ranunculus spring flower bud macro
She held nature in the palm of her hand.

 

Using the lensbaby optics helped make flower compositions even more interesting.  As a result the outer parts of this ranunculus bud reminded me of someone’s hand holding the flower bud.

…buzz

2013 Best Nature Images - a bee on an astrantia flower
Hung over at the Nectar Bar
I got stung by a bee for the first time in 2013 but not while taking photos.  Besides gardening with a floaty flowery top on isn’t advisable. Consequently bees can get lost in among the folds of material – ouch!
I can spend an hour at a time in summer sitting beside a flower with my camera lens.  Normally the bees don’t take any notice of me. Nut if the camera lens gets a bit too close and they start to posture their legs at me I know it’s time to back away.

…blooms

2013 Best Nature Images - wild flower daisy macro
2013 best nature images: lazy hazy daisy days

…bugs

2013 Best Nature Images - daddy long legs in autumn
2013 best nature images: creepy or just crawlie?

…bi-colours

2013 Best Nature Images - acer spring leaf colours
2013 best nature images: Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ new spring leaves
Spring and autumn brought some brilliant opportunities for capturing the colours in the foliage.

…bucolic

2013 Best Nature Images - fog along Perth lade right of way
2013 best nature images: Along Perth Lade one foggy September morning

You don’t have to travel far to find bucolic here in Perthshire!

…beauty in decay

2013 Best Nature Images - hydrangea decaying flower heads
 2013 best nature images: Hydrangea ‘Phantom’ flowers fading gracefully

The fragility of decay can be a thing of beauty.

…the Blue Yonder

2013 Best Nature Images - Himalayan Blue Poppies Meconopsis at Branklyn garden Perth
Himalayan Blue Poppies | Meconopsis

Taking photographs for the National Trust Scotland team at Branklyn Garden, Perth has been a great experience since Spring 2013.  Not only has it given me loads of garden photography experience in the 2 acre garden. But it has also encouraged me to grow more unusual species of plants in my own garden.

…bokeh

2013 Best Nature Images - lilac Primula denticulata drumstrick primulas in spring
2013 best nature images: Primula denticulata in Spring

I love bokeh and took many chances by shooting wide open to create it.

 

Follow Rosie Nixon:

Photography Tutor and Gardener

Rosie is a garden photographer, writer and nature lover. She enjoys soaking up nature and is easily distracted from doing the weeding by anything that flutters, flies, buzzes, creeps or crawls! She enjoys sharing the beauty of creation through her photography. Rosie has been featured on TV on BBC2's The Beechgrove Garden and she uses the outdoors as her natural light studio. Her work can be seen at one of Scotland's only photography galleries - Close Gallery, 4b Howe Street, Edinburgh. If you'd like to receive the latest leavesnbloom blog posts by email click here.

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13 Responses

  1. rusty duck
    |

    They are all beautiful photographs Rosie, but the bee on the Astrantia is my favourite. Sorry you got stung!

  3. Céline
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    Such many wonderful photos! Love it all! Love your style! 🙂
    Happy new year Rosie! 😉

  4. Anna
    |

    Exquisite images as always Rosie but would not expect any less of you 🙂 Happy New Year – may it treat you and your garden kindly.

  6. Pam's English Garden
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    Your photographs are amazing, Rosie. It is impossible for me to pick a favorite — maybe the creepy crawly. The mentorship program sounds fascinating- I would love a similar opportunity, but my photography simply isn't good enough. Wishing you a wonderful and happy 2014. P. x

  9. Alistair
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    Hi Rosie
    Of all the blogs which I visit, your photography I would place in the top five. Wanted to choose a favourite from this post, nah, too difficult.

  11. James Missier
    |

    I'm amazed at the beauty of simplicity.
    Above all – my fav. is the flower in the palm of the hand.
    That is absolutely fairy-tale like.

  12. Melanie J Watts
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    I practised taking a few macros last year too, although I don't have your equipment, my camera is a Canon s95. I love the photo of the bee on the edge of the flower.

  13. Larry
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    I've been meaning to check out this post of yours for a few days and finally found an opportunity… it is well worth the visit! Macro interests me greatly but it's just another one of those things that gets put on the back burner. I really need to invest in a proper lens for macro, although I occasionally have some good success with the lens I use overall. I have really enjoyed your marvelous photos time and time again…Larry