Beyond Layers II 

Inspirational thoughts and projects hosted by Kim Klassen

Day One, Two ~ Week One

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Day One-Beyond Layers April 16, 2012 ~ The start of MY STORY

I came to the realization many years ago that I am just a simple person. It has always seemed my dreams never traveled further than what was immediately obtainable. I’ve never really thought of my self as lazy, but rather, easily satisfied. All the riches in my world could be found right outside my door. The bounty of a well tended garden, the wealth of flowers in bloom, the glorious song of birds echoing through my piece of heaven and finally, the magical whir of hummingbird wings! . . . . . .

The first day of Kim Klassen’s 52 week class, she asked us to tell our story. I dug in to only complete the first paragraph and set it aside to pick up at a later time. Interestingly enough, on the second day, her first assignment was to utilize a feeling of “just enough”, or simplicity. She asked us to think light, and if setting up a still life think ‘less is more’ and allow for some lovely negative space utilizing her texture 'awaken'.

Week one,  the challenge was on for me to ’think less’, I already had 'simple'.

You see my second posting to the project above.  Below, the before and after.

I eagerly await the opening of the buds on my Bleeding Heart each spring.   I LOVE the way the pink hearts line up on the stem, easily dancing in a gentle wind.   I am a person of color.  You can see in the original photo below the deep pink contrasting against that green foilage.  Heaven to me!  The main reason I signed up for the Beyond Layers II class was my continued admiration for the beautiful work that Kim does.  I was able to get a great feel for her style from her Sinnymini and  Essentials classes.  Through this 52 weeks, I'm hoping to ingrain more of that style into my photography and editing.  SO, starting with some cropping, desaturation, texture overlay at multiply and a few adjustments here and there including a touch of magenta filter, here we have it.  Yes. . . .yes, I'm liking this 'less'!

As I put all the components together, the negative space is begging to come into the frame each time I look through the lens.  One more composition utilizing 'less is more', negative space, the awaken texture and text (I love text!).

my heart's in the garden




Bleeding Hearts ~ Dicentra spectabillis
(Thanks to SkeletalMess for use of his textures)

 
It seemed as though spring was a long time coming this year.  The excessive rains and clouded skies obscured those feelings of "it's just around the corner".  Finally, all those fancy tulips I had planted in pots throughout the yard in the fall made it obvious.  Spring was going to pop with or without sunlight and gentle skies!!

The tulips seemed intent on upstaging all other happenings in the yard, however the ever dependable Daffodils were bright flashes of white and yellow in the background.



King Alfred





Measuring les than 1 inch across, the faces of these little miniature daffodils (above and to the left) were a sweet addition to the show.

Not to be outdone, the Iceland Poppies had been waiting to release their dancing petals; and that they did, in brillant reds, yellows and whites. 

The opening act of the Bleeding Hearts always leaves me breathless.  As its show continues, I love to view the chorus line of delicate pink hearts swaying gently in the wind.

The tulip show continues with new vatieties opening all the time. 

Thanks to Pareeerica for use of texture 'Paper Frame'

Freecias and the sweet faces of Pansies have stepped up to Spring and joined the parade of color.

When the tulips forget to close back up in the evening I know that their show has just about come to an end.  The intricate design of the center, previously hidden within its folds, now lies open for all to see. 

The sweet pink slippers of the Western Redbud stand sentinel as the first wave of Spring color comes to an end.  Soon, other flowers will replace them in an on-going show.  The tulips and their companions will be missed, however, as there's nothing as warming to the heart as the first signs of Spring.

May there be magic in your garden throughout the seasons!