Beauty is everywhere. A few minutes ago I walked over to the garden of my friend and neighbor Cindy Dyer and captured this modest image of a little grape hyacinth (g. Muscari). I just love that vibrant violet color.
So often, taking photos is a multi-hour endeavor for me. Normally I pack my gear and head off to remote locations and walk and walk, watching and waiting for opportunities to arise. It definitely is not normal now, so I am relearning the joy of taking photos in small doses, a few minutes here and a few minutes there. Perhaps I won’t capture stunning action shots, but I am convinced that the words with which I began this posting are true—beauty is everywhere.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Finding a new normal sure is a daily experience, Mike. You’ve done a great job capturing the beauty of this Grape Hyacinth—lovely composition and the color is just wow!
Thanks, Ellen. The morning sunlight was coming from a good direction to illuminate these little flowers. If any neighbors looked out their window, they may have wondered why I was sitting on the sidewalk with my head only about a foot above the ground. 🙂
I’m guessing they will get used to that over the coming days and weeks, hopefully your neighbor’s garden will have other offerings.
Judging from previous years, I know there are lots of bearded irises to come, among others.
Keep on walking, my friend.
Thanks, kenne.
Very Nice Mike! Cool image!
Thanks, Reed. These cool little plants (only a few inches tall) are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. My DSLR is not one of the ones with the flippy screen, which would have come in handy shooting so low to the ground. Sometimes in the field I will sprawl on the ground to get a low-level shot, but the sidewalk was hard and cold this morning, so I opted to get as low as I could while seated on the sidewalk.
I strongly recommend that you add a right-angle finder to your gear bag (the Hoodman is wonderful). Before I got my D7500 with its articulated view screen, mine saved me many an excruciating crouch and stoop.
I actually have a couple of cameras with the flip screens, but, of course, did not have them with me. I think I need a designated sherpa to carry all of the gear that I have managed to accumulate over the years. A right-angle finder, though, would be useful, however it looks like Hoodman has ceased making them (some are available used from KEH, among others).
You’re doing well, Mike.
Wonderful closeup, Mike. I love the subtle fragrance of Muscari.
Ah, Eliza, so you know how small they are. It was an interesting challenge to try to get an angle and height that let me get as many “grapes” in focus as possible.
That is a stunning photo! Thank you
Thanks. I love shooting with my macro lens–the world is amazing when viewed up close. 🙂
Best photo of a grape hyacinth I can remember seeing … they’re like little tethered blue balloons. How festive! This gave me a shot of joy 🙂
Finding beauty in the little things 🙂 Grape hyacinth has always been a favorite of mine, fantastic photo.
You have approached this wonderfully, Mike. I have lots of these popping up in my garden every year and I adore them. I do like to try new ways of photographing them, and I like this with the darker backdrop.
Thanks, Pete. I never know for sure what flowers grow in different parts of the world–it’s good to know they are familiar to you.
I cherish these in particular as they always remind me of my grandparents, who grew them in their borders 🙂
That is wonderful. The springtime flowers with memories for me are forsythias. My Mom loved them so much that she transplanted some from her old house to her new house more than a hundred miles away.
Neat!
We have these all over our back hill. I picked a bouquet of them!
They are always one of the first flowers to appear where I live, usually right after the crocuses.
I agree! It certainly is! 🙂 Much of my photography is from my backyard. We have the ocean here but not much else. I do love it but miss Northern nature so much. You already had me missing tulips. I was just enjoying Eliza’s snow pics. Sigh…
We ended the winter with just six-tenth of an inch of snow here in Northern Virginia. Snow can be a pain at times, but I live having at least one good snowfall a year.
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. I spent 10 years in Columbus, Ohio; we sure did drive on ice a lot there. That’s the only part I don’t miss. So many nature outing opportunities up there though. And camping.
A lesson for these times…
Simplicity, patience, compassion (Lao Tzu)
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lao_tzu_387399