It's beginning to feel a lot like...Spring!

It is finally feeling like Spring here!

Well, sorta. Last week was all sun and no clouds, so everyone on campus broke out the shorts and dresses. We all soaked up the sun, and got sunburnt and no homework done. But hey, when the sun comes out, we all emerge from our winter caves in Seattle. It is a holiday in itself.

But then of course, this weekend it poured (perhaps to make up for the suddenly nice weather?). So hey. It's April showers.

But here are some shots I took during those hot, muggy days (I'm a wimp in heat).

These first two were taken during a walk with The Boyfriend. The walk ended up lasting quite long, but the scenery was really pretty (if a bit hot...heh). We walked around a neighborhood nearby campus.

I know this second picture is technically the same composition of a previous one from Easter, but I couldn't resist. I really like the pattern of the shadows from the petals. And I think this new one turned out better than the first :)

You really know it's spring when ducklings come out to swim! This is in Drumheller fountain.

Because it was sunny for such a long stretch with no rain (3 days, oh my! haha), every slight breeze jostled off seeds from the trees on campus. I'm not sure what tree these are from, but they covered all the sidewalks and gutters. As you can see in the background of the last picture.

I didn't see that car in the background!! Oh well.

Have a wonderful week!

Cherry Trees!

Hi, I know it's been FOREVER since I've posted anything. I'm sorry! But the point is, you should notice that I'm still taking pictures and now I've got this post for y'all! :)

The cherry trees blossomed on campus--during spring break when I was back home! Bad timing! Oh well. I did swing by with The Boyfriend during break and took some pictures, and when we returned to school, there was still another week and a half that I was able to enjoy them. So be prepared to experience massive amounts of pretty pale pink and sunny skies!

This picture is taken from about the same vantage point as this (first) picture, taken on a foggy morning. Hmm, I should make a series of pictures from throughout the year.....

Can you see how the trees wrap around the entire area? It's a vision in pink! The Japanese Cherry Trees are actually from Japan, and were planted as a gift from a graduating class. They are planted in the shape of a 'W' for our college. You can't really see it here though.

There were so many people out in the sun during break, and in the evenings. I thought this picture captured the relaxed-feeling that the trees gave me.

I always thought that cherry trees were a rich pink, but I've been finding that these trees and other around campus were actually more white or pale-pink looking. Either way, I wish they lasted longer, but I've got these pictures to keep them around for awhile :)

[A sort of planned] photowalk around campus #3

It was sunny today!! After participating in a psychology experiment, I took a walk in the last few hours of light (the sun still sets too early for me...). It wasn't really a photo walk because between classes I passed areas and objects (like the flowers and rain on the leaf) that I put in the back of my mind to take pictures of later. I like the check the weather every day so I can dress accordingly (yes, I'm organized like that), but it also helps me plan for taking photos (like if it's going to be dark or overcast all day, versus sunny). Anyways, enjoy the plethora of pictures to follow:

These yellow flowers are the single most acrid smelling plant I have found on campus. Of course, I haven't been in the greenhouse yet, haha. But there were about 2 or 3 tree-bushes of these that I pass on my way to two of my classes, and you can smell them before you see them. It's not a gross I-stepped-in-dog-poo kind of smell, but more of a this-is-really-strong-and-giving-me-a-headache smell. Due to this unfortunate side-effect, I couldn't stay around them too long taking pictures for fear I would pass out. However, what drew me to these, were that these are the only flowers I have seen on campus. Everything else is bare or dead. (This is why we need snow.)

The most difficult part of this picture was focusing on the "petals." (In quotes because I don't really know what they are.) They were so delicate and thin that it was difficult to focus on all of them at once with the depth of field. Even now, I think the brown part is a bit more in focus than some of the other petals.

Did you really read all the way through this writing to the second picture?

Anyways, this is mud with a few bike tracks through it. I would have liked it to be a bit less washed out where the puddle of water was. Oh well, it add character, I suppose. I did like the slight reflection of a building, in the edge of the puddle though. But I think it's hard to tell that it's there.

This shot reminds me of yesterday's. I think today's flora object is less interesting though. Oh well. I wanted to practice shooting water. I couldn't figure out which droplets looked the best in focus. This picture above has the droplets in the middle and bottom half focused.

This is where it seamed into a regular photo walk. I really liked the light on the tree. I had to take the photo twice though, because my shadow was in the first one.

To celebrate the 100 years of connecting people (I think specifically with Native Americans), a tree was planted with flowers spread around. I took this photo of some of the flowers (also had a problem with my shadow in the setting sun) and I ended up liking the building in the background, giving some depth of field.

 I also like the colors.

This cairn was next to the tree and flowers from above. Thought a close up would make it nature-y. I think the color palate is too grayscale, making it difficult to discern the cairn from the surrounding dirt and wood chips. But the sun made some nice shadows.

If you didn't actually read my descriptions, (but somehow read this), thanks for looking! Have a nice day. Please leave a comment so I know you visited :)

Foggy morning (MLK day)

Last Monday, during MLK day, I got up early and headed out for a morning photowalk in hopes of getting some pictures of the heavy fog we had been getting lately (I had taken this picture in the fog, and really liked the turnout.).

 My boyfriend liked this picture, so I thought I'd put it first =P

 Here, I was attempting to focus the attention on the tunnel beneath the tree branches. I don't think it worked  very well though, because the fog was too thick at the end (I can't seem to figure out how to take the picture so it's not too fogged up), and the building to the left was much sharper, gaining the attention.

 I did like how this one turned out though.

...And this photo? eh. Not a big fan of it. I was trying to show the dew drops from the fog on one of the tree branches, but it didn't work out too well. The background (is really busy and), I like it more than the actual subject.

 This guy wearing all black was the only person in all of Red Square (see below). I liked the contrast between him and the fog. 

 Also, I've never been here when there is only one other person in all of the square. Felt the need to document this...