Ian408 meets Shelldance

Dee · February 20, 2005

It was a pleasure to meet Ian today at Shelldance. I hope he'll enjoy my "secret" spot in Pacifica -- hey Steve C, and Dave Kapp weekends only 10-5 but worth a visit, try a sunny day!

Here's Ian hard at work.

Ian's more of an extrovert than introvert me, so he had a nice chat with the man behind the desk and found out the cat's name. The cat, a large male, would rather be out hunting lizards, but he doesn't like the rain, so he was inside today.

OP must have liked Ian! I got this "death stare" or maybe he prefers Canons over Sonys?

And after OP went out and returned soaking wet, he decided to hop up on this table which had this profusely blooming orchid and some sort of decoration lying on the table.

OP was still in death stare mode, so my Sony refused to focus on OP -- no kidding! I didn't think OP was going to hang out much longer so I took the shot anyway! (I could have set up my movable focus spot, but as I suspected, OP jumped off the table shortly after I took this shot.)

When we first walked in these light green orchids against dark green leaves caught my eye. The light was HORRIBLE! My Sony was definitely challenged. And, I was a bit "off" today. Ever have one of those days when you know you're just not at your photographic best? It was dim light, and very humid due to the about to rain any minute weather -- and with the humid conditions of the greenhouse. I think I should have taken my coat off and given it to Ed, but he was already hauling my purse around.

Then this huge dying leaf caught my eye.

Yes, I did photograph some more orchids -- still have a bunch to process.

This was the base of a plant, the texture, color combination caught my eye... and I was able to rest the camera on the edge of the pot!

In the gift store, this beautiful hummingbird feeder caught my eye.

And this colorful shark was hanging over the door to the gift shop.

If encouraged enough, I'll post some more!

:

Andy · February 20, 2005

Dee wrote:

hey Steve C, and Dave Kapp weekends only 10-5 but worth a visit, try a sunny day!

hey wat about moi? i'm an honorary lefty-fornian, i think i get to be, having been there more than nyc in the past 9 months

nice work, dee

Dee · February 20, 2005

Weekends, dude

andy wrote:

hey wat about moi? i'm an honorary lefty-fornian, i think i get to be, having been there more than nyc in the past 9 months

nice work, dee

Only open to the public on weekends.... or you can ask for an appointment.

:

You'd like this place. There wasn't as much blooming as usual, so I'm glad Ian got the scoop that late April and May are the best. Most of one of the "not for sale" greenhouses was empty -- the ones that had my "lady slipper" orchids and some other favorite plants in it.

And it's free!

ian408 · February 21, 2005

You know the focus in the OP shot works pretty well. Almost like he's always
there watching over the place

Andy, I think you'd be welcome at Shelldance too.

Ian

fish · February 21, 2005

I'm not sure why, but I really like this shot.

Dee · February 21, 2005

Hmmm... kind of a fishy comment there!

fish wrote:

I'm not sure why, but I really like this shot.

Harryb · February 21, 2005

Dee wrote:

It was a pleasure to meet Ian today at Shelldance. I hope he'll enjoy my "secret" spot in Pacifica -- hey Steve C, and Dave Kapp weekends only 10-5 but worth a visit, try a sunny day!

If encouraged enough, I'll post some more! :

Very nice Dee.

Lovely colors. The subjects were interesting but I noticed there were no birds.

Dee · February 21, 2005

Yep, no birds

Harryb wrote:

Very nice Dee. Lovely colors. The subjects were interesting but I noticed there were no birds.

Guess that OP cat is doing a good job!

Angelo · February 21, 2005

Is that a flash unit mounted on the lens?

oh sorry, Nice pictures. Love the orchids.

ian408 · February 21, 2005

Angelo wrote:

Is that a flash unit mounted on the lens?

oh sorry, Nice pictures. Love the orchids.

Yes. It's a ring flash.

Ian

Angelo · February 21, 2005

ian408 wrote:

Yes. It's a ring flash.

Ian

Wow; I'll have to look into that little contraption. What's special about it for you?

ian408 · February 21, 2005

Angelo wrote:

Wow; I'll have to look into that little contraption. What's special about it for you?

For shooting macro? The light surrounds the subject.

Ian

Dee · February 21, 2005

First thing I said was

Angelo wrote:

Is that a flash unit mounted on the lens?

oh sorry, Nice pictures. Love the orchids.

Oh my gosh, you have a ring flash, I've always wanted one of those!!!! Never seen one in "real" life before, only in pictures or on the CSI crime series.

Steve Cavigliano · February 22, 2005

How Kewl Dee ^5
I've never heard of this place. Looks like there were lots of photo ops there. I'll have to check it out some weekend. Thanks for the headsup

That darn Ian has wayyyyyyy too many toys. And yes, I am envious about the ringflash

Looks like you guys had a good time and you came back with some very nice shots

But, I musta missed the pics of lunch

Thanks for sharing,
Steve

Nee7x7 · February 22, 2005

Kewl Photos, Dee!
Orchids are not the easiest subjects to shoot (I've yet to get a decent shot of one, and you got several!). This one would have been great for Challenge 32 here (dominant color)...

That OP certainly had *attitude*,

! I don't know if it was a death stare, but it certainly was a "buzz off, I'm trying to sleep here!" sort of look he had.

Looks like you and Ian had some fun getting together for the shoot. Isn't it neat to get together with other photogs like that?

BTW, I really like your "secret place"! Hope I can come see it sometime~

Cheers!
~Nee

Dee · February 22, 2005

Anytime Nee...

Nee7x7 wrote:

Orchids are not the easiest subjects to shoot (I've yet to get a decent shot of one, and you got several!). This one would have been great for Challenge 32 here (dominant color)...

That OP certainly had *attitude*, ! I don't know if it was a death stare, but it certainly was a "buzz off, I'm trying to sleep here!" sort of look he had.

Looks like you and Ian had some fun getting together for the shoot. Isn't it neat to get together with other photogs like that?

BTW, I really like your "secret place"! Hope I can come see it sometime~

Cheers!
~Nee

Yep, orchids are a little tricky to shoot! I've been going there for the last 15 years, so I've had a lot of practice. However, I was a little "off" that day, think I was a little overheated, should have taken my jacket off, but Ed was already stuck with my purse!

This place is so low key and casual, they don't mind photographers at all. I actually told the guy behind the desk that we were "invading" his place, and he said fine, just don't block the aisles for (paying) customers! He then told us to be on the lookout for a special plant. My selective hearing didn't catch all that, and neither did Ed's -- but Ed pointed out what he thought was the special bloom... I didn't bother to take a photo.

Now I have to explain that, the aisles are long and VERY narrow, so if someone comes and wants to pass you have to walk to the end and wait for them to pass before you can go back. Fortunately there weren't a lot of people there!

You'd love OP, he's quite the character! Very photogenic too!

Ian408 meets Shelldance

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