Tag Archives: botanical

Photo of the Day- “Love”

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"Love" - Tracey Capone Photography

On Thursday, I decided I needed a Mental Health Day and took the day off. No reason… no grand plans,  I just decided I needed to take a day when most were at work and it wasn’t a weekend where I’m already off (and inevitably running all the errands I don’t have the time or energy for during the week) or a paid holiday when my company is closed for the day.

Originally, as has been the case for what seems to be the last month or so, it was supposed to rain. Taking that in to account, I fully expected my MHD to take place in a vegetative state on my sofa reading the latest of my book club books. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when the sun came out, the blue skies peeked through the storm clouds and it shaped up to be a beautiful day.

I immediately threw my bike rack on the back of my car (yes, I live in the city and have a car… how else am I supposed to get to far off places the CTA doesn’t go to get new photos? ;) ) and drove out to Caldwell Woods to bike the North Branch Trail up to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL.

I’m so glad I did. I had been there a few weeks back with my mom and my brother and, while a lot had already bloomed, it’s amazing how much had changed in just a few short weeks. Since I’m not as good at naming various plant species as my mother is (I can, however tell you the seven herbs I have growing on my deck) I won’t even attempt to tell you everything I saw but I can show you….

The Photo of the Day, also one of my newest pieces is, “Love,” a persimmon and creme toned, slightly textured, close-up of a beautiful orange dahlia. I loved how it was tipped on it’s side with some dropped petals laying neatly stacked next to it. It reminded me of the type of flower my friends and I would use to do the “Loves Me, Loves Me Not” game when we were children.

What’s your favorite Spring and Summer flower?

Enjoy!

*tracey*

Photo of the Day- “Embrace”

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"Embrace" - Tracey Capone Photography

I think my favorite sign that Spring has, well, sprung, is the dogwood blooms. I love how the papery, delicate sepals  gently cradle the smaller inner flowers. (The common misconception is that the larger part is a flower.  They’re actually called “bracts” and protect several smaller flowers on the inside, similar to the green sepals that protect other buds before blooming)

I love how the tips of the creme colored bracts have just the slightest but of burgundy at the end, as if nature was using Photoshop to “burn” the edges to give them definition. More than anything, I love the overall structure of a dogwood, especially when shot as a monochrome image like the photo of the day, “Embrace.”

I wanted to give this a bit more definition by adding an espresso tone to the overall picture and I love how this turned out. The creme colored sepals in stark contrast to the bold, inner flowers; the variations in the leaves and the branches. Mother Nature gave us a wonderful subject when she created dogwoods, don’t you think?

Enjoy!

*tracey*

"Texture Series" - Tracey Capone Photography

Happy Spring! I think??

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"St. James" - Tracey Capone Photography

Well, it looks like Mother Nature is playing a little April Fools’ prank on a good portion of the East coast today in the form of snow. Surprise!

So, remember how I said I totally missed snow when I lived in Nashville?? Yeah, I’m past that. That said, as long as the snow stays east of Chicago I’m good (sorry Mom!)  If it helps, it’s rather chilly here and raining here in Chicago (of course, since it’s the Cubs home opener today)

In the hopes of bringing a little Spring to those who aren’t quite feeling it today, my New Creation of the Day is, “St. James” a TTV photograph of some beautiful cherry blossoms I came across in London a couple of weeks ago.  This photograph pairs quite nicely with two other new photos, “Rouge” and “Metro” both found in my shop here.

Enjoy and think Spring!!!

*tracey*

The 2011 calendar is here!

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Tracey Capone Photography

Getting ready for 2011? It’s just around the corner. Looking for a great stocking stuffer? Employee gift? How about 12 fine art nature prints in mini 5×7 calendars? They’re printed by a professional printing company on high grade metallic paper and are shipped as loose sheets so that you can put them in your day planner, put them up on your fridge, wherever you need it! Best of all, when you’re done… frame up the print and you’ve got instant art!

The calendar is also available in an 8×10 size. Check them out!

Enjoy!

*tracey*

New to the Gallery- Canterbury

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Brand new (not “relatively new” like the last couple have been) to the gallery is “Canterbury” an 8×8 metallic print.

The name came from the frequent use by Geoffrey Chaucer of the word whippletree, another term for a dogwood,  in “The CanterburyTales.”

Enjoy!

*tracey*

 

"Canterbury" by Tracey Capone Photography

 

Baked Figs and Creme Fraiche… A Treasury

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Fresh Figs- a photograph by honeyandjamphoto on Etsy

The only childhood memories I have of anything, “fig related” are of Fig Newtons. I’ll admit it… they weren’t my favorite. I would have much preferred a ooeygooey (yes,  as far as I’m concerned, that’s a word) chocolate chip cookie over a Newton any day. Looking back, I didn’t  appreciate the beauty and delicate flavor of the fig.  As an adult I look forward, with much anticipation, to Autumn and the markets carrying fresh figs. Use them in salads, grill them, or preserve them, they’re healthy and tasty and, dare I say it, one of the most beautiful fruits around. You can find a host of fantastic recipes for figs as well as tips on how to store them on the California Fig Advisory Board’s website found here.

Today’s treasury is inspired by the beautiful shades of green and aubergine of the fig and even includes a special treat… one of my favorite recipes for Baked Figs and Creme Fraiche.  Looking for a simple, yet elegant dessert for a holiday dinner party? Try it… you won’t be disappointed.

Be sure to check out the treasury by clicking on the photo below and search each of the Etsy shops included in the treasury for some great inspiration for the holidays and beyond… Enjoy!

*tracey*

New Creation- The Monochrome Botanical Series

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"Monochrome 1- Gardenia"

As far back as I can remember, I have loved black and white photos for their understated beauty. Beauty aside however, as I’ve discussed in earlier posts (and thus won’t bore you again with all the scientific mumbo jumbo about brain synapses and color assignment), I believe it’s also due to the lack of color which forces your mind to process the photograph in a way much different from a color photograph.

I especially love monochrome botanical photographs. It’s  easy to look at a picture of an orange poppy and say it’s beautiful, however it’s mostly due to the beautiful orange color nature provided it. Remove that color and you’re forced to look at the lines and curves of the flower itself and, quite frankly, in my mind, Mother Nature is a true artist.

My Monochrome Botanical Series is an ever-growing series of many of her best works. I am lucky enough to come across so many beautiful subjects in my daily life, that I’m excited about what’s to come. The series, as well as others, can be found here, in my online gallery.

Enjoy!

*tracey*

"Monochrome 3- Poppy"

"Monochrome 4- Poppies"

 

Monochrome 2- Succulent"

Going to a Good Home- “The Cove”

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Heading off to a good home (all framed up and matted) is one of my newest pieces, introduced to my gallery this week. “The Cove” is a shot taken at Cade’s Cove in Tennessee on a beautiful fall day! Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I didn’t get to see any bears but the deer were out in full force. If you have a chance to stop by Cade’s Cove during the autumn months, I highly recommend it!

“The Cove,” a square format print, printed on premium archival paper, is available in several sizes, along with a number of other new pieces, in my online galery found here.

Wishing everyone a happy Sunday!

*T*

"The Cove"

Going to a Good Home, “Smoke”

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I’m always toying around with new ways to shoot photos whether it be trying out a different lens, shooting from a different angle or, in this case, trying out a new filter.

“Smoke” is an 8×8 print of a beautiful dark pink bloom that I came across while wondering through Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, TN. Doesn’t look pink right? I took this photo with an infrared filter attached to my macro lens. Now, if you look at other examples of infrared photography, this isn’t quite the same, but, regardless, I loved the end result of this photo.

Layered just slightly to give it a textured effect, I love how the flower ended up looking like billowing smoke. I’m still toying with the infrared photography, and plan on offering more as time goes on. In the mean time though, check out “Smoke” in my online gallery, as well as others available.

Smoke WM

"Smoke"

Going to a Good Home “First Leaf of Fall”

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Going to a good home is a beautiful large format metallic print of “First Leaf of Fall.”

Now, those who have read past blogs have heard me tout metallic paper’s high quality and amazing look so I won’t go in to it ad nauseum but seriously folks, with a print like this one, I can’t even begin to do justice in explaining how wonderful it looks. OK, I’m sorry, I lied, I need to talk about metallic paper again.

Having been called, “chrome on paper,” metallic paper highlights vibrant colors while providing a subtle yet beautiful dimension to photographs that is unmatched by other papers. While it’s not for every print, in “First Leaf” the reds and oranges of the leaf almost pop off the paper while the browns of the table underneath take on a truly realistic quality. You can see every line of the leaf and almost feel like if you touch the paper, you will be able to pull the leaf off the page.

This print, among others are available in metallic paper in multiple sizes in my online gallery. Custom sizes are always available. Feel free to browse around!

Fall WM

"First Leaf of Fall"