Monday 7 December 2015

Lupin Love

It’s taking me an age to sort through my lupin photos and I still have quite a number to check and process…but I’m far from being all lupin-ed out! Not yet anyway.


I usually work with full-screen photo files so I can see and work with the detail but I’ve had to be tough with the lupin photos and select shots that appeal from the thumbnails to then work on. Of course I still selected far too many thumbnail photos and the next problem was trying to whittle them down to a select few to process & post on this special blog post.


Special blog post? This just happens to be my 500th blog post and when I saw the number approaching I knew exactly what subject I had to use for this very special blog. The beautiful lupins of course; a whole bunch of gorgeous virtual flowers to thank you, my readers, because without you and the encouragement and kind comments you send my way, there’d be no way I would have reached this milestone. Where's the fun in talking to yourself?


In the end I know there are far too many photos for this blog, I didn't want to squash such beautiful photos into my digital photo frames so you have them all, one after the other, in their single frame glory. I'm sure there are at least 170,000 flower stems pictured too, one for every page view over the last 3 years. I know some of you are going to have extra large bunches of virtual flowers!


You’re either going to enjoy them all or you’ll switch off half way down the page and depart, but either way don’t forget to click on the photos to enlarge and if you don’t make it through to the end, do make sure you check out the very last photo, it’s guaranteed to make you smile.


Enjoy the beautiful lupins (Russell Lupines) of the MacKenzie Country. Sun, cloud, storm and sunset; they're all here, along with that blasted wind.























A wedding party joined us (two other photogs and I) for sunset in the lupins. After the obligatory shots of the happy couple kissing and embracing in the lupins, even laying down in the lupins, the wedding photographer had the party jumping in the lupins. At least a dozen times. Towards the end the older members in the  group were struggling to get off the ground. I wondered why he did so many shots, that was until I saw my own shots. The brides dress was often caught above her knickers! And no I'm not going to post one here! :) 


18 comments:

  1. Congratulations on writing your 500th post! Just love all the lupin shots. You have done a great job of showing how the shades change during the day, in different conditions. We never imagined there was so much variation and colour combinations.
    Robin and Jenny - Romany Rambler

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    1. Many thanks Robin & Jenny, much appreciated. I was amazed at the colour variation too.

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  2. Bet you took al least 500 shots of Lupins for your 500th Blog....quite a feat, with your own feet. either way!
    Ain't digital cameras cheap.....on film!...and long on creativity......couldn't you get David to perform in the lupins, with fly rod...or whatever?
    Cheers
    J

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    1. Bet I took way more that that Jimu! ;) And yes digital camaras are great but they're also a pain as of course I take way too many shots and then have to process them all. And no, David certainly decided he'd had enough of lupins well before I might have been able to persuade him to pose.

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  3. Congrats on your 500th post Shellie. These lupin shots are gorgeous and quite put my paltry few to shame. I can see I will have to start making plans to revisit the area next year!
    Regards
    Lisa

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    1. Hi Lisa, thankyou for your congrats and I'm sure you'll have a just as many nice shots in your lot too, you are too modest. Although the sunset did make for some lovely colours. I have yet to look at my Patterson Pond shots, I suspect they will all look horizontal! :)

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  4. Wahoooo....500 posts! Go You!
    I just adore these lupin photos. I know I'm going to go nuts next November when I can down South and get in amongst them. Thanks for sharing and continuing to inspire me :-)

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    1. Thanks Katrina, glad you enjoyed them (and I'm sure I still have more to come ;) ) You'll just love visiting when they are in flower, just make sure you allow a few days in case it's raining and/or windy.

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  5. Your photos are beautiful Shellie. We get to the South Island in February so never get to see them in all their splendour.

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    1. Thankyou Zelda, much appreciated. It's a pity you'll miss the lupins but there's so much beauty in the South Island I'm sure you'll see plenty of stunning things to photograph.

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  6. Certainly beautiful pics, well done....

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  7. Hi Shellie, Congrats on your 500th post. Such beautiful photos and thank you for sharing them. I always look forward to reading your posts. Regards Joanne Pett

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    1. Hi Joanne, it's great to 'see' you again. Many thanks for your kind comments and I'm glad you continue to enjoy the blog. Best regards, Shellie

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  8. We would also like to add our congratulations on the posting of your 500th blog. we look forward to the next 500.Cheers from us.Mr and Mrs Brown.

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    1. Thankyou kindly for your congrats too Mr & Mrs Brown....although I'm not too sure I'll get to the end of the next 500 before calling it a day! No pressure eh? :)

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  9. I was away at somewhere without internet access when you reached your 500th blog post. Though it's a bit too late, I'd like to add my congratulation too as we share the lupin love! Thanks a lot for the special treat! To me composing great photos of lupins is very tricky...I marvel at your clever play with the natural lighting in different settings, amazing!

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    1. It's never late for comments! Thanks for adding your congrats offstone, much appreciated. I'm lucky in that I had the time to compose my photos and wait for the right lighting, unlike many people who are just passing through and have only a few minutes or hours to shoot. It would have been nice though, if the wind had stayed away.

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a message, I love reading them! All comments are personally moderated by me and I will post and answer them as soon as possible, Shellie