The fresh growth of the new spring leaves is always a joy to see, especially in contrast to the dark bark of the manzanita (little apple). Some Native Americans still gather the berries for food. The shrub’s leaves and berries are also used in teas/ or as tinctures to treat poison oak rash.
This is a sage blossom that just opened up after another spring shower. I love to rub the plant’s leaves between my fingers and smell the sage when I walk by on a daily walk. My cat Calvin occasionally sniffs the plant leaves at cat level too, but his interest lies more towards the direction of scurrying local wildlife.
I think this bug’s eye view in black & white really brings out the varied textures in the palm tree.
Successful egg hunting tomorrow!
Photographic thought: no Black & White eggs here.
A California winter and early spring spring sight, the striking dark black limbs of the valley oaks always make for interesting photographic subject matter. Their twisted framework of branches provide a stark contrast to the sky behind them. Then with the first warm sunny days they miraculously transform into opulent trees with lush bright green foliage completely hiding the framework of the branches. Shade for summer picnics under their huge canopies follows.
I have always been fond of orchids, so when I saw about half a dozen hand-lettered signs spaced out at various intervals next to the main road advertising an orchid show last weekend, it didn’t take much convincing to plan to attend.
I picked up a neighbor who is also fond of orchids and we drove over to the show on Saturday morning. Although medium in size in terms of an exhibit, there were spectacular orchids in all colors, shapes, and varieties. A carpenter had even built special wooden exhibit stands for some of them. These prize winning orchids were an orchid lover’s dream and a joy to photograph as well.
Later, as I was perusing the sale portion room of the exhibit a man walked in and asked us to check our numbers on our entry tickets, and lo and behold I saw that I was the proud winner, picking out a beautiful dendrobium orchid. I have seldom won anything so there was much excitement on my behalf.
Dendrobium orchids have a profusion of flowers but lose some of their leaves in winter I learned when reading up about them later. I have only had phalaenopsis orchids until now, so the dendrobium orchid was new to me. Cradling my new treasure I headed home with a big smile on my face.
California dream: narcissus blooming during a very dry January this year bringing hope of renewal and spring.
Even a blind chicken finds a kernel once in a while I chuckle to myself as I open my photos folder. I thought I had been holding my iPhone steady to photograph a string of Christmas lights, but I guess not! I wonder if I could pass this off as the Northern Lights, hehehe.
I have alway been fond of photographing these flowers. Their subtle gradations of color are simply lovely. One is reminded of pastels or impressionist painting.
Below are two links to some of my botanical watercolors.
August 2025
It has been quite a while since my last photo portfolio, so I’m very happy to finally be able to put up some new imagery after struggling with health issues for over three years. While I usually do my work with my trusted pair of heavy digital cameras, this portfolio consists entirely of images taken with my iPhone. It is a dinosaur too – by today’s fast changing standards – a hand-me-down 6S Plus that I am grateful for. Nonetheless, it is the eye and vision that matter, right?
Several weeks ago on my way to the dental chair I met someone on a BART train who I noticed had a Leica film camera, and we had a fun conversation about “old school” photography. I think he was about half my age, and exited about “discovering” film. I had to set him straight about darkroom fumes though. Let’s not go overboard. No more chemicals for yours truly if you please. I love processing photos on the computer screen and digital printing on quality art paper – it was a milestone in terms of innovation when both arrived, and desktop publishing and fine art printing became a reality for normal everyday users.
The first digital image I ever took if I remember right, was with a Sony Mavica that used floppy discs! Anyone remember those? I think it was around the time when the Macintosh SE and Plus came out, perhaps the Classic. It was very practical that you could insert the discs directly into the Macintosh. The precursor to modern CF cards. Continuing my conversation with the fellow on BART, we discovered we both shared an interest in the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. What’s not to like? He was such a master of his craft.
Recently, while perusing the Apple website I was astounded at the leaps and bounds iPhone cameras have taken. Their top of the line iPhone 16 Pro Max model made for photographers, rivals professional DSLRs. What a technological advance, and a light year leap from the Mavica.
I have had a lot of fun with the images in this new portfolio, from photographing breakfast I made for my “kids” (all grown up), who protested to no avail that this was for “kids” when breakfast was served (I loved making it – and eating my fair share too), to Black & White images of small slices of life, to nature that I love so much, and of course special photos of my faithful cat Calvin. Can you find my “the decisive moment(s)” homage image(s)? Say the last two words quickly three times – think “Fox in Socks”. 🙂
Explore and enjoy,
Matthias Leue
Matthias Leue Photography 