Saturday/Sunday 11/12 Feburary 2023

[Man From Ironbark]

Quite a warm night when it is still 26˚C at dawn. Yes that's 78.8˚F.

Anyway, heres a male Australian orchard swallowtail getting a drink from the wet pavement where I'd been watering my garden.

[Luv2shoot]

Hello, Peter.
That is a sweet-looking butterfly.  As usual, your close-ups are razor sharp.
How hot did it get for you today?

Welcome to the weekend and I hope that it is a good one.

Here is a photo that I used for Flickr's  SMILE ON SATURDAY.  The topic was RED HEARTS.

[Man From Ironbark]

Only got to 36˚C today. Which is 96.8˚F.
It will cooll a bit Mon Tues and then back up to 41˚C by Friday..

I can see you are all heart by your image Lorell.

[Adamphotoman]

I concur with Lorell Peter,
Lorell, Your image is all ready for Valentines Day. Great multiple exposure.

[Man From Ironbark]

Oh I got even closer for this shot.


Mind, all these insects, flit off elsewhere between each attempt to get closer. Have boxes full of photos with the last vestiges of a blurred wing in a top corner of the photo.
It is cooler today maxed out at 26˚ so far.
   

[dewarp]

Peter - Amazing butterfly shots. My attempts at macros have never been good. I blame the equipment of course.

Lorell - Good one for Valentine's Day.

About time I posted something. Our camera club topic for April is "Murder Mystery Book Cover", so I have been working on a few of those. Here is one of them.


   

C&C Welcome. Regards - Pete

[Dave]

MFI, thank you for continuing to share images (and knowledge) of your flora and fauna. Fascinating, and always sharp as noted above.

Lorell, I wish I had even a fraction of your imagination and creativity. Your multiple exposure, duplicate layered, texturized, colorozed Hearts image is top-notch.

Hi Grant.

Pete, I like your book cover. As always you practice great attention to detail, fine compositional sense, and expert control of light and color.

Speaking of light and color, here's the last floral macro taken on Feb 7 beside my garage wall. I didn't set out for the Orton effect of soft glowing colors, but either there was a hint of that in the unedited photo or more likely some of my standard adjustments introduced it. Unplanned, but not a bad look, IMO.

   

I've been considering how to approach my Super Bowl meal. I have a small pork loin roast thawing, and most or all of it will end up as pulled pork for sandwiches. I think I'll go with a basic BBQ sauce but add a strong fruity side to it with apples, oranges, and pineapple. Probably some brown sugar, and certainly other common seasonings, and of course a strong kick with the last of 2022's dried and roughly ground hot Thai peppers. Side dishes will probably be cole slaw and a baked/roasted dish of smashed potatoes, cherry tomatoes and garlic, sprinkled with sea salt and ground black pepper, drizzled with Balsamic vinegar, and topped with crumbles of either Feta or Blue Cheese.

As for the Super Bowl game (PHI is a 1.5-point favorite according to the betting line), I had San Francisco beating Cincinnati so my projections haven't been very accurate. But here are my thoughts...

I see 2 main factors. 1) Both QBs are injured: for KC, Mahomes has a high ankle sprain, while PHI Jalen Hurts is still affected by an injured throwing shoulder. And 2) How effectively will the defensive lines add pressure on the opponent's injured QBs?

For the QBs, Mahomes has always been a very effective scrambler and runner, but this will be tested. Hurts is also an excellent runner, but not as good as Mahomes at passing (especially deep passes) when he's on the run.  I give KC the edge here.

Regarding pressuring the QB, KC is pretty good at it, but PHI is even better. Edge to PHI.

So here is my prediction (with not very much confidence): Mahomes will be more mobile than expected, and the famous Mahomes magic (no-look passes, jump passes, even passes underhanded, throwing accurately on the run, and a proven ability to scramble long enough to make the big play) will be the deciding factor. Call it KC 27, PHI 24.

[Man From Ironbark]

Yes Dave, Lorell is very imaginative and creative.
Peter, I'd want to read that book of yours. the title and the artwork make me want to read the book.
Dave, I do love the light in your yellow flower heads.

Yesterday I found more dragons hatched out but I didn't have my camera with me.

So you'll have to try and see if my bark is worse than my bite.

[Man From Ironbark]

It is already Monday here, which is Galentine's day. 13th Feb.
So here's to all galentines.
First I've travelled back 1983, my daughter smelling the roses.


and a different view of a rose.

[Luv2shoot]

Wow, great photos all.
Peter’s sweet daughter, Dave’s yellow blooms, and Peter’ Ds next bestseller are all great images.
Thank you for all of your generous comments on my Cards shot.
Lorell