Royal Inspiration

While out photographing the Japanese Magnolia trees in Vicksburg last week, I drove by this beautiful Royal Velvet Camellia bush whose branches were weighted down with hundreds of exquisite blossoms and buds. It was so large that it looked more like a tree than a bush, and I couldn't resist stopping to get a closer look (you can click on the images if you'd like to get a closer look, too). This last picture was taken using the macro setting on my new lens, and I've discovered that there is a very fine line between focused and unfocused when it comes to mastering the art of macro photography. I prefer to hold the camera rather than use a tripod, and even though my lens has image stabilization, I can tell that I'm going to need a lot more practice to capture a perfect macro picture. The good news is that Spring is just around the corner, and there is no better time to capture the glory of Nature at its peak than springtime. I can't wait, can you?