Vase of flowers provides an hour of fun

I bought myself flowers today.  It was -16 degrees (yes you read that right) and I had to run errands after work.  I just needed something to remind me that underneath all this snow is my garden... dormant, waiting to bloom.  

I have a photo area set up in my basement, so I took the vase of flowers downstairs and proceeded to have fun with my camera settings.  


My camera is a Canon PowerShot SX150.  Purchased so I could have a small, lightweight tool to carry around in a pocket or purse.  Thus far its taken some pretty lovely photos.  

I took it with me to Ireland and France and I have to say the shots I captured of the countryside still take my breath away.  (Not as good as the real thing... but you get the idea.)  

The shots here demonstrate some of my favorite settings.  

• Aperture priority
• Portrait
• Miniature effect
• Color selective
• Color replacement
• Vivid color
• Macro

So for an hour I was able to let go the stress of the day and express myself creatively.  Quite a bargain for $8.  

Enjoy!  

Macro setting with vivid color lets me get close and retains the vibrant hues.

Practice composition.  Be willing to get down on the ground if necessary for a good angle.

This is spot color.  I've used this before to show off my red tulips in the garden.

This is color replacement... it replaces one color, for another.  (I pulled color from a dried paint palette.) How fun!