Blandy Farm | HDR Chic

How lovely is photography in black and white that enhances the beauty of nature. Trees speak of their age, beauty and individuality in this media. Whether through film, digital, or infrared, HDR processing or art, it is much desired and loved and becomes a favorite in our galleries. This coming Spring JayJacy Photography, HDRChic and RealArtPhotography will photograph the Virginia Arboretum at Blandy Farm and other historical gardens of Virginia in Black and White Media for our Historical Gardens Art on Canvas Project.

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Winter in the Boulevard

THE FROST has settled down upon the trees
And ruthlessly strangled off the fantasies
Of leaves that have gone unnoticed, swept like old
Romantic stories now no more to be told.

The trees down the boulevard stand naked in thought,
Their abundant summery wordage silenced, caught
In the grim undertow; naked the trees confront
Implacable winter’s long, cross-questioning brunt.

Has some hand balanced more leaves in the depths of the twigs?
Some dim little efforts placed in the threads of the birch?—
It is only the sparrows, like dead black leaves on the sprigs,
Sitting huddled against the cerulean, one flesh with their perch.

The clear, cold sky coldly bethinks itself.
Like vivid thought the air spins bright, and all
Trees, birds, and earth, arrested in the after-thought
Awaiting the sentence out from the welkin brought.*
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Photography: Copyright, JayJacy Photography ©2014-2018 All Rights Reserved – No Reblogs Please. Thanks

*D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930)

Come away with me on a “road less traveled” …

On a very hot (98 degrees) hazy, humid day, I trekked to photograph historic places for a design project. This image was captured at the Virginia State Arboretum shortly before a thunderstorm. The haze was so intense it was hard to see the clouds but by shooting for HDR, I was able to pick up all of the light and intensity of the clouds. Had the heat and burning sun not been so intense and the threatening approaching storm, I would have traveled to the “road not taken” for a view of the mountains and vistas. Next time, I’ll capture during the fall crisp weather at dust. Fabulous place to shoot if you love landscapes of nature and the only people I saw on this day were faithful photogs “getting the shot.” HDR Notes: See my pre-post images below and note that +2 was just about the intensity of the day.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.