It’s been three weeks of family time. There’s been no time or space, either inner or outer, to think about writing, but when my body is weary and my brain is full I often turn to the quiet meditation of editing photos.
There has been a lot going on, but it included a photography date with my visiting sister to VanDusen Garden. I took only my macro lens; it was a joyous exploration into tiny beauty.
Next post: a (relatively) good news post about Don and the new world we’re navigating, and after that the final post about Greece; one of the best days – sailing around Milos Island.
All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2023.
I love the leaf photo and the bee in flight…wow what a shot Alison. Amazing. Looking forward to some good news. Always great to hear. xo
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Thanks so much Dani. The bee! What a lucky shot! I was amazed when I saw what I’d captured. And I couldn’t resist the colours in that leaf. Nature is so amazing.
Alison
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These are amazing. Thanks for sharing. xo
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Thanks so much Darlene, my pleasure; I so enjoyed myself editing this collection.
Alison
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Wow, beautiful macro shots. I’ve never been to VanDusen Gardens, must be lovely. Maggie
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Thanks so much Maggie. Van Dusen is a beautiful place; we go quite often.
Alison
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Beautiful pics
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Thank you Beth 🙏
Alison
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Love all of these photos! They are just amazing to look at. Thank you.
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Thanks so much Karen, my pleasure.
Nice to hear from you. I hope all is well in La Manz.
Alison
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Gorgeous photos!
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Thanks Annie 🙏
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Beautiful photos Ali. They surely feel like meditation and concentrated conversation with nature. Hope Don is getting better.
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Thank you so much Narayan. You described it accurately – meditation and concentration; all else falls away. Don is much better!
Ali
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Beautiful macros. I enjoyed viewing every one of them. 🙂
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Thanks Vicki. 🙏 I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Alison
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The flower photos are fabulous. Looking forward to the good news about Don.
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Thanks Peggy. It was such a lovely outing to the garden seeing what tiny thing was wanting to be photographed.
Don is thankfully much better. 🙏
Alison
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These photos are so beautiful ~ relaxing and peaceful, a perfect way to collect your thoughts and spend a little alone time. Wishing you both well ~ take care.
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Thanks so much Randall. I’d sink into editing late at night when everyone else was asleep. It really helps with bringing me to presence. Peaceful and fulfilling.
Alison
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What a wonderful collection on beautiful macro photos with tiniest details that are not always possible to see with the naked eye. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thank you so much Aiva. I’m glad you like them. It was a wonderfully rewarding creative project.
Wishing you and yours a good day too 🤗
Alison
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Nature is so amazingly colorful and you captured it beautifully.
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Thanks so much Astrid. VanDusen was at its best with so many flowers blooming. I hope you’re well.
Alison
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Wow – I felt meditative just looking at these. Beautiful mother nature captured brilliantly!
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Thanks so much Lexie. Beautiful mother nature indeed. I was in heaven.
Alison
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Those are some really interesting flowers which in macro shots look even more beautiful. This is the kind of photography I’ve always to try, but that means I have to but a new lens. Seeing the world around us through this kind of close-up images always brings joy to me. Speaking of joy, look forward to that good news about Don!
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Thanks Bama. I had a lot of fun that day seeing what the lens could capture. Close-up images always bring joy to me too. I have a small stem of ivy in a vase and this morning I’ve been photographing a tiny black bug on a green leaf. I’ll see later what I’ve managed to capture.
Don’s doing well. More to come.
Alison
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These are gorgeous! The bees in flight, the colors, the strange textures – you’ve really captured the essence of what’s fascinating about flowers and plants! I love all the vibrant colors; there are too many to pick a favorite on this one. 😀
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Thanks so much Felicity 🤗 It was so much fun to work only with my macro lens. It made me really look closely.
Glad there’s not a favourite. It means they all work, which is nice to hear.
Alison
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Truly gorgeous, Alison. Your artistic eye always brings out the very best in your subject. I’m loving catching up on your Greece posts and looking forward to your good news. ❤ Terri
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Thanks so much Terri. It was definitely a fun outing.
Greece was fabulous; it makes a very short list of countries we’d like to return to.
And Don’s doing quite well.
Alison
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Macro is fun, but my 105mm has been feeling neglected. There’s no better place for it than a botanical garden, and you’ve taken excellent advantage of it.
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Thanks so much Dave. I loved this excursion – looking into all the little details, seeing things I wouldn’t normally notice.
Alison
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It’s so good to hear that Don is doing better, Alison.
Beautiful flower shots. I found the one that showed the motion of the honeybee’s wings particularly fascinating. On another note, I always find editing photos relaxing and fun. It’s a form of meditation for me.
–Curt
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Thanks so much Curt. That bee shot was a huge bonus – sometimes I just click like mad and find out later what I’ve captured.
I do most of my editing late at night when I want to unwind enough to sleep. Soothing.
Alison
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Peggy likes to a movie at night. I’ve found it’s a perfect time for editing. 🙂 Like you, I often find things in my photos that I wasn’t expecting. Sometimes, they are even a bonus. Grin. –Curt
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Oddly enough, the photo of the leaf with its red lines is my favorite here, and the one below it, since the petals are a little out of focus.
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Thanks so much Ruth. These are two of my favourites too. The leaves of that plant are quite wonderful. Nature is wonderful!
And I was very pleased with the one below it – the way I’d captured just the right amount of the flower in focus. I don’t practice enough with the macro lens so I’m always a bit chuffed when I get it right.
Alison
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I haven’t done much with macro, so I especially appreciate a good eye and being able to capture it the way you want.
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