I took this photo at the Zilker Botanical Gardens of the water lilies right at the entrance. They are just beautiful right now! It was pretty bright (middle of the afternoon), so I tried different photo apps on my Evo. I think this was my favorite, it was with Vignette for Android. Right now I do not remember what setting it was in, I wish I did, but I guess that makes it one of a kind! 
Water Lilies
I went to my friend’s house out in Volente to shoot some headshots and photos of her working in her studio. We spent several hours there and I got a great tour of her house and the grounds around it. Beautiful place! We came across these red berries in a dry creek bed.
Red Berries
My goal today was to take a photo of something romantic, something “Valentine’s Day” like. Of course this red rose is perfect. I took a couple of shots, some outside in the light and some indoors in a room that was getting dark. This turned out to be my favorite. It’s the indoor version, much more dramatic than the well lit one!
Dark Red Rose
I was so glad I did not have to go into work today. It sounded dangerous out there to drive, but then we decided to take a walk and shoot some photos. When I stepped outside, it was cold but sunny, and for just a bit I thought “oh, maybe it’s not that bad”. But then we got to the street right outside our complex, and they had 17 cars on the side of the road that could not go anywhere. They slid into each other on a big patch of ice right outside our driveway! So I was VERY happy I did not have to drive anywhere.
Here are some of my favorite shots from today. I will start with the mess on our street.
Icy Road
Downtown Austin with Snow
Snow on Lady Bird Lake
Paddle Boarding- In this weather?
Snow
Snow On Tall Grasses
I waited till the last minute to take a photo tonight. Went to an art reception, then out for dinner and drinks, then to help my daughter with some paperwork. I know, not a good enough excuse, but at least I took some photos! Yes, I used my EVO phone camera, but they did come out cool. I could not make up my mind on which photo to post, so I decided to post all three. They were taken with my different Android Apps for photos. I think my favorite is the Vignette.
Jade Plant- FxCamera for Android
Jade Plant- RetroCamera for Android
Jade Plant- Vignette for Android
Well, I started my Daily Photo Blog at the beginning of 2010, hoping that I learn more about photography, learn my camera and I think I have done that. I do notice an improvement from the beginning of the year, and now when I want to take a specific photograph, technically- I kinda know what I am doing!
I wish all of you a very Happy New Year! I hope you all set goals and reach them (even surpass them!). I set some goals each year and I try really hard to accomplish them. Sometimes I feel that just by having some of my goals on my blog, or on Facebook, it helps me, because I feel like “I told the world, so now I have to do it!”
Here are my top 10, as chosen by friends, family, comments, views & myself:
Freak Out- Carnival at night
Dragonfly by the pool
Austin after the rain
Rain Drops in Black & White
Tree and Moon
Stairs at Night
Brooklyn Bridge- sepia
Holiday Lights
Scissors
Blue Heron in flight
Here’s my third bloom. I could not decide which of these shots was my favorite, so here they all are!
Night Blooming Cereus
Night Blooming Cereus
Night Blooming Cereus
I got it! I was ready for my Night Blooming Cereus this time. It looks like I have 2 more buds ready to bloom. These do seem kind of small, but I am assuming that it’s because the plants are in small containers. Of course I had to use my new 50mm f/1.4 lens!
Night Blooming Cereus
Well, I missed getting the shot of the first bloom. Of course I saw it as I was running late out the door on my way to work this morning! I was not expecting it to bloom so quick! I am ready for the next one! Tripod- ready, camera settings- ready. Bloom #2, I am ready!!
Night Blooming Cereus (Missed Bloom)
I am so excited! I have 2 Night Blooming Cereus plants and they both have buds on them! Here’s one of the buds. I will try to photograph it every day and watch for the big bloom!
Night Blooming Cereus Bud