up close and personal

I've never been a huge fan of roses - in my mind, there are many more beautiful, interesting blossoms. Still, when my husband Marcus suggested we plant a couple of rose bushes in the back of our garden a couple of years ago, I didn't protest: I assumed that his need for roses was somehow because he's English. Or something. Anyway, they're blossoming now, and I took the image above this weekend. When I downloaded this shot from my camera, I was surprised at how little post-camera processing was necessary -- I increased the contrast a tiny bit, and added some vignetting around the sides, but otherwise, the image remains generally untouched.  I'm shocked at how much more appealing roses are when you look at them up close.

Like most things, I suppose.

Today, show me some everyday things that stun you with their beauty up close.

(Crossposted at Chookooloonks)

Comments

[Georgia]

WOW! i've never seen a rose look like that. my sister has many rose bushes in her yard. i love them, because these roses look nothing like the roses you see in a floral shop—you know the typical ones you give. instead they look flatter and rounder—more opened up like the one you have so beautifully captured here.

here is what stunned me this past week. i know everyone and their uncle are posting magnolias right now, but i had to post this shot. i wait for the magnolia trees to bloom every year! i don't think there is anything more beautiful in the Spring time.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-havent-seen-this-day-before-by.html

[Georgia]

oh, i forgot to say, my magnolia shot is an SOOC, too. somehow with magnolias on a blue sky day, there seems to be no need to process the photos.

[Jessica New]

You are right!! That is so PERFECT just the way it is....

Opening up your way of thinking & taking another look at everyday things...
Or looking closer at them can always change your perspective...

I think we should use that same philosophy when it comes to photography, or looking through our lens!

I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK TOO:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessicanew/3451758237

[Marcie]

Always amazing to see the beauty when you look closely:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=758

[Beatriz Kim]

I've been interested in things up close and enlarged, since I was introduced to Georgia O'Keefe. Unfortunately, I don't have a macro lens yet. But it's been fun trying to get as close as I can.

This picture didn't need much re-touching either. The orchid is so beautiful and perfect. I don't think there's anyway to mess it up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbybeatriz/3465102788/in/set-72157617070698549/

[Vanessa]

I love the imperfect beauty of corroded textures. Down at the pier, i get the odd perplexed look from the fishermen who cannot for the life of them imagine what my lens and I are doing getting all up close and personal with the hull of their boats! I smile and shrug at them, in that 'I just can't help myself' kind of way ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3001478642/in/set-72157607625768404/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3000632877/in/set-72157607625768404/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3001876431/in/set-72157607625768404/
happy weekend, everyone! Vx

[Sebrina]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3368235649/ I took this picture a while ago of a ranuculas. It is so beautiful close up!!

[Alicia]

a recent up-close shot...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3470760882/

[Elizabeth Harper]

Here's what I see when I get " Up close and personal"

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/a-ladybug-love-story/

[Puna]

That is a gorgeous image. So much so that I attempted to duplicate with a hibiscus.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/up-close/

[margie]

i took photos at a farmer's market on weekend and i was, like you, thrilled when i actually looked at them. the colours were fabulous. these green beans are framed by yellow beans giving them an almost surreal glow.
the photo is on my blog, click on margie's 365.

http://www.soeursdujour.com

[Jen]

I am always amazed by tulips. This picture is actually of one that is dying, but your can see everything in the light and it makes it that much more interesting:

http://americana.visualblogging.com/archives/11454_1807447140/326679

[ELK]

a moments reflection up close..

or not?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/3469248241/

[Kathleen O./ko2008]

Spring is really, truly here. We're back at the beach! JOY.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/3470891538/

[beth]

as all the wild flowers begin to bloom at our cottage in the woods, they silence me with their beauty and gentleness...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/29291473@N04/3470096975/

[KL]

Beautiful.

I don't have a good lens for macro pictures, but I still try. I was thrilled when I saw this on my computer screen. I was also surprised at how little post processing this needed...I guess nature doesn't need much help.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/3470914306/

[tracy]

from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlcpix/3470110651/">sandbox!</a>

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I'm ALL about the WILDFLOWERS!

http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2009/04/wildflower-medley.html

[jag]

Oh yeah! This is one of my favourite types of photography - I love it when people find the extra in the ordinary... especially when we get up close and personal. :-) Here are some of my favourites:

Flowers...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2267393480/in/set-72157606064294651/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2729891663/in/set-72157606064294651/

Other...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2609549430/in/set-72157606772577757/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/3470964366/in/set-72157606967353209/

Have a great weekend, Sisters!
xox

[Liz W]

Gorgeous photograph! I love photographing things close-up, here are a few of my favorite shots.

an egg shell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewhitaker/3440111006/

a lily
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewhitaker/3353053214/

weathered petals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewhitaker/3349839119/

[~ kristina ~]

pink jasmine - always reminds me of the central ca coast. and a little story to go with it, about the baby birds who lived in the jasmine vine.

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2009/04/pascha-morning.html

[shelli - mama of letters]

Beautiful image!! And speaking of other, interesting blooms, I had a surprise flower pop up in my garden this year. I think it's from a wildflower mix I spread out last year:


http://www.mamaofletters.com/Site/The_Focal_Point/Entries/2009/4/24_It’s_a_Columbine.html

[shelli - mama of letters]

P.S. I look forward to hearing the results of the Name Your Dream Assignment today!!! Good Luck!

[Toni | DailyVignette]

I love getting up close and personal so you can see all the details, but I'm a detail person in my job so it stands to reason.

http://dailyvignette.com/2009/04/24/isnt-it-dandy/
http://dailyvignette.com/2009/04/10/macro-love/
http://dailyvignette.com/2009/04/09/theyre-here/

[Lisa Ceaser]

Spring amazes me when you take a look close up...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3439015321_247401d0fa.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3439827136_26114e2d0d_b.jpg

And did you ever notice, there is another world to see when you look into a puddle?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3427235947_0ae8d965cf_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3369477802_f7f7901af2_b.jpg

[Martha]

This hydrangea revealed an awesome miniature world:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14756941@N08/3464009049/

[Sarah]

Tulips have always been my favorite flower. Now I love them even more after seeing them so close up!

http://wisefam.blogspot.com/2009/04/tulips.html

[sharon]

Very cool rose! I would not have guessed.

http://sharonlinnefaulk.com/photo/2009/04/24/unwanted-beauty/

[GayleV]

I think that most things can be interesting at close up because our eye isn't used to seeing them in that context. I took these last November and they are still favorites.
http://momandcamera.blogspot.com/2008/11/when-my-people-subjects-are-too-busy.html

[SheSnaps.com]

Something about wild roses are much more beautiful to me than when I get them as a gift.

Nell

[spread your wings]

nature will amaze you when you look up close. i've been taking a lot of shots that fit this category but one recently that i am amazed by is this peony - no editing done - it looks like it's glowing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/3459215591/in/set-72157613443592199/

and this oak leaf hydrangea that i took early spring - i was amazed at the symmetry here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/3260024299/in/set-72157613443592199/

and this tiny red bud burst
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/3390389327/

and i tend to agree with you about roses. i like almost any flower more than a rose.

[summer]

This ratty old thing hangs in my kitchen window...up close I find it quite lovely.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3470474723/in/photostream/

Thank you for the reminder to simply look at something a little different.

[Diane]

Karen, your close up is beautiful. I don't have a macro lens but that doesn't stop me from getting up close with everyday things. Here are a few I took last year in today's post at my blog:

http://albertaphotography.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/getting-in-close/

May you continue to find beauty in everyday things!

[Charlane]

I've been all about upclose this week....funny how that can go in cycles
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3469538854/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3469538836/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3470463107/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3470493329/in/photostream/

[Alejandra]

http://fotografias-fotografias.blogspot.com/2008/11/grapes.html

Grapevine growing outside a Buddhist Temple. I pumped up the curves a teeny tiny bit. The leaves did a beautiful job filtering the sunlight. .

[Julie Alvarez]

I've been just doing that these days... approaching.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3458322110/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3469105786/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3469109504/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3469921232/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3464686154/

[Becky]

Being a people shooter, I don't get very close-up with the world, although I am drawn to macro images. Here are a set from this winter, when I tried to look closer.

http://blog.bagdanoffphoto.com/?p=80

[Tracie]

I am in love with raindrops on petals:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morning-tea/3467711097/

[Kelly]

This is lovely - that read is fantabulous! Hmm... Up close - http://kellysphotographyblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/98365-tender-reflection.html

[Heather]

I've enjoyed seeing everyone's up close images. Here's one of my mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparrow_5_2/3416356648/in/set-72157616316035637/

[Jennifer Parke]

How Ironic - I just posted this pic because I needed a filler! http://jenniferparkephotography.blogspot.com/2009/04/ch-ch-ch-changes.html

[Rachel]

I am sooooo not big on roses, but I too have three bushes in my front yard from the previous home owner. one of them is miniature roses, which I actually really enjoy. love this shot you did. can't believe yours are actually blooming already. mine might have died because of your harsh winter. :(

[claudia]

Nothing as spectacular as that rose! Wow!!
A few favorites from last year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2530433624/in/set-72157604821920327/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3033239357/in/set-72157604821920327/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3011129325/in/set-72157604821920327/
and one that's just a little "out there"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2577282780/in/set-72157604821920327/

[amber]

What an amazing bunch of close ups. I've always loved well done flower macros.
Here's my offering:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/westars3/3479353538/
I love the tulips of April.

[Crystal]

Lovely picture! Here is a close up of my new nephews soft, adorable, kissable foot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krstlchik/3430695080/in/set-72157616515711771/

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