LOL thanks, BKay, I think I'm just as hooked on this forum as I am on the hostas in my yard. Lots of good peeps here.

Not sure if this is better, Luuk. I cropped the pic above, but of course it costs me a little detail. Was woth trying, I guess.

Don B.

EDIT/P.S. Actually, that came out better than I thought it would, seeing the image posted and all. Cool. Thanks for the ideas, Luuk.

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Sat, May 3, 14 at 19:13

Don, the crop is very interesting. It's going down the worm hole, on a trip with Alice, or entry to a green inflatable space ship.

Not capable of waxing poetic at this hour...just got to say that that is an amazing result - Don, this just raises the level of "exquisite" to other-worldly? This looks like a top notch professional photograph! I'm trying it too, whenever I have anything to photograph...maybe I'll practice indoors.
W O W

Superb, thank you everyone for those great drops! I've never seen a shot like your Ripple Effect, Tepulus, absolutely gorgeous! Did you get down on your belly to take it?

Nice job Don! there is no limit to creativity, ...from a high resolution photos you can take a very nice details. Sometimes cropping a picture can be good to improve a wrong frame or if you want to make draw attention on a particular, ...like down below.

...I'm agree with mocc, the photo of Ripple Effect by Karen stay in the mind, it's a really nice shot.

Years ago in another lifetime, I had a microfiche reader printer in my library. I had some personal negatives that I could not view any other way, so I put them in this 24x reader and it blew them up. (Reminded me of the old movie BLOW UP about a photographer who took a picture and blew it up to discover he caught a murder in progress.)

From the blowups I printed off some of the best sepia colored prints ever. It was heat sensitive paper and wasn't meant to be permanent, so after a year or so they faded. However, just one corner of a simple photo was lovely to behold. Such detail!

I agree you should look deep within the heart of your hosta, they have much to give. Heartwarming to view as a slide show next winter I bet.

My camera has a flip out lcd view finder. I held it just above the ground with the view finder flipped up and I adjusted my shot that way. I love that I can do that instead of laying on the ground. lol

Karen

Just looking through my pictures. Found this one of my first year Dream Queen (taken last year).

Very nice colors, thanks for sharing!

All the pictures have been nice in this thread, but I want to say, every time I read the title, the song Drops of Jupiter by Train pops into my head.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: Drops of Jupiter

Beautiful photos! I envy you all those drops of water. We're *supposed* to get rain Thursday, so maybe I can get out there and take a couple. Rain has been in the forecast a lot, but always seems to go around us.

Hmm- I could just hook up the sprinkler and prepare for a big water bill. Good for the hostas and the drops would look just the same.

Go for it MadPlanter! We won't know the difference between real drops or man made ones!

This is really fun, Luuk. Golden Meadows cropped.

Don B.

And again with Great Expectations.

Don B.

Don, I love the Great Expectations.
Heck, tomorrow I'll have to go for Lionheart with the stitching and see what happens.

I have one I like a lot but no drop of moisture on it. Maybe I can Photoshop one? :?]=

Don, I'm really glad that even you enjoy macro
Mocc, you can also make red leaves ;-)

Awesome thread and pics! Thanks to luuk for starting and everyone who has contributed!

Luuk, what should I do with something like this?
Holly's Dazzler is already scaping with 4 and I cut most of the picture off except for this row of scapes. Sigh......I love the texture of that clay flowerpot behind it.

Mocc, thank you for your trust in me, but I'm just passionate about photography, not a professionist, â¦anyway, a small tip I can give you is to focus on the subject that you want to photograph. Instead of shooting the subject straight on, try looking down to the subject, or crouching and looking up. An uncommon angle makes the photo more interesting.

To highlight the beautiful scapes of your hosta you should cut some leaves (which is unlikely) hehehe or find another angle.

I am still practicing my "drops" shots.

Hostas with drops are just gorgeous. Don't you think?

Anyone else been taken some photos? Let's keep this thread going!

NHL-those are unreal! Your camera and your subjects are awesome!

Here is a photo I shot yesterday after the rain....the drops are perfectly round and magnify the streak line...I zoomed in by pinching the screen on the iPad, then shot the screen...it is fun experimenting. It isn't crisp, but it's a keeper for my album.

Thank you, LUUK for the tips! :-)

Jo

NHL, those are great shots you took. Did you not also become enamored of the colorful fall hosta leaves and take lots of those lovely things too? When you get on a roll, you stick with it. I like the way your eye works. You see a lot of beauty. Thanks for sharing.

Spilt Milk

LOVING THE DROPS SHOTS! Thanks for starting this thread Luuk, your pics are stunning!

I have a few I'll share starting with MY CLAIRE (planted for my wonderful little granddaughter):

Here's Liberty in the rain:

Daring to venture out of hosta territory, I give you PURPLE TULIP after the rain:

Now you got me going, here's an unfurling TREE PEONY leaf catching a few rain drops:

Going in with one more wet TULIP:

One more: sparkling rain drops on a HUGE Plume Poppy leaf:

I'm flabbergasted by your photos, they are AMAZING!!! BRAVO

I should start taking more photos, ...even if this year will be a bit 'more difficult because we had a heavy hailstorm and many leaves are damaged :-(

Luuk, my June. Actually I have two Junes. A plant so nice, I bought it twice. I have to say, on some of these super close-ups, I get an appreciation for hostas in a totally new way.

Don B.

Thank you Jo and Moc for your kind words.

I had a terrible two days. At the end of the second day I went to the place that brings me peace and tranquility---my hostas. Hostas and gardening rejuvenates my soul. So I posted my photos. To hear your compliments regarding my pictures meant so much. It was just what I needed! And yes, Moc, it is I (amongst others) who is enamored with fall hostas and their beauty.

I am glad that this thread is continuing to thrive. Hostanista your photos are great. Nice to see others posting their lovely photos too.

I agree with you Don that "on some of these super close-ups, I get an appreciation for hostas in a totally new way." Somehow the eye can focus on a smaller area and really appreciate the detail. Isn't it awesome!

Sorry to hear about the hail that you experienced Luuk. I had hail last summer and saw the damage it did to my hostas. It was disappointing. Had I known what it would do, I would have tried to protect some of my plants. I hope your plants have not been too affected by the hail.

Spring is an amazing time to take advantage of drops shots. So here I go again!

My favorite hosta Grt. Expectations. I can't get enough of this one!

But this GE surprised me. It is only one thick eye and yet so beautiful. Whereas the other photo above was taken of a mature GE.

This was when I finally discovered I was in love with host in 2012 and kind of went crazy after that

Keep it up, NHL, you bring out the inspirational effect of hostas. I was thinking about the drops thread tonight after dark while I walked through my garden. I had the solar stake lights tucked beneath my arms. I turned all the lights off indoors, because I wanted to place these luminaries to mark my way through the garden, to illuminate a la silhouette the elevated hosta. I became transfixed when I saw a goodly number of ligntning bugs or fireflies as you will, little luminaries themselves, flickering in the pecans and above the hosta.

When I think of my place of peace and tranquility, it is the hosta garden. It is my vision of paradise. Wasn't it in the story of Peter Pan, where you think of it and you are transported to NeverNever Land? Well, we can all create a paradise of our own defining. I discussed this with my DH, because he asked me if I'd ever built anything like that before. I asked him what he meant, because there was no "building" done in my garden. What I did was "create." Create involves the imagination and the skills, the knowledge, especially the passion. Build relies on tools, and a blueprint or pattern. Totally missing is the create side of my garden, which is where the magic heart is.

Almost Hooked says, "This was when I finally discovered I was in love with host in 2012 and kind of went crazy after that."

The story sounds familiar, Faye. Change the year and it could be any one of us. What a joyful ride it is.

Don, you're right, June is absolutely great, and your close up is really nice, ...seems painted with a brush. I've always liked the close up, is like watching an abstract painting, ...I can dive into a parallel universe.

NHL, thanks again for your wonderful photos!
It is certain that next year I will use an anti-hail sheet to protect my plants.
There are two things in particular that make me feel relaxed, the light of the full moon and grow my hostas, ...well, in the past smoking weed, but now I'm in the "age of reason" LOL
Every day I like to check my hostas, the growth of seedlings, the change of colors, etc.

Mocc, I like what you wrote, create your own garden means creating your own paradise, a serene place to spend some time in peace and tranquility.

Almosthooked, lovely family photo, ...we know how we begun but we don't know how it will end :-)

Holy hosta happiness. I haven't posted here for a couple of years, but the drops photos forced me to remember my username and password (only two tries!).

Thank you for this thread. Thank you all. Very magical.

Chris

Welcome back, Chris! "Holy hosta happiness", indeed! :-)
Hope you stick around - there's plenty more where those came from!
Jo

H. 'Fragrant Dream' - still practicing . . . last week after a rainfall - I'll keep practising. LUUK, you've inspired me to take more close-ups in general.

Thank you,
Jo

Josy, thanks for the nice photo, go on follow your own vision and your passion.
I also have to keep practicing to improve the photos, ...and my english :-)

Jo, I missed your last photo! Great job. Isn't it fun?! Hope to see more of your photos.

Hello Chris. So you say "the drops photos forced me to remember my username and password." The hosta and flower drops photos are one of my favorite to look at and admire. Glad that you have rejoined us.

Luuk, my husband says that you should go back to smoking weed! In his opinion, he thinks it would be less stressful and more relaxing than worrying about and carrying for all the hostas! LOL

Moc, I like what you said. . ."When I think of my place of peace and tranquility, it is the hosta garden. It is my vision of paradise." I would have loved to wander through your garden with you with the lights off. That was a magical moment.

Here is Goodness Gracious.

One of my favorite hostas, Earth Angel.

I had a go, this is Big Daddy. I need more practice with the macro setting on my camera.

Denis

You did a great job Denis! This is your first try? Awesome. Looking forward to seeing more.

NHL, your husband is right, some weed will definitely help to clear my mind and increase my creativity ...I love my new bohemian lifestyle! hehehe
Nice photo, absolutely amazing your Heart Angel.

Denis, I really like those big fat water drops, ...that's really great!

Here's Moonlight, one of my favorite, I love the color shades.

June Fever

Luuk, that Moonlight photo is really special---love the color and love the shading!